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The English language

English is not a language controlled by academics and literary editors. It is a collection of words assembled by generations of pilgrims, poets, preachers, professors and the sometimes provocateurs.

English has descended from the languages of Europe. It has ended up a mash up of old German mixed with Medieval French. This mixed parentage gives it the unique ability to either get to the point in a few short words or describe something elegantly with nuance.

Borrowing from other languages

Not content with the vocabulary of the French and German languages, English has borrowed from nearly every other language it has encountered.
Why invent a new word when an existing one is already there. Greek, Hindi, Arabic, and even Inuit have all left their traces. English borrows, absorbs, adapts, and mangles, turning each foreign word into something unmistakably its own. This unslefconscious theft is what makes English so entertaining to explore.

Word histories

We take great delight in the eccentric lives of words. Some have tangled and fantastical etymologies as they pass through curious transformations. Others have remained little changed from our caveman days.

Looking into the history of a word often reveals how people thought, what they valued, and how they saw the world. It’s not just about where a word came from—it’s about how it survived. And often, with a completely different meaning to that it started with.

Tim Entwisle is the writer behind Word of the Week. He trained as a scientist and has worked in many writing roles for government and business.

Word of the week

Marque—is Jaguar reverting to type?

Jaguar releases the Type 01 This week the Jaguar car company released its new electric car, the Type 01. Jaguar has delivered on its controversial 2024 advertising campaign and Type 00 concept, which attracted widespread ridicule. One journalist suggested that “the marque, again, [is] putting its future on the line”. Famous for its sports cars and high-performance saloons, Jaguar has ceased production of its previous petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric models to pursue a wealthy niche market. The Type 01 will be released in Australia in late 2027 and will sell for around $300,000. About Jaguar I own a 1961 Mark II and a 2015 XF. My son recently bought a 2005 S-Type. Sometimes, we have three Jaguars parked in the driveway. As a Jaguar enthusiast and marketing professional, I cannot decide whether Jaguar is being brave or foolhardy, but I am excited. Jaguar’s Leaper, once a bonnet ornament, is one of motoring’s great emblems, alongside the Growler. Jaguar’s slogan, Grace, Space, Pace, captured its reputation for distinctive design, innovative engineering and sporting performance. The D-Type won Le Mans three consecutive times. The E-Type became a design icon, one of the few cars in the NY Museum of Modern Art.......