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Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄

@limorraviv.bsky.social
724 followers 221 following 41 posts

Group leader LEADS MPI_NL & DCC Radboud ➡️ Language Evolution; Cultural Evolution; Animal & Human Cognition; Open Science; DON'T DREAM IT - BE IT!

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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics @mpi-nl.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Pros and cons of sociality across ecological niches: a swarm robotics approach. New paper by Roman Miletitch & all. With @limorraviv.bsky.social doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1872416
doi.org
Frontiers | Pros and cons of sociality across ecological niches: a swarm robotics approach
The evolution of language is closely linked to an increase in human sociality. But when is increased sociality an adaptive strategy? Swarm Robotics, which st...
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Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄 @limorraviv.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
New paper from my lab, where we use swarm robotics simulations to test the ecological conditions that favor more social agents 🤖🤝🤖 Read: www.frontiersin.org/journals/psy...
frontiersin.org
Frontiers | Pros and cons of sociality across ecological niches: a swarm robotics approach
The evolution of language is closely linked to an increase in human sociality. But when is increased sociality an adaptive strategy? Swarm Robotics, which st...
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics @mpi-nl.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
The ‘design features’ of language revisited. Final version by Michael Pleyer & al. with Koen de Reus, @limorraviv.bsky.social doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2025.10.004
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Michael Pleyer @symbolicstorage.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
I have another entry out in the International Encyclopedia of #Language and #Linguistics that I am super happy about! "Language Evolution and Social Networks" (with @limorraviv.bsky.social) doi.org/10.1016/B978...
the title page Key   Points
•   Languages   adapt   to   features   of   social   network   structure,   such   as   population   size,   network   connectivity   and   heterogeneity.
•   Network   structure   in fl uences   linguistic   variability,   convergence   and   rate   of   change   of   languages.
•   The   structure,   systematicity   and   transparency   of   linguistic   systems   is   also   impacted   by   social   network   properties.
•   Observational,   experimental   and   computational   approaches   offer   important   insights   into   the   relationship   of   language  
evolution   and   social   networks.
Abstract
Languages   are   complex   adaptive   systems   that   culturally   evolve   under   different   pressures   and   conditions.   Social   structure,   and  
in   particular   population   size,   network   connectivity,   and   heterogeneity,   play   an   important   role   in   shaping   human   language  
across   multiple   levels   of   analysis.   These   factors   impact   evolutionary   and   communicative   dynamics   such   as   the   degree   of  
variability   versus   uniformity   in   the   linguistic   community,   and   the   rate   at   which   innovations   spread   and   languages   change.  
They   also   in fl uence   the   very   structure   of   languages   by   shaping   the   degree   of   systematicity   and   transparency   of   grammars.  
Synthesizing   observational,   experimental,   and   computational   approaches,   we   shed   light   on   the   complex   relationship  
between   language   evolution   and   network   structure.
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Kensy Cooperrider @kensycoop.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Intriguing! The "waggle dance is a primitive form of a semantic system also found (through convergent evolution) in human language. It is remarkably ancient, at least 20 million years old..." onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
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Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄 @limorraviv.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Want to do an experimental PHD on the evolution of human language? Only one more week left to submit your application!
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Michael Pleyer @symbolicstorage.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Had an amazing time at #EvolangXVI, the 16. International Conference on the Evolution of Language in Plovdiv, Bulgaria! Our lab the Center for Language Evolution Studes at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń was out in full force, a short summary thread of our work 🧵⬇️ #language #linguistics
an image of Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Michael Pleyer @symbolicstorage.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
This is work based on our recent paper in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1364661325002797
Title page
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Michael Pleyer @symbolicstorage.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
w/ mperlman.bsky.social, @glupyan.bsky.social Koen de Reus & @limorraviv.bsky.social we presented work on going "Beyond Hockett's Design Features" evolang.org/2026/proceed...
me presenting
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Michael Pleyer @symbolicstorage.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
And that was #EvolangXVI! Thanks to all the organisers and helpers, it was an amazing experience as always! See you all in 2028 in Nijmegen, NL for #EvolangXVII, organised by @limorraviv.bsky.social @asliozyurek.bsky.social and @profsimonfisher.bsky.social!
