The UK's Office of National Statistics (ONS) reveals that in Harrow only 75% of the population speak English as a first language. This information is useful for government surveys, consumer questionnaires, internet sites, TV and radio programmes and advertising and marketing. In Singapore one of the recently launched national newspapers is in two languages helping Mandarin speakers speak English and English speakers speak Mandarin. the newspaper is in two halves, in each language, and has a dictionary section of twenty or more new words in the middle.
From the point of view of speakers, we have to slow down. This means I have to slow down when giving a speech at Toastmasters or reading poetry in a primary school or on radio. The same goes for members of speakers associations such as Toastmasters International.
For details of Harrovian Speakers, meeting Monday evenings, go to
harrovians.org.uk
Infographic by
Office for National Statistics (ONS)
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