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Johnny Unger

@johnnyunger.bsky.social
584 followers 590 following 67 posts

he/him, linguist, critical discourse analyst, tea anarchist extraordinaire, dadcore, vegan, foodie, ❄️, dad, intersectional feminist, D&D nerd (not necessarily in that order) Latest publication: doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2023.101825

PostsRepliesMedia
Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Why yes, I am excited to be going to @cadaad.bsky.social to hang out with some of the most awesome discourse studies people on the planet, thank you for asking!
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
I wonder if BlueSky is still a bit like early Twitter... Question for UK academics who've had funding success with the British Academy: did you include citations and references in your research proposal or just citations? The word count restrictions are tough!
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
I am in this
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Ok, hear me out… I want to organise a dumpling party in June: Dim Summernight’s Dream Who’s in?
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Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life.
Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage.
I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys.
I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show,
A show that I named and helped develop over all those years.
Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry.
These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenterIn a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices.
Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'.
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I chose the latter.
It broke my heart.
I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make.
I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer.
I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence.
One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career.I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more.
I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost".
James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice.
Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences.
I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness.
Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire.
I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal.
I am so sorry to let you down.
I hope that you can understand my reasoning.
I have to accept that I am not what the current
BBC expects of their freelance presenters.Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not
"just a job"
I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world.
From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too.
The strawberry is dead.
Long live the strawberry. B
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
Attending the ADDA conference in Tilburg - just remembered how I used to live-tweet conference talks in the olden days when Twitter wasn’t a cesspit yet… anyway, I won’t live-post through @carotagg.bsky.social’s talk on Device attending - feels too meta! 🤣
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Mike Caulfield @mikecaulfield.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
This article helped me understand how the fact that Eurovision is a product of the EBU puts Eurovision in a bind. I think they can't let this continue, but it did make me realize it's more complex than I thought. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Why is Israel still in Eurovision? The answer is more complex than you might think | Chris West
The war in Gaza means the European Broadcasting Union is risking its liberal reputation, but to ban Israel would be to undermine the organisation’s fundamental purpose, says author Chris West
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Albania’s entry feels like it should finish with the words “Thank you, Daddy”! #Eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
San Marino: the song everyone would dance to at your auntie’s 3rd wedding #Eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
France. Very sandy! #Eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Denmark will loo-oo-oo-ose #Eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Portugal. Good thing I set my alarm for 3 minutes from the start of the song 🥱 #Eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
I’m still confused about what Malta’s entry has to do with a 18th-Century German philosopher #Eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Switzerland definitely doesn’t want to win again this year #Eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Armenia know their audience #Eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Germany’s song is what happens when music producers like Nena and watched lots of MTV in the 90s #Eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Poland wins “Most dull song following a somewhat exciting opening” #Eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Italy’s piano is almost as long as this song seems #Eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Finland’s entry seems appropriate for the 69th #Eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
I’m sure when I visit the Netherlands next week people will be singing this in the streets #eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Latvia’s entry really does not make me want to visit Latvia #eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Iceland are just so excited! And so glittery! And so excited! #eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Austria was a bit damp #eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Just got off the phone to Disney and they’re suing #UK #eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Ukraine was psychadelic. Not sure that made up for the song though #eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Spain calling herself melody was a brave choice, given the song… #eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Lithuania’s singer looks like he’s died and gone to heaven on stage. Or maybe just died on stage? #eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Time for a watermelon break #eurovision
Watermelon slices
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
“Winners Cafe” seems a bit optimistic on Estonia’s part. The dancing is amazing though #eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Luxembourg is taking the p*ss… everyone else has to do their own dancing! #eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Norway: never has a chain mail tracksuit looked this good 🤔#eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Prepare for Eurovision snark! You have been warned! #eurovision
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
This open letter on the transphobic Supreme Court ruling and subsequent responses is absolutely spot on. If you are an academic/educator, please sign docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... #transphobia #transrights #humanrights #gender
docs.google.com
Not In Our Name: Feminist Academics and Educators Speak Out Against Transphobia
We call on all trans-inclusive feminist academics and educators to sign this statement: ‘Not In Our Name’ We are non-trans feminist academics and educators. We write in support of trans rights, tran...
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Linguists (particular those who work in the US): is AAVE still a widely used/commonly accepted term?
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
Nerdery is always political. Check out this incisive new article by @tjohnlinward.bsky.social www.wargamer.com/zeo-genesis/...
wargamer.com
Hot new wargame Zeo Genesis is all-American - but tariffs could still kill it
Daniel Block “simply would not have started” his ambitious American miniature making company if Trump’s tariffs had been in place earlier.
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
@herring1967.bsky.social if you don’t already listen to Blindboy, would highly recommend - and this episode in particular seems very on brand for you!
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
M-W showing what a force for good lexicographers can be
Tweet from Merriam-Webster dictionaries that reads:
People keep
1) saying they don’t know what ‘genderqueer’ means
then
2) asking why we added it to the dictionary 