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Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄 @limorraviv.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Can't wait for 2028! See you all in Nijmegen!! @evolangconf.bsky.social
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Prof. Dr. Asli Ozyurek @asliozyurek.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Yes!!!! We are hosting #Evolang17!!! Nijmegen ın 2028!!
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Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄 @limorraviv.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
I'm hiring! 📢 Fully funded 4-year PhD position in Language Evolution using Communication Games at @mpi-nl.bsky.social. Come work with me on how different social pressures shape the evolution of new communication systems in the lab! Deadline for application is May 18th! share.google/fGTKbFS4v4Gb...
share.google
Fully funded 4-year PhD position in Language Evolution using Communication Games | Max Planck Institute
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Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄 @limorraviv.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Curious how language can emerge within swarms of robots? 🤖🗨️🤖 Then join our "Swarm Robotics for Language Evolution" workshop at @evolangconf.bsky.social, where you'll get to explore this topic through a live-coding demo and hands-on simulations. More info and signup here: romamile.com/SwarmLangEme...
bit.ly
Swarm Robotics as a Test Bed for the Study of Language Emergence
Static Website for the Workshop Swarm Robotics as a Test Bed for the Study of Language Emergence at EvoLang 2026
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Vera Kempe @vkempe.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
Truly one to watch! Congrats @damianblasi.bsky.social !
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Damián Blasi @damianblasi.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
What a thrilling start to 2026 – honored to be recognised by @cogscisociety.bsky.social and @fabbs.org ! Can’t wait to meet you all in Rio this July, one of the absolute gems of my beloved South America!
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Cognitive Science Society @cogscisociety.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
The CogSci Society would like to congratulate the brilliant Dr. Damián Blasi @damianblasi.bsky.social for being awarded the 2026 Early Career Impact Award from the Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences @fabbs.org 👏👏👏 Learn more at cognitivesciencesociety.org/fabbs-early-...
Graphic announcing an award. On the left, text reads “Congratulations to Damián Blasi, Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Study. Winner of the FABBS Early Career Impact Award.” The background is dark teal with light green and white text. On the right, a portrait of Damián Blasi, a man with short dark hair wearing a black polo shirt.
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Remi van Trijp @remivantrijp.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
It warms my linguistics heart to see the current generation of scientists engaging with the history of linguistic thought. More please 🙏
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Neil Cohn @neilcohn.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Really nice to see this reappraisal of "design features for language". Our book "A Multimodal Language Faculty" also discusses design features, and I believe presents the only model of language that satisfies the type of linguistic framework that they advocate www.bloomsbury.com/us/multimoda...
bloomsbury.com
A Multimodal Language Faculty
Natural human communication is multimodal. We pair speech with gestures, and combine writing with pictures from online messaging to comics to advertising. This…
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Karen Emmorey @kemmorey.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
Sign language research provides some key data supporting this framework for language evolution
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Tony Durham @rhamdu.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
Fascinating thread and review, questioning the 'big bang' view of the emergence of language.
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics @mpi-nl.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
Thank you for this very insightful explainer thread about (y)our latest @science.org paper, @profsimonfisher.bsky.social - must read for everyone in linguistics!
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Michael Pleyer @symbolicstorage.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Happy World #Linguistics Day everyone! If you're interested in #language and its evolution, these two threads are a good place to start! bsky.app/profile/symb...
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Gary Lupyan @glupyan.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Looking forward to future projects with this crew! Was a joy to work on this admittedly difficult paper! Very proud of the final product. Have a look!
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics @mpi-nl.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
The ‘design features’ of language revisited. Just published (open access) by Pleyer, Perlman, Lupyan, de Reus & @limorraviv.bsky.social. doi.org/10.1016/j.ti...
doi.org
Redirecting
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Cedric Boeckx @cedricboeckx.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Interesting re-reading & re-appraisal of a classic paper on the design features of specific cognitive systems like human language, by @symbolicstorage.bsky.social @mperlman.bsky.social @glupyan.bsky.social K de Reus & @limorraviv.bsky.social @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social 🧪
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Michael Pleyer @symbolicstorage.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
We hope this paper leads to renewed discussions and can provide a roadmap for future research comparing human language and non-human animal communication and for the study of language evolution. Full paper here: doi.org/10.1016/j.ti... Press release: www.mpi.nl/news/65-year...
mpi.nl
65-year-old framework challenged by modern research | Max Planck Institute
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Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄 @limorraviv.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Super proud of this fabulous team for challenging old comparative frameworks and rethinking what makes language language. Read more in the thread below 👇 or here 📖😊: www.cell.com/trends/cogni...
cell.com
The ‘design features’ of language revisited
Language is often regarded as a defining trait of our species, but what are its core properties? In 1960, Hockett published ‘The origin of speech’ enumerating 13 design features presumed to be common ...
