Behind the Words: The FCO, Hegemonolingualism and the End of Britain’s Freedom

Product Description Politically correct pundits have been attempting to relegate Standard English to the status of a dialect, since they have succumbed to the idea that it is connected to 'class'. This book tears up this falsehood, pointing out that it is a question of education far more than of class. And, even then, why attack class? This linguistic disease has now infected the British Civil Service, and, in turn, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, once regarded as the bastion of good, clear English. The book demonstrates, through original texts, how FCO English has deteriorated in the last thirty years, owing to a combination of the attack on Standard English, (American) globalisation, the unfettered electronification of communications, Twitter, Blairism, and even attitudes towards sex. The upshot is that, in tandem with the US-influenced invasion of clear, traditional English, has come a serious loss in Britain's independence. About the Author William Mallinson is a former Member of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service who left to study for, and was awarded, his PhD at the London School of Economics and Political Science's Department of International History. Following a period in business as European Public Affairs Manager at ITT's European Headquarters in Brussels, and then Digital Equipment Corporation's in Geneva, he turned his attention to the academic world. He is now Lecturer in British History, Literature and Culture at the Ionian University. Since 1994, when he was awarded a Greek Government scholarship, he has been perusing British Foreign Office, Ministry of Defence, Prime Minister's Office and Cabinet archives. He has also published several articles in the press, and has spoken at numerous conferences. He is an occasional lecturer at the Greek National Defence School, particularly on Britain and Russia/USSR. He speaks, reads and writes French, German, Italian, and Dutch, and has a working knowledge of Greek. His publications include: Public Lies and Private Truths; Cyprus: A Modern History; Cyprus, Diplomatic History and the Clash of Theory in International Relations; Britain and Cyprus: Key Themes and Documents since World War Two; and The Game for Rhodes. He has also published numerous articles and reviews in academic refereed journals, including "Enosis, Socio-Cultural Imperialism and Strategy: Difficult Bedfellows" in Middle Eastern Studies; "Britain, Cyprus, Turkey, the USA and Greece in 1977: Critical Submission or Submissive Criticism?" in Journal of Contemporary History; and "Spies, Jolly Hockeysticks and Imperialism in Cyprus" in Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies.