Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 03/03/2025Fascinating insights from Thomas Mayo about childhood, the Torres Strait, the referendum and what’s next for Indigenous policy. 020
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 01/03/2025Here we go again apnews.com/article/trum...apnews.comTrump expected to sign order designating English as the official language of the USPresident Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States. That's according to the White House. 040
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 28/02/2025Terrific to talk to and develop projects with Myanmar educators this week, always cheerful and committed despite the very difficult conditions they face. I find it a privilege to work with them. 030
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 28/02/2025“The organisations on strike are collectively calling for a new funding model for Foras na Gaeilge and for the organisation to reverse the cuts if it receives additional funding from the governments.” www.bbc.com/news/article...bbc.comIrish language: First 'strike' over cross-border funding cutsIrish language organisations in Belfast and Derry will close their doors over cuts to Foras na Gaeilge. 031
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 27/02/2025“…the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history…”. Art 30 protects children minority or Indigenous children, to practice their religion, use their language. The convention built momentum & change for years, but now needs boosting. www.unicef.org/child-rights...unicef.orgConvention on the Rights of the ChildFind out about the world’s most widely ratified human rights treaty in history 020
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 18/02/2025This is so disappointing but not very surprising. Such a pity that basic electoral and democratic literacy is so poorly appreciated. “Australian students record worst ever civics result with 72 per cent not understanding the basics of democracy” www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02...abc.net.auCall for 'immediate' curriculum overhaul after 'shocking' civics resultsNational test results show just 28 per cent of Year 10 students are proficient in civics. 020
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 15/02/2025Meet ‘Solar’ Soe Win, moonlighting as spruiker of photo-voltaic cells, day job number 2 in a brutal military murderous junta. www.irrawaddy.com/specials/jun...irrawaddy.comJunta No.2 Turns Solar Salesman After Military Eclipse; Scam Crackdown on Karen Allies; and MoreAlso this week, the regime signaled further election delays, and lost more territory amid reports of a growing crisis in the ranks. 010
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 13/02/2025Finally it’s here. Our book is titled ‘Language Politics in Tunisia: A Study of Language Ideological Debates’, and my co-author is Dr Fethi Helal. Till the end of February you can get a 60% discount with the code LPT60 on the MM website: bit.ly/4aT6ycU lnkd.in/gsNr8zJGbit.lyLanguage Politics in TunisiaThis book offers both a nuanced picture of language ideologies and language policies in post-Arab Spring Tunisia and a detailed critical and interdisciplinary model of Language Policy and Planning. T... 195
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 12/02/2025The ‘scale of the misconduct is staggering’. It sure is, plus outrageous and predictable (and predicted by many of us). amp.abc.net.au/article/1049...amp.abc.net.auThe fake qualifications and financial fraud of Australia's shadowy private college sector - ABC News 010
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 07/02/2025Disgust is one of the first words they’ve deciphered. Can’t wait to find out more. www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-02...ox.ac.ukInside of Herculaneum scroll seen for the first time in almost 2,000The Bodleian Libraries and the Vesuvius Challenge have announced a historic breakthrough in the endeavour to decipher text preserved on papyrus scrolls from the ancient site of Herculaneum. 000
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 07/02/2025Are whales talking? Hmm, 'language-like' and 'language' are not the same thing, as the clarifying Dr Allen explains. amp.abc.net.au/article/1048...amp.abc.net.auWhales communicate with a 'language-like' structure similar to humans - ABC News 020
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 05/02/2025Donald Trump Jr shoots a protected Venetian duck. www.repubblica.it/politica/202...repubblica.itDonald Trump junior spara a specie protette nella laguna di Venezia: la denuncia di Avs 010
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 01/02/2025In all spheres but in international politics specialised professional interpreting and translating are indispensable to being serious and yet our national effort in language teaching continues to erode. 031
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 01/02/2025On the 4th anniversary of the violent overthrow of the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, this Statement on Myanmar by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs. www.dfat.gov.au/news/media-r...dfat.gov.au 000
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 29/01/2025Hey everybody, Kristof has very helpfully extracted a few highlights from his terrific new book. 031
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 29/01/2025“This discovery changes what we thought we knew about babies’ early language learning. It suggests babies start figuring out patterns at four months, well before they begin perceptually attuning to the sounds of their native language between six and 12 months.” theconversation.com/babies-as-yo...theconversation.comBabies as young as 4 months can tell how the sounds of different languages are made – new researchThe findings shake up previous ideas about language learning – and give us an earlier window to help children who might be at risk of speech or language delays. 061