Followed by a screenshot of their definition of genderqueer
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Jessica Aiston @jessaiston.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
My monograph 'Male Separatism: Discourse, Ideology, Argumentation' is now available for purchase as an ebook with John Benjamins, though you will need to pre-order for a physical copy. benjamins.com/catalog/daps...
benjamins.com
Male Separatism
This book offers a critical discourse analytical perspective on the phenomenon of men who voluntarily abstain from relationships with women. It contributes to the growing body of literature on the man...
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Sofia Rüdiger @sofiaruediger.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
The International Society for the #Linguistics of English #ISLE is launching two new prizes this year: 1) ISLE Teaching Innovation Prize 2) ISLE Outreach Prize Each comes with a small cash prize & other goodies; application date: 30 April 2025. More info at www.isle-linguistics.org/activities/i...
isle-linguistics.org
ISLE Prizes | The International Society for the Linguistics of English
ISLE's teaching innovation and outreach prize
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Matt Donoghue @drdonoghue.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
This Twitter thread is instructive in thinking about use of generative AI in higher education, too. AI essays, to be blunt, can get a passing grade, but they will be so mediocre, and lack precision, that they become identifiable - or at least suspected. AI for now *blunts* independent learning, imo.
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
Will definitely be ordering this for the library!
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Sofia Rüdiger @sofiaruediger.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
The grand season finale of the #OSSO (Online Selves-Self Online) digital talk series (org. with @coocho.bsky.social) is coming up on Dec 11: Don't miss Alex Georgakopoulou's talk on "Re-positioning Positioning Analysis for Stories and Identities Online"! forms.office.com/e/LVmB9NYtPh #linguistics
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
UK Academics: Does anyone else feel personally attacked by the USS survey? 😅 #academia #shitacademicssay #pensions #whatworklifeboundary
Text from a survey showing the question "When do you think you will fully retire?", and various responses from "In the Next year to "I am already retired". One response, "I do not ever intend to fully retire" is highlighted
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
Two sessions left this term!
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Micah @rincewind.run · 24/11/2024
some thoughts on starter packs, after the last couple weeks: first, the good - they are phenomenal onboarding tools, the best I’ve ever seen for social media getting started and populating your feed is the biggest reason people bounce off new sites, and starter packs have made it so much easier
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
First time I’ve seen sign-language announcements on a train departures screen. Nice work, whoever runs Peterborough station! #UKtrainadventures
A train departures board showing various delayed train services. Someone is signing in the bottom right corner.
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
Hats off to whoever came up with this for Puccino’s train station cafe in Hitchin
White text on a blue board that says “Queueueueue” (the word queue with extra letters) with a cafe counter in the background.
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Jay 🦋 @jay.bsky.team · 23/11/2024
Bluesky's firehose is a treasure trove of public data for researchers and developers, and it's completely free. Check out our developer docs: docs.bsky.app
docs.bsky.app
Bluesky Documentation | Bluesky
Explore guides and tutorials to the Bluesky API.
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Johnny Unger @johnnyunger.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Very much looking forward to seeing this in print @jessaiston.bsky.social !
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Nate's Myth @natesmith.dev · 20/11/2024
English is just three Germanic languages in a French coat
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