Peter Rhodes on e-translation, superstitions and whispers of cocaine at the Beeb
The decline of our once-great nation continues with news that more schoolchildren now study Physical Education as an exam subject than learn a foreign language. But is it a national tragedy, or are we simply seeing kids responding to technology?
First-generation translation devices smaller than smartphones can already turn simple English into the language of your choice. Who knows what the next few years will bring? And if you're wearing an e-brooch that can discuss the weather in Montpellier in flawless, fluent French, why slog through five school years learning irregular verbs and the past imperfect? Most of us will live to see an age when speaking a foreign language will be a beautiful but rare thing, for which no-one can imagine a purpose. A bit like owning a slide-rule.
The BBC has called in lawyers to look into claims that two Strictly stars have been using cocaine. The allegations are said to be an open secret on the show. I bet.
