Caernarfon Herald

Language weekend for centre

BRUSH UP ON YOUR ENGLISH SKILLS

- Gareth Wyn Williams

PROFESSOR David Crystal will present a series of talks on the structure, use, and history of the English language in a twoday event to be held at Holyhead’s Ucheldre Centre.

The leading academic, who lives in the town, is widely regarded as the foremost writer and lecturer on the English language, with a worldwide reputation and more than 100 books to his name.

The weekend, starting on Saturday, August 19, from 9.30am to 5pm, will see him present a talk, including a question and answer session, on the structure of English, pronunciat­ion, punctuatio­n, grammar, spelling, and vocabulary.

Saturday evening’s session is free, with the option of booking for dinner at the Ucheldre Centre and an evening musical concert.

The next day, also from 9.30 to 5pm, Professor Crystal will concentrat­e on language variation and change.

This will include talks (including a question and answer session) on accents and dialects, the internet and texting, child language acquisitio­n, the future of Englishes, language play and literature, and original pronunciat­ion (with particular reference to Shakespear­e).

Professor Crystal said: “I’ve frequently been asked to put on a summer course for people unable to attend the various lectures I give to schools, literary festivals, and the like, and an opportunit­y has now arisen to do so.

“The Ucheldre community arts centre in Holyhead (the name means high town in Welsh) is having a fundraisin­g campaign, and I’ve agreed to present a weekend in support.”

For more informatio­n about David Crystal, his books and his life, please visit www.davidcryst­al.com

The cost of the event is £150 a day , to include buffet lunch, coffee and tea, with all proceeds towards the Ucheldre Centre of which Professor Crystal is a generous supporter.

For details, please contact the box office at the Ucheldre Centre on 01407 763361 or box-office@ucheldre.org

 ??  ?? English language expert Prof David Crystal, from Holyhead, is presenting a series of talks
English language expert Prof David Crystal, from Holyhead, is presenting a series of talks

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