... Speaking by numbers 0 alive in our collective subconscious seems the phone’s early hearing sflHieoe and stand that we still say “hang up”, “off the hook” me a bell”. The American company became known some grudging affection as Ma Bell in the United States ...

... Double-speak on Sir, - Michael Scott, of Scottish Countryside and Wildlife Link, seeks to J\m&uflom of the “celebrity to the Cairngorm funicular proLect (Letters, 6 June). Of course he would. He was one of those behind the publicity stunt to draw in the ...

... Plain speaking RE the reference by my esteemed award-winning colleague, Kenneth Roy, to La Mancha in West Lothian. Could this, asks'A Reader, in any way be related to Lamancha in Peeblesshire, so named because of its resemblance to the hot, dry Span ish ...

... Double-speak VENTS in Europe are embarrassing the British Government in a manner that will force it to come clean over the single European currency. Labour and its allies in big business would have us believe that scrapping the pound for the euro is a ...

... RELATIVELY SPEAKING Creative reading IF the thought of your child glued to Teletubbies or their Nintendo for six weeks of summer holidays fills you with horror, then Dillons the bookshop may be able to help. The newly launched Read Away, Play Away promotion ...

... Fester speaks “HELLO, Fester. Who's been a na’t_iflty boy; then?” . “For the last time, I'm a cockatoo, not a parrot. A sulphur-crested cockatoo, got it? I don’t talk.” g . “The same cockatoo, the head-keeper tells me, who was abducted from his cage, ...

... Oracle-speak WE knew it would happen. The University of Edinburgh has advertised for an Oracle Analyst, pretty much a waste of time, given it has already been revealed the Pythian Princess at ...

... Speaking Out.:. News; Weather. . Cover Stories. News After Noon. News. Colinßell. ; Ritchie. : Newsdrive. : Cover Stories. L A Brief History Of Opera. Outdoor Conditions. News. M‘MQ- The Trio. Weather. The Usual Suspects. Colin Bell. Weather. As World ...

... Speaking In tongues Alan Garner’s children’s books captivated a generation, and his adult work bewitched them when they grew up. Could he top that with a play? Sir Alex Ferguson and Prince Charles think so. ...

... Speaking out ENCOURAGING people to speak out against injustice is laudable. There is certainly much injustice about which to speak. But sgeaking out brings with it a responsibility to be seen as capable also of listening. _ There will be much speakmgg)ut ...

... Speaking their language DONALD Dewar is steeped in Scotland — its history, its politics, its language — so it is hardly surprising that Scottish idi_o_ms trip off his tongue. He bewildered Labour delegates with one when he told them from the conference ...

... Speaking in tongues LANGUAGE difficulties (contd): A Reader writes of her move to Fife and a small boy in her class anxious to describe his- exploits which involved spelling: “meedies.” Baffled, the new teacher asked another member of staff who spelt ...