Category: Languages

From sun safety to sex appeal: what sunscreen ads reveal about beauty ideals and power

6 January 2026

Lauren Alex O’Hagan, The Open University and Lame M. Kenalemang-Palm, Shanghai University In the depths of winter, sunscreen might not be top of many people’s shopping lists. Yet it remains a staple in most households, and many of us are encouraged to use it year-round. But sunscreen’s history reveals more than just protection from the […]

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OU / BBC radio series Word of Mouth returns

4 September 2025

Today (Thurs 4 Sept) a new OU/BBC radio series of Word of Mouth has returned to BBC Radio 4, airing weekly at 15:30 until Thursday 2 October and available to catch up on through BBC Sounds. The series is presented by celebrated author Michael Rosen and explores the world of words and how we use them. Michael explores various areas […]

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Starmer says migrants should speak English – but all of the UK’s languages are important for integration

20 May 2025

When Keir Starmer said: “If you want to live in the UK, you should speak English”, it laid bare an assumption – that English is the only language that counts in the UK, says Sarah Cox, Research Fellow at the Open University. This view not only overlooks the UK’s rich linguistic diversity, but also runs counter […]

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