Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 8hThis piece by @celesterl.bsky.social asks us to think beyond whether AI can produce grammatically correct language & towards something much more human: how that language is actually experienced by listeners. 🔗 tinyurl.com/522m4xt3 🧵👇 #langsky #linguistics #language #artificialintelligence #AItinyurl.comWhat happens to language when machines start talking back?AI systems tend to focus on the person speaking – but the listener plays just as big a part in communication. 111
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 12hThis piece from @theguardian.com reports on a new police super-complaint concerning the handling of image-based abuse in England and Wales. 🔗 tinyurl.com/57uzmeyz 🧵👇 #onlineharms #onlinesafety #revengeporn #vawgtinyurl.comPolice routinely failing to investigate ‘revenge porn’, research revealsLawyers launch super-complaint over finding that officers in England and Wales frequently dismiss image-based abuse 120
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 07/10/2026New research by JooYoung Lee, Emily Booth and Marian-Andrei Rizoiuoiu tested whether factual information becomes more engaging when it is framed in language familiar to the communities it is trying to reach. 🔗 tinyurl.com/3kcfxvna 🧵👇 #langsky #linguistics #misinformation #disinformationtinyurl.comA new study finds that to counter misinformation online, we need to copy its styleHow do you get reliable information to someone who isn’t looking for it? New research using Facebook ads suggests a change in language makes a big difference. 121
Reposted by Dr Keighley PerkinsEngLangBlog @englangblog.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Our A Level English Language conference in November is about to go live! www.englishandmedia.co.uk/conferences/...englishandmedia.co.ukemagazine Conference for A Level Language, 2026, London (London, Autumn 2026)In-person emagazine Conference for advanced level students. 001
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Exciting news from team DRAGON! Our new resource designed to help young people recognise harmful sexual behaviour online & start important conversations about safer digital communication is now available. 🔗 tinyurl.com/49tw67dv 🧵👇 #DRAGON #C2CHAT #onlinesafety #onlineharms #safeguardingtinyurl.comArticles - HwbDigital Learning for Wales. 101
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 05/10/2026This article from @theguardian.com explores reports of linguistic discrimination faced by Brazilians in Portugal, particularly around Brazilian Portuguese. 🔗 tinyurl.com/47u6xmj6 🧵👇 #langsky #linguistics #language #linguisticdiscriminationtinyurl.com‘It’s glottophobia’: Brazilians in Portugal battle for linguistic recognitionBrazilian speech therapists say struggle for acceptance is part of wider prejudice embedded into Portuguese society 341
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 05/10/2026📢 CIRAF event announcement klaxon! 📢 @cirafcardiff.bsky.social is pleased to welcome Dr Martin Geoffroyoy from Cégep Édouard-Montpetit for a presentation on "The Far Right in Quebec: A Psycho-Social Portrait". Find the abstract & register: tinyurl.com/bd2zf3yc #CIRAF #farright #extremismstudieseventbrite.comDr Martin Geoffroy 'The Far-right in Quebec; a Psycho-Social Portrait'A free, hybrid talk by Dr Martin Geoffroy from Cégep Édouard-Montpetit. 020
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 05/10/2026New data from the @iwf.org.uk shows a sharp increase in AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery. 🔗 tinyurl.com/m868ymax 🧵👇 #DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #safeguarding #childprotectiontinyurl.comIWF urges EU action as more AI child sexual abuse images foundIWF found more AI child sexual abuse images in the first half of 2026 than all of 2025, including of children under two. 110
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 01/10/2026In this piece, Dr Tom Oliver traces how the word “algorithm” has changed over time: from its origins in rules-based arithmetic, through its precise mathematical meaning, to today’s much looser public use. 🔗 tinyurl.com/4d56x49m 🧵👇 #langsky #linguistics #language #socialmedia #tech #algorithm #AItinyurl.comFrom equations to Instagram feeds: how ‘algorithm’ changed its meaningAlgorithms began as simple mathematical procedures, but today they shape what we see, buy and believe. 110
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 01/10/2026WhatsApp is introducing new optional parental controls designed to give families more oversight while keeping teenagers’ private messages & calls encrypted. 🔗 tinyurl.com/nhx6xs8r 🧵👇 #DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #Meta #WhatsApp #socialmediaban #socialmedia #childprotection #safeguardingtinyurl.comWhatsApp introduces optional parental controls for teenagersThe social messaging app will let parents decide on privacy settings for their child's account. 100
