The Linguist’s Calendar: July 23

John Prescott

July 23

1833: Jean-François Sudre, inventor of the artificial language Solrésol, presents his creation to the press and to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts

1999: The BBC reports that in a survey of more than 100 writers, actors and journalists, British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott wins the title “The public figure who most mangles the English language”. The poll respondents consider current English “riddled with misplaced apostrophes, split infinitives, clichés, American forms, and political correctness.”