Latest news with #BritishEnglish
The Guardian
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Not everybody spoke posh' in Jane Austen's era, says top producer
For those looking to perfect their pronunciation, British period dramas are a masterclass in getting to grips with the Queen's English. But – if the wishes of one TV heavyweight come to fruition – future iterations of Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and other period classics could adopt a more modern, less posh twang. Speaking at the Hay festival, industry veteran Jane Tranter, who served in top positions at the BBC before co-founding the production company Bad Wolf, called on actors to stop automatically adopting 'posh' accents when starring in period dramas. Tranter, 62, said actors 'start speaking posh' when put in period costume. She said she would be bringing in a movement coach 'to try to get the actors to think past the fact they're in period costume'. 'The other thing with period costumes is you start speaking posh and not everybody spoke posh in those days, so you have to work with that as well,' said Tranter, in comments reported by the Times. 'You have to try to get the actors to think past the fact they're in period costume.' She also commented on the slow speed that extras walk in period dramas, adding: 'It happens time and time again, and every time I think: 'Oh my God, Jane, why didn't you say something?'' The leading producer, who has worked on some of TV's biggest shows including Industry and Succession, was at the book festival to discuss The Other Bennet Sister, a forthcoming BBC period drama she is producing which focuses on Mary Bennet – the 'ugly duckling' middle sister from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Tranter also took aim at the stiff, sculpted hairstyles familiar in such productions and said she had 'loosened the rules' to offer a 'proper welcoming hand to a modern audience' in the upcoming spin on Austen's famous novel, which is due to begin filming in Wales next week. She said: 'If you dress the hair exactly like it is in all those oil paintings, or put the hats on, then actually an audience will not be able to take their eyes off these strange curls or weird hats. 'You have to know what the rules are and then we look to see where we break them in order to build a bridge or offer a proper welcoming hand to a modern audience. 'Because if you do a complete like-for-like, matchy-matchy, here are the exact buttons, here are the exact knickers you're wearing beneath your dress, then it becomes such a fetishised approach that it becomes a barrier between the audience and what is going on.' The Other Bennet Sister is based on Janice Hadlow's acclaimed 2020 novel, which the Guardian called 'immersive and engaging'. 'Janice has expanded the world of Austen,' she said. 'The London is not that classic Regency London, it is nudging towards Dickens's London. There is a tendency with Jane Austen to always make it super-Regency as opposed to a more grounded feel. 'The other brilliant thing is that Janice brings in the Romantic poets and they go to the Lake District.'
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
The commonly mispronounced words that infuriate Brits... so, are YOU saying them correctly?
In a country famed for its love of queuing and tea, mispronunciation is a breach of etiquette known to ruffle feathers. Britons have taken to Reddit 's r/AskUK forum to share the linguistic blunders that drive them to distraction. 'Which words do people say incorrectly that really bother you, British edition?,' one user asked. The responses ranged from phonetic mistakes to spelling blunders, with some regional snobbery thrown in. Among the most irksome offenders is the mistake of saying 'pacific' when the person actually means 'specific.' One user quipped: 'Nothing Pacific comes to mind,' highlighting the issue in an amusing way. Others bemoaned saying 'incinerating' in place of 'insinuating,' prompting more than a few grumbles from users with the same language dislike. And then there's the seemingly American phrase 'I could care less.' One commenter vented: 'They're saying the literal opposite of what they mean!' Others on Reddit were particularly scathing of that example, arguing that it completely undermines the speaker's intended indifference. The pronunciation of 'ask' as 'arks' also drew criticism, though not without sparking a broader cultural debate. One user grumbled that the variation made them think of 'toddler pronunciation', only to be swiftly countered by another pointing out that 'arks' has roots in Caribbean English dialects. 'Don't abandon your heritage because some people are up their own a**e about "proper" English,' one person wrote, defending the linguistic variations. Other grievances leaned toward the typographic rather than the spoken. 'Could of,' 'should of,' and 'would of' came under fire for their grammatical inaccuracy. The difference between 'lose' and 'loose' similarly had tempers flaring, with one person noting: 'My wife's a stickler for this one! It's horribly widespread and irritates me no end. 'In a similar vein, "litterly" seems to be usurping "literally" as the preferred spelling.' 'Can I get a shot of expresso?' one user wrote, mocking the common mispronunciation of 'espresso.' Spelling seemed to strike the most sensitive nerves, with people mentioning their annoyance at others for mistaking 'weary' for 'wary,' or 'brake' for 'break'. One person complained about the use of 'defiantly' when they mean 'definitely' and 'then' when they mean 'than'.