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 30/09/2026This article by Dr Neophytos Georgiou explores emerging research on autism & engagement with extremist content while making an important distinction: autism alone does not explain extremist beliefs or violence. 🔗 tinyurl.com/4endmxu6 🧵👇 #extremismstudies #radicalisation #autism #mentalhealthtinyurl.comAre autistic people more vulnerable to extremist content?People with rigid thinking patterns who prefer routine and order may be drawn to extremist groups’ black-and-white solutions. But autism itself is not the problem. 140
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Large language models work best for languages that are well represented online, which means minority & Indigenous languages can be poorly supported, misrepresented or excluded altogether. 🔗 tinyurl.com/5fkz5tsf 🧵👇 #langsky #linguistics #AI #artificialintelligence #language #languagepreservationtinyurl.comAI often leaves out minority languages – but some communities are turning it into a lifelineAI is helping communities own and build vital tools for their minority languages – all without external funding. 110
Reposted by Dr Keighley PerkinsDr Death and Bones (she/her) @memorieschild.bsky.social · 30/09/2026New book day! Very pleased to have a chapter in this collection on true crime, edited by the wonderful @tanyah.bsky.social and others who I don't have on Bluesky. Not entirely sure Loki was impressed though... 2186
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Words cannot describe how much I love this. The latest update to the Oxford English Dictionary includes six words and phrases from Wales, among them "twpsyn", "bwbach" and the wonderfully contradictory "now in a minute". 🔗 tinyurl.com/y7ptx6wd 🧵👇 #langsky #linguistics #language #Welsh #Cymraegtinyurl.com'Now in a minute' among Welsh English words added to Oxford DictionarySix more Welsh English words and phrases have been added to the Oxford English Dictionary. 130
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 29/09/2026The UK’s planned social media ban for under-16s now has a clearer timetable: Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy MP says it will come into force from March 2027. 🔗 tinyurl.com/4edw8aw9 🧵👇 #DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinesafetyact #socialmedia #socialmediaban #childprotection #safeguardingtinyurl.comUK social media ban to begin in March 2027, Culture Secretary saysLisa Nandy, the government minister responsible for introducing the ban, pointed to March as a start date although the government says detailed plans will be explained in Parliament by Christmas this ... 100
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Could one of humanity’s greatest technologies have helped shape one of our communicative abilities? This fascinating piece from @hanachronism.bsky.social explores a new theory about the relationship between fire, gesture & the evolution of spoken language. 🔗 tinyurl.com/28cxpdz3 🧵👇 #langskytinyurl.comHow firelight may have shaped the origins of spoken languageNew study suggests ancient campfires may have encouraged our ancestors to develop language. 141
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 17/09/2026I’ll be presenting at this event! I’m taking a slightly different angle from my usual work & looking at how different ideologies across the radical right use imagery of war in their social media posts. I’m really looking forward to taking part! #langsky #extremismstudies 120
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 17/09/2026This fascinating research found that autonomous AI agents, placed in experimental “societies”, began creating their own vocabulary, shorthand & shared meanings without being explicitly told to do so. 🔗 tinyurl.com/2uhxjsuw 🧵👇 #langsky #linguistics #tech #AI #artificialintelligence #languagetinyurl.comAI models chatting in ‘surreal’ dialect mixing poetic language and tech bro jargonExperts air concern over AI lingo redolent of James Joyce’s prose that is creating barriers to monitoring and oversight 100
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Primary schools and libraries across Wales will soon receive "Techosaurus Saves the School!", a bilingual storybook developed by @nspcc.bsky.social, Every Cherry Publishing & Sweet Cherry Publishing with @senedd.wales. 🔗 tinyurl.com/mva3298c 🧵👇 #DRAGON #safeguarding #onlineharms #onlinesafetytinyurl.comArticles - HwbDigital Learning for Wales. 110
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 15/09/2026This article from Dr Emily Chiang explores forensic linguistics, moving from cases where linguistic habits helped identify anonymous offenders to the wider role forensic linguists can play in authorship analysis & access to justice. 🔗 tinyurl.com/4yhkh3at 🧵👇 #linguistics #forensiclinguisticspoliceprofessional.com Police Professional | Forensic linguistics Forensic linguistics – Police Professional 110