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Michael Pleyer @symbolicstorage.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
🚨NEW PUBLICATION ALERT!🚨 The 'Design Features' of Language Revisited (w/ @mperlman.bsky.social @glupyan.bsky.social Koen de Reus & @limorraviv.bsky.social) Feature Review out now in #OpenAccess in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social! #language #linguistics Paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.ti...
The title page
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Simon Fisher @profsimonfisher.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
Despite their allure, “silver bullet” arguments (in which uniqueness of our species is defined by one explanatory factor) are untenable in light of modern biology. Many scholars now view language emergence as dependent on convergence of multiple facets (physical, cognitive, social, cultural). 4/n
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Simon Fisher @profsimonfisher.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
Origins of language, one of humanity’s most distinctive traits, may be best explained as a unique convergence of multiple capacities each with its own evolutionary history, involving intertwined roles of biology & culture. This framing can expand research horizons. A 🧵 on our @science.org paper.🧪1/n
science.org
What enables human language? A biocultural framework
Explaining the origins of language is a key challenge in understanding ourselves as a species. We present an empirical framework that draws on synergies across fields to facilitate robust studies of l...
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Pat Savage @patrickesavage.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Review on language evolution just published - haven't read properly yet but from a quick skim looks important! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
ORiGiNS OF LANGUAGe  
What enables human language? A biocultural framework  Inbal Arnon1*, Liran Carmel2, Nicolas Claidière3,4,5, W. Tecumseh Fitch6, Susan Goldin-Meadow7, Simon Kirby8, Kazuo Okanoya9, Limor Raviv10,11, Lucie Wolters12, Simon E. Fisher13,14*  

Explaining the origins of language is a key challenge in understanding ourselves as a species. We present an empirical framework that draws on synergies across fields to facilitate robust studies of language evolution. The approach is multifaceted, seeing language emergence as dependent on the convergence of multiple capacities, each with their own evolutionary trajectories. It is explicitly biocultural, recognizing and incorporating the importance of both biological preparedness and cultural transmission as well as interactions between them. We demonstrate this approach through three case studies that examine the evolution of different facets involved in human language (vocal production learning, linguistic structure, and social underpinnings).
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Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics @mpi-nl.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
New paper argues language emerged from the interaction of biology and culture - not a single mutation. Vocal learning, grammar, and social sharing each evolved on their own but converged to make human language possible. www.mpi.nl/news/interac...
mpi.nl
The interaction of biology and culture: Rethinking where language comes from | Max Planck Institute
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Cedric Boeckx @cedricboeckx.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Excellent @science.org review by an outstanding group, including @inbalarnon.bsky.social @profsimonfisher.bsky.social @limorraviv.bsky.social @simonkirby.bsky.social @lirancarmel.bsky.social @kazuookanoya.bsky.social @luciewolters.bsky.social What enables human language? A biocultural framework 🧪
science.org
What enables human language? A biocultural framework
Explaining the origins of language is a key challenge in understanding ourselves as a species. We present an empirical framework that draws on synergies across fields to facilitate robust studies of l...
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Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄 @limorraviv.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Interested in the evolution of human language? Check out our new paper in @science.org where we synthesize latest findings and outline a multifaceted, bio-cultural approach for studying how language evolved. Super proud of this work, and hoping it leads to exciting new research! tinyurl.com/ykacvanp
science.org
What enables human language? A biocultural framework
Explaining the origins of language is a key challenge in understanding ourselves as a species. We present an empirical framework that draws on synergies across fields to facilitate robust studies of l...
