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Sean McLoughlin teaches Irish language classes in Sydney.

The ‘endangered’ language having its moment in a Sydney pub

Two years ago, the Irish language school had 20 or 30 students attending lessons, now it has between 70 and 80.

  • Aidan Elwig Pollock

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Jane Caro: “I love an expletive and none of them are off the table.”

I’ve always been a proud swearer. There are no ‘bad’ words, just poor uses for them

The ‘worst’ word in the world shows the wonderful complexity - and danger - of language.

  • Jane Caro
Dionne Gain

The C-word is still taboo in Australia. Why can’t we say it out loud?

The absence of this particular word in the national discussion is holding us back.

  • Malcolm Knox
A simple act of kindness can change your day.

I was about to launch into faux politeness. A $1.50 gesture from a stranger changed my mind

I was irritated and ready to unleash words full of contempt wrapped up in faux politeness. A $1.50 gesture from a stranger changed my mind.

  • Fotis Kapetopoulos
Hugh Hartigan, his wife Henny and children Sophia and Tommy.

If Indonesia’s so important, why are we treating its people so badly?

Our relationship with our biggest neighbour is going backwards. It’s a failure of policy and imagination.

  • Hugh Hartigan
Cryptic crosswords

Want to solve cryptic crosswords? Here’s how to crack them

Our experts reveal some of the common cryptic tricks and share their top solving tips.

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Elton John in 1976, when he reckoned ‘sorry’ was the hardest word.

Sorry, Elton, but ‘sorry’ seems to be the easiest word

Apologising for everything and nothing has crept into our vernacular like an audible placeholder, akin to “um” and “like”.

  • Jo Pybus
ONLY to be used with The Washington Post story.
Ciara Moore, the principal  at Scoil na Seolta (School of Sails), a new all-Irish preschool and primary school in East Belfast, teaches a lesson in shape and colors to a class of 4-year-olds. MUST CREDIT: Steve Hendrix/The Washington Post .

The Irish language was driven out of Belfast – now it’s coming back

In a building monitored by CCTV cameras, Ciara Moore sits before a group of preschoolers and does something that some people in this city consider an act of insurgency.

  • Steve Hendrix and Amanda Ferguson
Sydney FC’s Spanish import Victor Campuzano.

The AI earbuds shattering the language barrier in sport dressing room

With tiny AI translators in their ears, Sydney FC’s players and coaches can hold an effortless conversation in several languages. We tried it out. It’s genuinely mind-blowing.

  • Vince Rugari
Learning another language can slow down ageing, new research suggests.

Porque no los dos? Why learning this skill can slow ageing

The ability to speak more than one language is handy for travellers, but new research shows it can also make a difference to how we age.

  • Joe Pinkstone