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 20/01/2025Coming up tomorrow. I’ll be hosting this seminar on the role of writers and writing in the Myanmar conflict, featuring Ma Thida and Michelle Aung Thin, please read their remarkable bios and stories in the attachment, and join if you can. 010
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 17/01/2025Saya harap Anda menikmati membaca laporan ini. It’s great to see the publication of the research by ACOLA and AAH on Mapping Australia’s Indonesia Research Capability. Below pls find the two-page summary for those with limited time, and the full report. www.linkedin.com/posts/joseph...linkedin.comJoseph (call me Joe) Lo Bianco on LinkedIn: Fact Sheet - Australia and IndonesiaSaya harap Anda menikmati membaca laporan ini. It’s great to see the publication of the research by ACOLA and AAH on Mapping Australia’s Indonesia Research… 000
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 16/01/2025The splendid cover of our book is a painting by Habib Bouhawel depicting meetings of the Jama’at taht al-sur literary group at the Below the Ramparts Cafe, in which key figures of Tunisia’s literary and cultural elite debate independence. 062
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 16/01/2025It’s out! Ten years of long distance collaboration, much respect to my co-author & friend Fethi and all who collaborated. We feel the book makes a contribution to language policy (theory, critique and method), to language rights and problem-solving. www.bibdsl.co.uk/bds-images/l... 0111
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 16/01/2025All welcome: seminar on activist literature & writers in Myanmar conflict. It will be my honour to host Ma Thida & Michelle Aung Thin who will discuss the ongoing conflict, prospects for success of the revolution & solidarity we can offer democratic forces & democratic culture of civil society. 011
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 14/01/2025Latest ABC feature on bilingual homes and challenges/support for raising children bilinguals. Keep it up ABC. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...abc.net.auHow to raise bilingual children in Australia, where English reigns supremeThe social and cognitive benefits of knowing two or more languages, especially from childhood, are well-established. Here's how experts say it can be done. 052
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 10/01/2025Trump making parliamentary Danes smile. x.com/thefl0orisla...x.comx.com 010
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 10/01/2025 Join us on January 22 for this important discussion on the role of writers and writing in the Myanmar conflict, featuring Ma Thida and Michelle Aung Thin, please read their remarkable bios and stories in the attachment. www.linkedin.com/posts/joseph...linkedin.comJoseph (call me Joe) Lo Bianco on LinkedIn: Join us on January 22 for this important discussion on the role of writers…Join us on January 22 for this important discussion on the role of writers and writing in the Myanmar conflict, featuring Ma Thida and Michelle Aung Thin… 032
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 08/01/2025Here’s the link to the Special issue of the Australian Review of Applied Linguistics 47:3 (2024): Decolonizing or recolonizing? AI through the eyes of applied linguists, language teachers, and language learners. benjamins.com/catalog/aral...benjamins.comTentative Reliant on Reviewer FeedbackIssue of Australian Review of Applied Linguistics 081
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 08/01/2025ARAL Special Issue: "Decolonizing or recolonizing? AI through the eyes of applied linguists, language teachers and language learners", eds Dobinson, Chen & Steele, Curtin U, perspectives and research on AI affordances and threats in lang learning/teaching. Find out more: 🔗 Find out more: 000
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 08/01/2025Funding for Asia Pacific professionals to attend Oct 2025 activity in Melbourne on combattibg gender based violence. Pls read eligibility etc carefully. x.com/josephlobian...x.comx.com 001
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 01/01/2025World Endangered Writing Day coming up, 23 January. 141
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 22/12/2024“…once formidable Myanmar military is cracking from within - riddled with spies secretly working for the pro-democracy rebels”, report and data set worth close study www.bbc.com/news/article...bbc.comSoldier-spies in Myanmar help pro-democracy rebels make gainsLeaked intelligence from military spies is helping turn the civil war in the resistance’s favour, BBC finds. 012
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 20/12/2024 Crossing boundaries w language laws and territory www.theguardian.com/world/2024/d...theguardian.comTrain conductor’s bilingual morning greeting raises hackles in BelgiumIlyass Alba welcomed passengers onboard a rush-hour train in Dutch and French – flouting strict language rules 030
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 18/12/2024Vale Bill Labov, few scholars will ever have his impact and originality 0100
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 18/12/2024Congratulations to Dr Susanne Stanyer, 2024 winner of the Penny McKay Award (PhD UNSW) Teacher assessment literacy: The relationship between language awareness and writing assessment behaviour. 010
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 16/12/2024Who said: My battery is low and it's getting dark? 110