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 15/09/2026This article from @theguardian.com raises a difficult but important question as Australia confronts rising peer-on-peer sexual violence. 🔗 tinyurl.com/yh9uwbya 🧵👇 #DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childprotection #safeguardingtinyurl.comThe students returning to school after sexual assault: ‘You go back the next day, and you just deal with it’Peer-on-peer violence is on the rise. But when schools must balance a duty of care to both victims and perpetrators, where does this leave girls who have to pursue their education in the shadow of sex... 111
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 14/09/2026What happens when a label survives long after the world it was created to describe has changed? 🔗 tinyurl.com/5debjy2u 🧵👇 #langsky #language #linguistics #etymology #languagehistorytinyurl.comA journalist coined ‘the Bible Belt’ 100 years ago – it’s been oversimplifying the South ever since‘The Bible Belt’ has been used for a century to describe religion and politics in the South. But it captured just some of life in the region then – and doesn’t capture what’s going on today. 111
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 14/09/2026This fascinating piece from @theguardian.com examines the emergence of the Patriot Platform, a new anti-migrant movement whose recent protests combined highly organised offline action with a distinctly digital strategy. 🔗 tinyurl.com/2mst3ptc 🧵👇 #radicalright #extremismstudiestinyurl.comFrom black-clad agitators to an appeal for ‘Tommo’s Mum’: an unsettling week with the Patriot PlatformA militaristic operation with features of influencer culture, the new anti-migrant movement seems to show a shift in tactics and rhetoric 100
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 11/09/2026The UK government is preparing legislation that would require technology companies to build protections directly into devices, preventing under-18s from taking, viewing or sharing nude images. 🔗 tinyurl.com/4zwbsx99 🧵👇 #DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlinechildsafety #childprotection #safeguardingtinyurl.comUK to have world's strongest online child safety laws as government prepares legislation on nude imagesThe government will introduce legislation requiring tech companies to strengthen protections on devices and platforms to prevent children from taking, sharing or viewing nude images, helping tackle gr... 120
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 11/09/2026This report from @wellcometrust.bsky.social & @moreincommonuk.bsky.social explores an incredibly important but often overlooked area: public opinion on mental health. 🔗 tinyurl.com/23jt2byc #healthcommunication #mentalhealthtinyurl.comPublic opinion on mental health and new interventions | Reports | WellcomeDrawing on research across Britain, this report explores public attitudes to mental health and makes recommendations for policymakers. 101
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026Yesterday, the UK government announced plans for legislation requiring technology companies & apps used by children to prevent under-18s from taking or sharing nude images on their devices. 🔗 tinyurl.com/4adj352e 🧵👇 #DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharm #childprotection #safeguardingtinyurl.comNew law to force tech firms to prevent children from taking nude imagesThe government said it will legislate "as soon as they can" but may "reassess" its plans if firms make the desired changes sooner. 110
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Just how much did the 2026 Senedd election transform Welsh politics? New analysis from Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament captures the scale of May’s change. 🔗 tinyurl.com/2s3p27z9 #polsky #politics #politicalcommunication #journalismstudiestinyurl.comMay 7, 2026: The election that transformed the SeneddMark Mansfield The seismic changes to Welsh politics brought about by May’s Senedd election have been revealed in a detailed analysis of the results. More than two-thirds of the 96 politicians elected... 122
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 08/09/2026A photograph of the Pakistani flag flying over Cardiff Castle has resurfaced on social media - two years later - & contributing to a fresh wave of anger around national identity, immigration & belonging. 🔗 tinyurl.com/yrnbzp2t 🧵👇 #polsky #politics #politicalcommunication #Senedd #radicalrightbbc.co.ukReform 'trying to start race row' over Cardiff Pakistan flagThe flag flew for two days in August, and an MP said it was an attempt to "dominate our culture". 100
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 07/09/2026This BBC News analysis traces the connection between two anti-migrant protests in Dover & Portsmouth to Danny Thomas (Danny Tommo). 🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... 🧵👇 #radicalright #Dover #Portsmouth #farright #extremismstudiesbbc.co.ukWhat we know about Dover and Portsmouth anti-migrant protests and organiser Danny ThomasDanny Thomas organised the demonstration in Dover - seemingly after weeks of preparation - and was also present in Portsmouth. 100
