The Mother Tongue | The Story of English
Robert Macneil presents the second programme in this series tracing the history of the English language from its roots to present day.
Tweet- Clip length: 54'10''
- Broadcast year: 1986
- English Language
Licence: ERA Licence required
UK only
Staff and students of licensed education establishments only
Cannot be adapted
- Provider: BBC
- Channel: BBC Two
- Programme: The Story of English
- Series: 1
- Episode: The Mother Tongue
![](https://era.org.uk/app/uploads/2023/03/THE_STORY_OF_ENGLISH_9_THE_EMPIRE_STRIKES_BACK-00-02-49-00-57-39-400x230.jpg)
The Empire Strikes Back | The Story of English
Film looks at former British colonies Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Barbados, Jamaica and India as well as the language of the Caribbean and Asians in Britain
![](https://era.org.uk/app/uploads/2023/03/THE_STORY_OF_ENGLISH_8_THE_LOADED_WEAPON_-00-02-34-00-56-33-400x230.jpg)
The Loaded Weapon | The Story of English
Robert Macneil explores troubled story of Irish-English in North and South Ireland Gaelic speaking Irish through famine, conflict and the dramatic exile of Irish voices to communities in Caribbean, Newfoundland and New York.