Learn about evolving English at upcoming London exhibition

London weekend break

Event: Evolving English exhibition
Date: November 13th 2010 to April 2011
Location: The British Library

Linguistics-lovers are to be challenged to question their aversion to 'text-speak English' at an upcoming London exhibition.

Aimed at highlighting the ways in which people have always adapted the English language to suit themselves, the Evolving English: One Language, Many Voices exhibition will include exhibits from Anglo-Saxon times as well as modern day Britain.

Among the top exhibits to go on display at the British Library include a poem dating from 1867 which contains the line "I wrote 2 U B4", in addition to a pamphlet from the writer and satirist Jonathan Swift calling for more to be done to protect the language.

"We hope the exhibition celebrates diversity across the UK and across the world," explained the British Library's Jonnie Robinson.

"We have constantly absorbed languages which come into contact with us."

The exhibition will open on November 13th and run until April 2011.

Before then, guests enjoying a London weekend getaway and heading to the library are able to view a special exhibition devoted to maps across the ages.