The Speech Accent Archive has collected a large number of samples of native and non-native English speakers speaking a common paragraph to show accent differences. The archive is designed for those researchers seeking to compare the importance of accent in communication. The site is useful for teachers of ESL, those wishing to speak with a different accent, linguists and speech pathologists.
As the title of the site points out - this site offers The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, except for his poetry. So, it is really the almost complete works of Shakespeare - but most of it is here. The plays included are all public domain translations.
The National Archives of Britain offers an online tutorial in the study of English writing between 1500 and 1800. This is a valuable research for anyone studying historical documents or the history of the English language.
The Hans Christian Anderson Center offers a wealth of information on the beloved writer. You can find information on his life and works, research materials, and links to further sources of knowledge. This is indeed a full fledged site devoted to the creator of The Princess and the Pea and The Ugly Duckling.
Hanly's Chaucer Scriptorium is dedicated to the study of Chaucer and Medieval literature. Originally put together for Professor Michael Hanly's courses, it is now available for all interested to use. I found the tools for improving my pronunciation of Middle English especially interesting but there are also links to other sites on Medieval literature, images related to The Canterbury Tales, and bibliographic material.
Whether you are trying to speak English the British way or just into new words, the Dictionary of English Slang and Colloquialisms of the UK has all the right stuff. The dictionary explains the words and gives an idea of how they are used in everyday expression. Be warned, as a dictionary of slang, many of the words you find may have meanings that are offensive.
Whether you are interested in learning Chinese or simply are curious about some of the Chinese characters, Zhongwen is a help. Zhongwen shows you how to write Chinese characters, what they mean and links to web texts written in Chinese. It also has a on-line Chinese/English dictionary.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy is a guide to
words, phrases and ideas with which everyone should be familiar - in history, language, science, culture, business, etc. Entries are based upon the idea of a common American culture - so the entries and descriptions will necessarily be different from a similar dictionary for people of a different cultural foundation. Still, it is nice to know how cultured you really are.
The University of Wisconsin has posted a collection of good links and materials for teachers and students of foreign languages from French to Quechua to African languages to English as a second language and more. Links include information on the cultures of those who speak the language, media materials, literature resources and other useful material.
AWAD - A Word A Day offers you a new word for each day to increase your vocabulary. You can get your new word either through the web site or via e-mail. Not only do you learn the meaning and pronunciation of each word, but you also learn something about the word's origins. What a way to impress your friends.
