Welcome to The English Project

The English Project promotes awareness and understanding of the unfolding global story of the English language in all its varieties – past, present and future. We try to present ideas about English in an intelligent, entertaining, inclusive and interactive way. Our hope is that a greater understanding and enjoyment of English can enrich people’s lives and enable them to make more of the exceptional cultural and communications phenomenon which English has become. We intend to reach a broadly-based audience, globally, socially, ethnically and by age amongst English’s two billion speakers worldwide (that's as a first or second language).

Swing vs WellingtonThe Captain Swing Riots and the Grand Assize in Winchester

In the year 1830 under the banner of the mythical figure Captain Swing there was widespread rioting across almost all of Southern England. The agitation which had started in Kent reached its climax in the central western counties. During the month of November more than sixty villages in Hampshire saw rick-burning, the destruction of threshing machines, the pulling down of factories and Poor Houses, intimidation of the farmers and clergy as well as theft and general riot. Orchestrated by the Duke of Wellington, the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, the authorities came down hard…[More]

News

Guthrum's Army
The scene was set: it is Spring 878 and Guthrum the Dane is leading a great army towards Winchester. The inhabitants of Winchester are fearful, uncertain as to whether their king, Alfred, will be able to defend them...A packed house at The Arc,... Read more
22 March: PROJECT leaders hoping to create an English language museum in Winchester have moved closer to realising their goal. Prof Bill Lucas said the project has moved “in very promising ways” after working closely with Hampshire... Read more
The English Project's Professor Chris Mulvey was invited to the Mairie of the 7th Arrondissement last week, to address the English Speaking Union of Paris. Chris had been honoured with a return invitation; it had only been two years since his last... Read more
Since The English Project launched its campaign 'A History of the English Language in 100 Places' to identify the top 100 places worldwide which have have had the greatest influence on the English we speak today, the 'top 100 places' idea... Read more
Following The English Project's 'Location Lingo' initiative which was carried out jointly with with Ordnance Survey to collect nicknames for local features in the landscape ( see Location Lingo ), OS has recently launched its mapping database... Read more