Because Language (becauselangpod)
@becauselanguage.com
A show about linguistics, the science of language. Your hosts (in order of coolness): Hedvig Skirgård, Daniel Midgley, and Ben Ainslie (tie for 2nd). patreon.com/becauselangpod
We're insulting each other in the Shakespearean way. You can see how translating the Bard could be hard. New episode with Daniel Hahn, author of "If This Be Magic". becauselanguage.com/142-if-this-... Shakespeare Insult Generator codepo8.github.io/shakespeare-...
Some of the greatest scenes go one syllable at a time. New episode with Daniel Hahn, author of If This Be Magic: The Unlikely Art of Shakespeare in Translation. Wherever you get your podcasts. becauselanguage.com/142-if-this-... @doubledaybooks.bsky.social @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social
spherical bastard #WordOfTheWeek Not to be confused with spherical cows
Rob Arnol@robertarnol.bsky.social · 7d agoMorning. ☕️
Very pleased to find that Bluesky is now the place where I can reliably find good research ideas for the show, and the bad site is not any longer
Caitlin has a certificate and she will defend it. Just some of the zany hijinks we get up to when it's time for Related or Not. Check out our latest episode with @dannybate.com and @caitlinmoriah.bsky.social! becauselanguage.com/141-why-q-ne...
Our spelling mistakes are *fixing* English. New episode with Danny Bate, author of "Why Q Needs U" Get it in all the podcast places. becauselanguage.com/141-why-q-ne... @dannybate.com @blinkbooks.bsky.social
Banning languages in voting information or forms is a common tactic to lower turnout and prevent representation
The Socialist Dad@thesocialistdad.bsky.social · 3w agoSo apparently we aren't even allowed to use our own language any more Reform can fuck off
To DISCARD was originally to get rid of a card in a game. To DIVEST was to take off your vest (and your other vestments). Follow us for more obvious-in-retrospect word histories
ICYMI: New episode with Christopher Summerfield, author of "These Strange New Minds" AI agents are a little *too* affirming. Maybe that's not such a good idea. Watch us on YouTube, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. becauselanguage.com/140-these-st...
"Have some more parmesan," I tell daughter (9yo), sprinkling some on her mac 'n' cheese. "I'm the Good Parmesan Fairy." "Is the fairy good? Or just the parmesan?" she asks. 🥲 She is my child. #LinguisticParenting
How persuasive are large language models? Very. Oxford professor Christopher Summerfield @summerfieldlab.bsky.social reveals some concerns. He's the author of "These Strange New Minds". Full episode: becauselanguage.com/140-these-st... @vikingbooksuk.bsky.social
‘Father’ and ‘dad’ are synonyms. ‘Figure’ and ‘bod’ are synonyms. But, a ‘father figure’ and a ‘dad bod’ aren’t exactly the same thing…
15 June is Uyghur Language Day www.uyghurcongress.org/en/26131/ It's a good day to remember that governments are carrying out language oppression and a lot of brave people are working to maintain their language under unbelievable conditions.
uyghurcongress.org
I have been working on societal impacts of language technology since late 2016, and my nightmare example since pretty early on has been using automatic transcription in emergency services systems. And today I learn it's happening *in my own city* www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news... Short 🧵>>
Seattle uses AI to help triage, divert 911 medical calls
The Seattle Fire Department started using AI technology during live 911 calls in 2023. There hasn't been any public review process.
seattletimes.com
And I don't like pompous dipshits, but we are both going to have to get used to disappointment, Lou.
The Guardian@theguardian.com · 2mo agoThe hill I will die on: I really don’t like ‘like’ – or other imprecise and redundant speech | Louis de Bernières
Non-alcoholic beer is a kind of beer. Discuss.
Katja Politt@lingucat.bsky.social · 2mo agoNew example for semantics class just dropped 👀
What's your favourite bird? Ben's got his! We're talking about Australian magpies with Dr Stephanie Mason @stephaniellaura.bsky.social on this episode. Available on all the podcast things becauselanguage.com/139-magpie-s...
Dr Stephanie Mason @stephaniellaura.bsky.social has studied Australian magpies, and has found that these clever birds combine their calls. What do they sound like? And what does this mean for language? Find out in our new episode! becauselanguage.com/139-magpie-s...
I love linguistics more than I love any physical being
Happy birthday to book! I really enjoyed our talk about it. becauselanguage.com/123-consciou...
123: Conscious Language (with Karen Yin) – Because Language
becauselanguage.com
Karen Yin (Nice to Eat You / Scholastic) 🧙🏻♀️🧁@karenyin.bsky.social · 2mo agoHappy 2nd birthday to “The Conscious Style Guide”! 🎁 What a whirlwind it has been since my wonderful agent sold it in a two-day bidding war between six houses. I could not have predicted that my life’s work would be published in Canada, the UK, Australia, and… More: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
The best feeling in the world. Signing books for the third sold out night this week for How To Kill A Language
New Cambridge Element, Microlearning with GenAI, by Lucas Kohnke, out now! Read for free for the next 2 weeks at https://cup.org/3PUkEVh