Business Insider
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ghana ranks 10th in Africa's hotel devt
Africa's hospitality sector is witnessing a significant upswing in hotel construction, with 577 projects comprising 104,444 rooms currently underway as of the first quarter of 2025. Africa is experiencing a significant rise in hotel construction projects, with 577 projects comprising 104,444 rooms in progress by Q1 2025. The growth rate of these developments increased by 13.3% year over year, demonstrating robust activity in the hospitality industry. These trends showcase growing international confidence and demand in Africa's hospitality market, particularly in regions like North Africa and Western Africa. This marks a 13.3% increase compared to the same period last year, according to a new industry report. Here is the rewritten and paraphrased version of your story in British English, with corrected grammar, italicised quotes, and subheadings: Africa's Top 10 Countries Driving Hotel Development in Early 2025 10. Ghana Ghana ranks tenth in Africa's hotel development pipeline with 22 projects totalling 3,125 rooms, of which 68.9% are under construction. The majority of these developments are centred in the capital, Accra, where global hotel giants Hilton and Marriott International dominate the market. Emerging players such as Aleph, Eurostars, Index, and CityBlue are also expanding their footprint, with a Radisson Individuals property currently being built. Ghana's appeal continues to rise as it becomes a favoured hub for business and tourism. 9. Tanzania Tanzania takes the ninth spot with 29 hotel projects and 3,432 rooms, although only 37.9% are under active construction. Zanzibar stands out as the primary development zone, with ten resort openings scheduled between 2025 and 2026. The island is attracting a mix of midscale and luxury brands, including Moxy, Protea, Anantara, Four Seasons, and Ritz-Carlton, positioning it as a growing regional tourism hotspot. 8. South Africa With 28 hotel developments and 4,076 rooms, South Africa ranks eighth. Of these, 64.3% are already under construction. The country continues to see consistent investment across its major cities, maintaining its position as a key hospitality destination on the continent. 7. Tunisia Tunisia comes in seventh with 17 hotel projects comprising 4,336 rooms, 66.1% of which are currently being built. Although the overall number of projects is modest, the high construction rate indicates serious commitment to growing the nation's coastal tourism infrastructure along the Mediterranean. 6. Kenya Kenya holds sixth place with 26 projects and 4,344 rooms, with 62.8% already under construction. The country continues to attract significant investment in both city and resort areas, spurred by a robust tourism sector. Many of these hotels are expected to open in the next few years, signalling a strong pipeline and sustained growth in Kenya's hospitality industry. 5. Cape Verde Cape Verde ranks fifth with only 16 hotel projects but an impressive 5,565 rooms. Just 37% are under construction. The standout feature is the average size of its resorts—348 rooms—nearly double the African average, with a clear focus on European beachfront tourism. Boa Vista is the epicentre of activity, home to three of Africa's ten largest hotel pipeline projects, including Meliá's enormous 835-room White Sands Resort. The pipeline includes large-scale developments by Hilton, Meliá, TUI, and Marriott. However, only one resort—TUI's 595-room Magic Life—is expected to open in 2025. 4. Ethiopia Ethiopia ranks fourth with 33 hotel projects and 5,648 rooms, a staggering 83.8% of which are under construction. Addis Ababa, known as Africa's diplomatic capital, hosts most of these projects, including 19 properties. Leading the city's development are Marriott (six hotels), Accor, Radisson, and The Ascott, each with three properties. Fifteen of the hotels are set to open between 2025 and 2026, potentially placing pressure on occupancy rates if all open as planned. 3. Nigeria Nigeria is third with 48 hotel projects totalling 7,320 rooms. However, only 39% of these are under construction, indicating slower progress. The country slipped behind Morocco due to fewer new deals in 2024. Lagos leads the market with eight Marriott hotels (1,228 rooms), followed by Accor, Radisson, Wyndham, and Hilton. Abuja, the capital, has 14 planned projects, mostly from Marriott and Radisson, but nine remain in pre-planning stages. No new openings are expected in 2025. 2. Morocco Morocco climbed to second place with 58 projects and 8,579 rooms, with 72.4% under construction. The country outpaced Nigeria after securing 13 new deals in 2024 and achieving a 50% opening rate among scheduled projects. Casablanca holds about one-third of the national pipeline, with 60% of its rooms expected to open by 2026. The city is welcoming several brand firsts, including Accor's Mama Shelter, Marriott's Moxy, and Eurostars' African debut. Five new hotel openings are planned for 2025. 1. Egypt Egypt leads the continent with 143 projects totalling 33,926 rooms—representing 32.5% of all rooms under development in Africa. Despite this, only three of 12 scheduled hotel openings occurred in 2024. A significant 154 are projected for 2025. Greater Cairo accounts for 17% of the continent's total pipeline, led by development in New Cairo. Accor, Marriott, Hilton, and IHG are major players, collectively responsible for 14,630 rooms. Approximately 30% of Cairo's hotel projects are slated to open by 2026.
