The Linguist’s Calendar: September 30

Brugge, Belguim

September 30

1920: In the wake of the First World War, Belgium abolishes the linguistic rights of its German-speaking minority. German regains its co-official status twelve years later.

The Linguist’s Calendar: September 29

Elizabeth Elstob

September 29

1693: The first known female Anglicist, Elizabeth Elstob, later to write The Rudiments of Grammar for the English-Saxon Tongue is born.

The Linguist’s Calendar: September 28

September 28
 
1995: The Minimalist Program becomes available in paperback. 

2001: Eric Plunkett is found dead at Gallaudet University in Washington, where he was a student. Upon his arrest, the murderer Joseph Mesa later blames his action on voices in his head. Since Mesa is deaf, however, these were not literally speaking voices, but glove-clad hands urging him to kill—in American Sign.

The Linguist’s Calendar: September 27

Noah Webster

September 27

1790: Lexicographer Noah Webster is urged by his friend Daniel George to compile a dictionary.
 
1998: In a referendum, 56,4% of the voters in Schleswig-Holstein vote against the introduction of the new German orthography.

The Linguist’s Calendar: September 26

Flag of the European Union

September 26

2001: As a part of the European year of languages, the European Union organizes the European Day of Languages throughout its member states.

The Linguist’s Calendar: September 25

Palace of Europe in Strasbourg

September 25

1995: Hungary ratifies the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages.
 
2003: Russophone Latvians protest outside the Palace of Europe in Strasbourg, seeking official recognition of the Russian language by the Latvian authorities.

The Linguist’s Calendar: September 24

Basil Bernstein

September 24 
2000: Basil “restricted code” Bernstein dies at the age of 76.