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 07/09/2026This fascinating research from Fangzhou Wang, Ph.D. examines romance scams as carefully constructed processes of social engineering and deceptive communication. 🔗 tinyurl.com/yc4rft83 🧵👇 #langsky #linguistics #forensiclinguistics #languageandlaw #romancescamstinyurl.comDaejon Love case highlights online romance scams: Research reveals scammers’ tactics – and how to defend against themDating apps have given an ancient profession, confidence scamming, a high-tech boost. 141
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 07/09/2026New @unicef.org research estimates that almost 1 in 5 children aged 12–17 across 21 countries experienced at least one form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a single year. 🔗 tinyurl.com/3wbaa28d 🧵👇 #DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childprotection #safeguardingtinyurl.com1 in 5 children across 21 countries have experienced tech-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse – UNICEFMore than half of abuse occurred on mainstream social media platforms; less than 1 per cent of all experiences were reported to authorities, new report finds 111
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 28/08/2026The Māori word "kaitiakitanga" has been named the world’s most beautiful word, selected from 223 words across 75 languages for its sound, meaning, rarity & cultural significance. 🔗 tinyurl.com/y4bb9ua2 🧵👇 #langsky #linguistics #language #languagepreservation #indigenouslanguagestinyurl.comRecognition of Māori word "kaitiakitanga" highlights the value ofThe Māori word "kaitiakitanga", which expresses the responsibility to care for the natural world, has been named the world's most beautiful word by the language learning platform Babbel. 193
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 28/08/2026You might have heard about the landmark Meta case in the US but what does it actually mean for online child safety? Under a massive $18bn court settlement, Meta has agreed to sweeping default protections for users under 18. 🔗 tinyurl.com/yeyu4fv2 🧵👇 #DRAGON #onlinesafety #safeguardingtinyurl.comUK expects Meta to match US child safety measures after $18bn settlementMinister calls for Instagram owner to extend sweeping new safeguards for young users to Britain 100
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 27/08/2026This analysis from @isdglobal.bsky.social introduces “lexical laundering”: the process by which vocabulary originating in extremist spaces migrates into mainstream discourse while retaining its original in-group meaning for those who recognise it. 🔗 tinyurl.com/44cmtb8y 🧵👇 #langskytinyurl.comLexical laundering: The mainstreaming of antisemitic neologisms from 4chan and forums - Institute for Strategic DialogueNew ISD research traces 'lexical laundering'— how antisemitic slang moves from 4chan into mainstream feeds while keeping its in-group meaning. 133
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 26/08/2026A new report from Llais Cymru highlights a significant gap between the number of people who can speak Welsh & the availability of Welsh-language healthcare. 🔗 tinyurl.com/382577wz 🧵👇 #langsky #linguistics #language #healthcommunication #Welsh #Cymraegtinyurl.comLlais calls for action as new report reveals inconsistent access to Welsh language health and social care services is affecting people’s dignity, wellbeing and treatment | LlaisEr bod 27% o'r boblogaeth (828,000 o bobl) yn gallu siarad Cymraeg, mae data StatsWales o 2024 yn dangos mai dim ond 12.6% o feddygon teulu sy'n nodi sgiliau iaith Gymraeg uwch neu hyfedr. Mewn rhai b... 100
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 26/08/2026This piece by Matthew Flinders looks beyond familiar debates about trust in politicians to consider the increasingly difficult realities of political life in the UK. 🔗 tinyurl.com/3w3h95zk 🧵👇 #polsky #langsky #politics #politicalcommunication #linguisticstinyurl.comHow political life in Britain became so dangerousThe security of politicians has increasingly been in the spotlight. 110
Reposted by Dr Keighley PerkinsDr Keri Thomas @drkerithomas.bsky.social · 25/08/2026May we all aspire to a rhinestone life. 092
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 25/08/2026A great piece exploring the often-overlooked craft of game localisation looks at the work behind translating Final Fantasy from Japanese into English. 🔗 tinyurl.com/2ff39pxx 🧵👇 #langsky #linguistics #translation #fanstudies #gamestudies #gaming #popularculture #FinalFantasytinyurl.comWhy translation is a hot debate for the world’s biggest games and showsA Final Fantasy veteran says some debates over localization can overlook the nuances of the craft. 274