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 16/12/2024Important to note that Malaysia’s Federal Court was called on adjudicate on the legality of MT education recently. In Feb 2024 it ruled in support of vernacular schools, effectively endorsing the constitutional right to mother tongue education and Malaysia’s multi-stream education system. 030
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 16/12/2024It’s out. MLE in SE Asia. Congratulations Dr Helen Ting Mu Hung, Dong Zong, and all contributors: Cambodia, Philippines, S Thailand, Sabah, Sarawak, Orang Asli + Chinese, Malay, English issues in peninsular Malaysia. Recommend this book. 050
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 12/12/2024End 2024 looms, pls check out our Springer LP books. Terry Wiley (co-editor) and I are steering several new volumes thru the pipeline, widening research, author backgrounds/interests, critical concepts and analysis.springer.comLanguage PolicyThe last half century has witnessed an explosive shift in language diversity involving a rapid spread of global languages and an associated threat to small ... 140
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 11/12/2024It’s OECD survey release time. The Survey of Adult Skills (part of the PIAAC), measures literacy proficiency + numeracy and problem solving among adults (2nd Cycle 31 countries 2022-2023 results Dec 2024), lots of countries will be and should be concerned. www.oecd.org/en/about/pro...oecd.orgPIAACThe Survey of Adult Skills, a product of the PIAAC, measures adults’ proficiency in literacy, numeracy and problem solving. 000
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 09/12/2024"I'm 37 years old and I don't speak a word of my language," he read. www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12...abc.net.auNew project aims for every Kimberley child to speak their grandparents' languageMaureen Deegan's mum had to relearn her own language, Jaru, which she had not been allowed to speak. Now Maureen is helping others to keep their languages alive. 0173
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 07/12/2024The amazing Julie Choi has just written a book about Kimchi, and it’s amazing (the book, kimchi and Julie are all amazing), here we are at Footscray Language in Community Festival (VietSpeak), which is great. 030
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 05/12/2024The postie just delivered the fruit of over 2 years effort, always a pleasure when the published volume turns up: and this is more substantial than it seemed when we conceived the book, requested the contributions, reviewed and revised the chapters. Thanks so much Elizabeth, Mark and authors. 060
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 04/12/2024The word cuts doesn’t come close to describing this slash and burn, solidarity to NZ/Aotearoa colleagues and an ominous signal to us. 😢 www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...rnz.co.nzGovernment's Marsden Fund cuts: All humanities, social sciences research funding slashedCutting all research funding for the fields is a massive step backwards, critics say. 032
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 02/12/2024Thanks Sophie Loy-Wilson, Adrian Vickers & Giorgia Alù for inviting me to launch Australian Historical Studies issue & project Australia’s Multilingual Archive, here at Sydney University. Impressive & important, archive enriches history studies w non-English sources. omaa-arts.sydney.edu.auomaa-arts.sydney.edu.auHome - Opening the Multilingual Archive of Australia (OMAA)Opening the Multilingual Archive of Australia brings together historical materials from national and international collections in languages other than 021
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 30/11/2024 “…reasonable grounds to believe…Min Aung Hlaing… bears criminal responsibility for the …deportation and persecution of the Rohingya….This is the first application for an arrest warrant against a high-level Myanmar government official….More will follow.” www.icc-cpi.int/news/stateme...icc-cpi.intStatement of ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan KC: Application for an arrest warrant in the situation in Bangladesh/MyanmarToday, my Office is filing an application for a warrant of arrest before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court in the Situation in Bangladesh/Myanmar. Image ICC Prosecutor Khan on ap... 073
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 26/11/2024Sirajul is citing my praise of his poetry, grateful to promote it again; it’s inspirational work but asks for more effort to end the dictatorship, defend innocent civilians/minorities, end persecution of Rohingya,extend civil rights to all, release political prisoners. x.com/ro_sirajul/s...x.comx.com 010
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 22/11/2024Redoubled efforts needed to support return of democracy in #Myanmar and end military impunity, as junta continues its brutal violence against its people. Met w National Unity Government (NUG) delegates & other pro-democracy reps past days, great to see ethnic and lang rights high up in NUG policy. 053
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 21/11/2024Announcing the Linguapax Award for 2024, ‘for actions on behalf of linguistic diversity’, pls study the eligibility and processes (who can nominate/who can be nominated), and send documentation to premi@linguapax.org by Feb 21, 2025. More information at Linguapax Award Terms of Reference. 021
Joe Lo Bianco @joelobianco.bsky.social · 20/11/2024After years of solid work on Greek language education we took the big step of incorporating the Pharos Alliance, pictured here at our first meeting. Honoured to be asked to serve as president. 1 Dec at La Trobe Univ is our first national symposium, join us there or online. 063