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Business Standard
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Coal imports in April-February fall 9.2% on higher domestic output
Headline (70–75 characters) Edited body text (British English) Coal imports in the country between April 2024 and February 2025 dropped 9.2 per cent to 220.3 million tonnes (mt) compared to 242.6 mt in the same period last year, according to an official statement. India's coal import in FY24 stood at 268.24 mt, 7.7 per cent higher than the previous year. The reduction in imports resulted in foreign exchange savings of approximately $6.93 billion (₹53,137.82 crore), the statement noted. Notably, the non-regulated sector — excluding the power sector — experienced a significant year-on-year (YoY) decline of 15.3 per cent. Although coal-based power generation rose 2.87 per cent YoY during April–February of FY25, imports for blending by thermal power plants fell sharply by 38.8 per cent. 'This highlights India's ongoing efforts to reduce its dependence on imported coal and enhance self-sufficiency in coal production,' the statement said. India, despite having the fifth-largest coal reserves globally, faces a notable shortfall in specific types of coal — particularly coking coal and high-grade thermal coal — which are not sufficiently available from domestic sources. India is the world's second-largest consumer of coal. The coal sector continues to play a critical role in the country's energy mix, powering over 74 per cent of electricity generation and supporting key industries such as steel and cement. The gap between supply and demand necessitates coal imports to sustain these sectors and meet rising energy needs. To address this, the Ministry of Coal is implementing several initiatives — including commercial coal mining and Mission Coking Coal — to increase domestic coal availability. These efforts aim not only to conserve foreign exchange but also to enhance India's energy security. These proactive steps have led to a nearly 59 per cent YoY growth in coal output in FY25. For the first time, India produced 1.04 billion tonnes (bt) of coal in a fiscal year, compared to 997.83 mt in FY24. Coal dispatches also crossed the 1 bt mark in FY25, reaching 1.02 bt — up 5.34 per cent from 973.01 mt in FY24. By prioritising domestic coal production, the government aims to progress towards the Viksit Bharat goal and develop a sustainable energy framework that underpins long-term economic growth.
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Who is an ‘ignoramus'?
How is 'ignoramus' pronounced? (K. Jayanthi, Kolkata) This word of Latin origin consists of four syllables. The first rhymes with 'pig', 'fig' and 'dig'; while the vowel in the second and fourth syllables sound like the 'a' in 'china'. The vowel in the third, sounds like the 'a' in 'day', 'bay' and 'say'. The word is pronounced 'ig-ne-RAY-mes' with the stress on the third syllable. Many people wrongly pronounce the third syllable like the word 'ram'. The word comes from the Latin 'ignoramus' meaning 'we do not know', and it was originally a term used in legal contexts. When after listening to both sides of a case, the jury handed the judge a slip of paper with the word 'ignoramus' written on it, it meant that the individuals were unable to decide whether the defendant was guilty or not — the prosecution had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused was indeed guilty. With the passage of time, the word underwent a big change in meaning; it began to be used in everyday conversation to refer someone who is stupid or ignorant. According to scholars, this change in meaning occurred in the early years of the seventeenth century when George Ruggle staged his play Ignoramus. In it, the main character, a lawyer by the name of Francis Brackyin, is shown to be someone who knows very little about the law; from then on, the word took on its modern meaning — namely, an ignorant individual or a dunce. To call someone an ignoramus to his face is an insult. I'm a complete ignoramus when it comes to pop music. I can't believe that an ignoramus like Maya was appointed Registrar. One can be 'expelled or 'rusticated' from college. What is the difference between the two? (Shreyas Verma, Bengaluru) Both are used by educational institutions — schools and colleges — to punish a student. Of the two, 'rusticate' is mostly limited to British English, and the word itself is considered by many to be old fashioned. When an institution decides to rusticate a student, it suspends the individual; the person ceases to be a student for a specific period of time. Universities like Oxford and Cambridge, I am told, tend to rusticate students. When a school or a college 'expels' a student, it throws him out; he is forced to leave the institution on a permanent basis — he is not allowed to enter again. Among native speakers of English, 'expel' is much more widely used than 'rusticate'. Several students were rusticated after last week's incident in the canteen. Unless you shape up, you'll be expelled. The word 'expel' comes from the Latin 'ex' meaning 'out' and 'pellere' meaning 'to drive' — so, when you are expelled, you are driven out. This meaning of the word has been in existence since the 14th century. The meaning 'to eject from school' came into existence only in the mid 17th century. The word 'rusticate', on the other hand, comes from the Latin 'rusticatus' meaning 'to live in the country'. In the old days, when someone 'rusticated', he went to the countryside to spend time there — in other words, he chose to live like a rustic for a while. It was only much later that the word began to mean to suspend a student. upendrankye@