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 25/08/2026This piece from the Muslim Counterpublics Lab explores the legacy of the War on Terror in contemporary platform content moderation. 🔗 tinyurl.com/535as69d 🧵👇 #extremism #contentmoderation #counterextremism #hatespeechtinyurl.comHow Hate Frames Target Marginalized Communities and Police DissentHate is a political project. Without understanding the power behind it, efforts to regulate hate speech risk suppressing dissent while leaving supremacist violence intact. 100
Reposted by Dr Keighley PerkinsSofia Rüdiger @sofiaruediger.bsky.social · 24/08/2026Registration for "Influence, Manipulation & Seduction 3: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Persuasive Language" (aka #OctoConf) at Tampere University (Nov 19-20) is now open: events.tuni.fi/persuasion20... Full program to follow very soon, but check out the amazing plenary speakers 🐙🐙🐙 051
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 24/08/2026A BBC piece explores accent bias in British workplaces, drawing on new polling which found 1 in 10 people feel anxious or self-conscious about their accent in high-stakes professional situations. 🔗 tinyurl.com/3x76m9jt (with thanks to @englangblog.bsky.social for sharing this first!) 🧵👇 #langskytinyurl.com'I didn't speak the Queen's English': Why people worry about their accentsA survey on attitudes towards accents suggests that so-called "accent bias" is still an issue in many workplaces. 251
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 21/08/2026What does posting a photo of your dog say about you? Quite a lot, apparently. 🐶 A fascinating piece explores why so many of us create social media accounts for our companion animals. 🔗 tinyurl.com/yu33xetu #socialmedia #digitaldiscourse #petstinyurl.comWhy we give our cats, dogs and other pets social media accountsOften, when people talk about their pets, they are also talking about themselves — about the things they value and the experiences that shape who they are. 120
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 21/08/2026It's really hard to work when these two are giving me serious nap envy 😂 #pittsky #dogsky #academicsky 060
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 21/08/2026What can memes tell us about political alienation, moral judgement & the way younger generations communicate online? This article by Evan Clarkson examines the online response to Luigi Mangione. 🔗 tinyurl.com/2djn7w5e 🧵👇 #onlinediscourse #LuigiMangione #socialmedia #memes #internetdiscoursetinyurl.comWhat Luigi Mangione’s celebrity says about Gen ZA psychologist explains why the dark humor around Mangione’s case isn’t evidence of nihilism but of what happens when demands for moral seriousness stop feeling credible. 110
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 14/08/2026Are smartphones destroying our ability to read? @helenagoodwyn.bsky.social revisits W.T. Stead’s 1906 warning about a “reading crisis” & finds parallels with today’s debates about smartphones & fragmented attention. 🔗 tinyurl.com/ykyuh6nd 🧵👇 #langsky #literature #reading #books #bookskytinyurl.comWhy an 120-year-old warning about reading feels uncomfortably familiarJournalists have been decrying the decline in reading for over 100 years and yet it persists. 150
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 14/08/2026AI may not be creating an entirely new world of online harm but it is making existing harms faster, cheaper, more personalised & harder for children to escape, @lseblogs.bsky.social researchers write. 🔗 tinyurl.com/24an46bn 🧵👇 #DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childprotection #safeguardingtinyurl.comMaking the case for a child rights approach to AIHow can we ensure AI works for, rather than against, children’s rights? DFC researchers examine the emerging risks and opportunities of AI and make the case for putting children’s rights at the heart ... 100
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 13/08/2026What does it really mean when a language “dies”? This article reviews Sophia Smith Galer’s "How to Kill a Language", which examines the political forces behind global language loss. 🔗 tinyurl.com/4rheu5pn 🧵👇 #langsky #linguistics #languagedeath #languagepreservationtinyurl.comLanguages are disappearing, and the problem is politicalLanguage loss is often a reluctant choice made to escape violence, not a willing choice made to gain benefits. 142
Dr Keighley Perkins @perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 12/08/2026Why do so many of us speak to our pets as though they are babies? This article by Antonia Goetz and Zhen Zeng explores the surprisingly close relationship between baby-talk and pet-talk. 🔗 tinyurl.com/wfb4vh9c 🧵👇 #langsky #linguistics #animalcommunicationtinyurl.comWhy do humans use ‘baby voice’ when we speak to pets?‘Who’s a good boy? Yes, you are!’ 171