English Language FAQ

The Union Jack is technically a maritime flag, used to distinguish British ships. It is also popularly used to describe the the flag of the United Kingdom. The flag is composed of symbols of the constituent parts of the UK. The red cross at the centre is the cross of St George representing England. The blue Saltire flag is for Scotland, the red dragon Wales and the crown over the red cross is for Northern Ireland UK? So why Team GB? The Olympics brings to the surface the confusion created by the terms Great Britain and the United Kingdom. Great Britain should only really refer to the core island of Britain, not the outlying islands or Northern Ireland. It would, therefore, be more logical to have a team UK. Uncertainty is also evident in the use of flags, anthems and other national emblems. Football supporters, for example, associate God Save the Queen with the England team, despite it being the national anthem for the entire kingdom. The confusion comes from the UK unusually

"I am well aware that I am the 'umblest person going," said Uriah Heep, modestly .     Charles Dickens, David Copperfield

After Shakespeare, Charles Dickens has been the writer who most expanded the vocabulary we use.

58 countries have English as an official language  -   but not  the USA  or the UK.

Hermann Rorschach (1884–1922) invented the 'ink blot' personality test. This uses ten standard black or coloured inkblot designs to assess personality traits and emotional tendencies.

  The word  Iconoclasm  has its origin in  A dispute over the use of religious images (icons) in the Byzantine Empire in the 8th and 9th centuries.  

Longest words in English? The Oxford University Press English Dictionary  disqualifies the word nominated by The Readers Digest with this withering put down: 

  —   nep · o · tis · tic   \ ˌ ne-pə- ˈ tis-tik\   adjective This satirical cartoon by Robert Cruikshank an alleged  network of personal connections between those then running Guys Hospital in London in 1830.  The subtitle is 'Sevilty Rewarded'