What can objects tell us about the history of our languages?
Jeremy Smith, author and linguistics specialist, uncovers the unique stories and histories of English and Scots through ten extraordinary objects: a bone, a piece of jewellery, a stone cross, a jug, two manuscripts, two letters, a broadside sheet, and an early printed book. Each object is marked in ways that reveal how language was used in past societies.
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Ten historical objects will be shown on screen, and we’ll hear how their material features have helped reconstruct how texts functioned in their original societies, and how they have been understood since.
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Note: This free event includes a discussion with Jeremy Smith followed by time for audience Q&A. It is suitable for those interested in history, language, and the evolution of English and Scots.