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Blog - search results for “Language”

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How robots can help us embrace a more human view of disability

How robots can help us embrace a more human view of disability

When dealing with the otherness of disability, the Victorians in their shame built huge out-of-sight asylums, and their legacy of “them” and “us” continues to this day. Two hundred years later, technologies offer us an alternative view. The digital age is shattering barriers, and what used to the norm is now being challenged.

May 22, 2017

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Why you don't need to write much to be the world's bestselling author

Why you don't need to write much to be the world's bestselling author

By the estimation of award-winning author Donal Ryan, there are times when 300 sales might be enough to make a chart topper – the bestseller mantle tends to have more promotional than monetary value. Of course there are the literary blockbusters — titles like Harry Potter and The Da Vinci Code — books that ship hundreds of millions of copies. But combine the sales of JK Rowling and Dan Brown, even throw in John Grisham, and you’re still lagging behind the sales figures of the world’s true bestselling author — James Patterson. 

April 18, 2017

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What brain regions control our language? And how do we know?

What brain regions control our language? And how do we know?

When you read something, you first need to detect the words and then to interpret them by determining context and meaning. This complex process involves many brain regions.

March 20, 2017

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The Best and Worst Couples in Literature

The Best and Worst Couples in Literature

It's a truth universally acknowledged that not all fictional couples are created equal. Some of them are sweeping romances that you can’t stop thinking about for weeks, while others add tension and drama to a book and are, quite frankly, just unhealthy.

March 13, 2017

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Interview: Robert Winston on his favourite book, writing, and why we're all scientists

Interview: Robert Winston on his favourite book, writing, and why we're all scientists

Robert Winston is a scientist, medical doctor, author, politician, television presenter and currently Professor of Science and Society at Imperial College London. Abigail Jaggers went along to Imperial College to talk to Robert about his varied career, the book he might write next, and passing on science to the next generation.

January 9, 2017

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Disability History Month: Disability and Language

Disability History Month: Disability and Language

The more you find out about the history of disability and the associated language used, the more eye-opening it becomes. It wasn't so long ago that 'special' was widely used - a patronising euphemism now best avoided - and we are still left with the remains of so many other words that cast disabilities and impairments in a negative light.

November 22, 2016

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Seven of the best literary bears

Seven of the best literary bears

It's Hug a Bear Day! If you've read the blog before, you might have caught that I'm a huge Winnie-the-Pooh fan. Well, I'll confess to you now, that whilst Winnie-the-Pooh might be my favourite literary bear, I love a lot of bears. By which I mean fictional bears, and cuddly bears, and fictional bears that you'd really like to cuddle.

November 7, 2016

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Talk Like a Pirate Day is a thing and these books will give you all the lingo

Talk Like a Pirate Day is a thing and these books will give you all the lingo

Arrrrr! Ahoy me-hearties! Ye scallywags 'av plundered ye'selves some crackin' booty 'ere, eh?! .... Phew! Talking like a pirate is hard work! But yes, Talk Like a Pirate Day really is a thing. So it looks like I need to get in training!

September 19, 2016

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15 reasons why audiobooks are amazing

15 reasons why audiobooks are amazing

Audiobooks have so many things going for them and there's loads of articles out there about their recent rise in popularity. But what if you're yet to give audiobooks a try? Or don't know what they can offer you? Well let these reasons persuade you. And for all current audiobook listeners, this post is about revelling in the vast array of benefits audiobooks have and maybe discovering some new perks.

July 26, 2016

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Author Interview: James Runcie on TV adaptations, favourite authors, and a documentary about J. K. Rowling

Author Interview: James Runcie on TV adaptations, favourite authors, and a documentary about J. K. Rowling

James Runcie is a popular crime writer. As an author, he's best known for his series of books about the crime solving vicar Sidney Chambers, which has been adapted by ITV into the Grantchester series. James chatted to Holly Newson about what it’s like to see your work on screen, his favourite authors and what he learnt about writing and fame from making documentaries about J.K. Rowling and Hilary Mantel.

July 19, 2016

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