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Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics @mpi-nl.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
What enables human language? A biocultural framework. New paper by Inbal Arnon & al. with @limorraviv.bsky.social , @profsimonfisher.bsky.social doi.org/10.1126/science.adq8303
doi.org
What enables human language? A biocultural framework
Explaining the origins of language is a key challenge in understanding ourselves as a species. We present an empirical framework that draws on synergies across fields to facilitate robust studies of l...
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Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄 @limorraviv.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
The amazing Bart de Boer is organizing a workshop at @evolangconf.bsky.social for exchanging techniques and ideas on how to use AI productively and correctly in language evolution research. Submissions are now open. Please spread the word! ai.vub.ac.be/~bart/AI_in_...
ai.vub.ac.be
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Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics @mpi-nl.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
For decades, linguists assumed kids drive language change through ‘imperfect’ learning. New research by Raviv, Blasi & Kempe (Psychological Review) show that instead, adolescents and young adults are more likely to spread, normalize, and cement linguistic shifts. www.mpi.nl/news/young-c...
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Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄 @limorraviv.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Read more here: www.mpi.nl/news/young-c...
mpi.nl
Young children are not the main drivers of language change | Max Planck Institute
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Abertay University @abertayuni.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
💡 The idea that children drive language change is widely accepted — but does it hold up? New research co-authored by Dr Vera Kempe challenges this view, showing little evidence that child-led innovations spread through communities. Read more: www.mpi.nl/publications...
mpi.nl
Children are not the main agents of language change | Max Planck Institute
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Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄 @limorraviv.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Super proud of this work and very grateful for all the amazing people who provided valuable feedback along the way @remivantrijp.bsky.social @sheinalew.bsky.social @cedricboeckx.bsky.social @inbalarnon.bsky.social ❤️❤️❤️🙏
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Michael Erard @michaelerard.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
The de-neonatizing of linguistics takes another step forward
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Vera Kempe @vkempe.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
So rewarding to work with these two brilliant people to check whether the existing evidence supports the persistent claim that children's simplifying errors drive language change. It doesn't. psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?d... @limorraviv.bsky.social @damianblasi.bsky.social
psycnet.apa.org
APA PsycNet
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Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics @mpi-nl.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Children are not the main agents of language change. New paper by @limorraviv.bsky.social @damianblasi.bsky.social & @vkempe.bsky.social. psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/... www.mpi.nl/publications...
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Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄 @limorraviv.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
New paper with the brilliant @vkempe.bsky.social looking at potential age differences in the interpretation and conventionalization of a recently introduced semiotic system: emojis! 😍 Unlike popular belief, we see that young & older folks mostly agree on what face emojis mean (with some exceptions)!
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Reposted by Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄
Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics @mpi-nl.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
No evidence for generational differences in the conventionalisation of face emojis. New paper by Kempe and @limorraviv.bsky.social. doi.org/10.1016/j.ch...
doi.org
Redirecting
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Gary Lupyan @glupyan.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
I'm teaching a grad seminar this Fall on the Cognitive Science of LLMs focusing on how they can act to stress test cognitive theories. If you have any readings that scream *yes this one!!* please send them my way!
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Limor Raviv 🐘🤗🦒🍄🦄 @limorraviv.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
Based on the thesis of my brilliant student Lucia from @ccniuofg.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social, we see that gendered language (Italian) can be a painful source of non affirmation for non binary people. We also make some suggestions for how to improve their experiences and create safer spaces 🙏
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Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics @mpi-nl.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
The inescapable cage of a man and a woman: Experiences of non-binary people with gender identity (non-)affirmation in the context of a gendered language. New paper by Feketova and @limorraviv.bsky.social. doi.org/10.1080/2689....
doi.org
The inescapable cage of a man and a woman: Experiences of non-binary people with gender identity (non-)affirmation in the context of a gendered language
Experiencing a lack of identity verification is an issue which most of the transgender community struggles with. Non-binary people’s daily struggle for affirmation may be even more difficult in a b...
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evolangconf.bsky.social @evolangconf.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Call for papers for Evolang 2026 is now posted! evolang2026.org. Workshop proposals due Sept 22nd. Paper submissions October 26th. Evolang is interdisciplinarity at its best. We hope to see you in Plovdiv!!
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