Arts

‘One nihil’, ‘fifteen l’oeuf’ - exploring the origins of sports words

If you aren't a sports fan, the language of sport might seem inescapable.

Either the ball’s in your court and you’ve got into the full swing, or else you’re about to throw in the towel and have to hope you’ll be saved by the bell. Sports jargon and idioms permeate the way we use English.

Exhibition on 'the map that changed the world'

200 years ago William Smith published the first geological map of England and Wales. A new exhibition at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History tells the story of the life of Smith, the 'father of geology'.

The exhibition is called 'Handwritten in Stone: How William Smith and his maps changed geology', and runs from this Friday (9 October) to 31 January 2016.

2015/16 Humanitas Visiting Professors announced

Tom Stoppard, Simon Schama, Stephen Greenblatt, the Assad Brothers and Christian Thielmann have been announced as Humanitas Visiting Professors at Oxford University over the next academic year.

This month, Professor Stephen Greenblatt will give two public lectures in Oxford as Humanitas Visiting Professor of Museums, Galleries and Libraries.

Why do we still talk about the dodo?

Countless animals have gone extinct over the years but the dodo is one of only a few to be remembered. A special day of events at Oxford University will investigate why this bird has remained so popular.

'The Oxford Dodo: Culture at the Crossroads' will be held on 18 November 2015 to celebrate the life and legacy of the dodo.

The 'unknown army' - exploring India's role in World War Two

The story of the “unknown army” of ordinary people in South Asia working for the Allies in the Second World War has been told by an Oxford University historian.

Celebrating 200 years since birth of Ada Lovelace

Celebrations are beginning for the 200th anniversary of the birth of computer visionary Ada Lovelace in December.

In an article published in 1843, Ada Lovelace imagined a future in which programmable machines would be essential to the progress of science, and might even be used to create art and music.

Business and museum experts help cultural organisations to be more entrepreneurial

A programme run by Oxford University Museums in partnership with experts from the Said Business School aims to teach cultural organisations to be more entrepreneurial.

What did words used to sound like?

What did ancient words spoken in Europe and Asia over 6,000 years ago sound like?

A project at Oxford University is using scientific methods to answer this question.

The Apocalypse in Oxford launches: it’s not the end of the world

From deadly pandemic to asteroid strike, most of us can name a few ways the world might end. The end of the world as we know it fuels Hollywood plots and bestsellers. But is this a modern phenomenon?

'Mic drop', 'Grexit' and 'wine o'clock' added to OxfordDictionaries.com

Four times a year, OUP's free online dictionary OxfordDictionaries.com updates its list of words.

In the latest list of additions, announced today, there are a number of words used mainly by young people, often referring to food, drink and technology.

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