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UMassLinguistics

@umasslinguistics.bsky.social
1.5K followers 907 following 2.8K posts

The University Of Massachusetts Boston Applied Linguistics Department. Account managed by @koutropoulos.bsky.social

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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
News from the APLING Blog: The Applied Linguistics PhD Program Kicks Off the New Academic Year blogs.umb.edu/umassl...
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
News from the APLING Blog: APLING represented at the XIV International Conference on Critical Education (ICCE) blogs.umb.edu/umassl...
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
📣 Admissions deadlines are coming up for the spring! :-) October 1 is our 'early decision' deadline; and our regular deadline is is November 1. Curious about our MA program? Reach out and let us know! www.umb.edu/academic...
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Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
New from 404 Media: when you upload images to Copilot, they're not private. Human contractors are reviewing Copilot users' prompts/images, according to internal docs we got And they're horrified at what they're seeing. Bombarded with requests to make sexual AI images www.404media.co/humans-readi...
404media.co
Humans Are Reading Copilot Prompts — And They're Horrified
Human contractors are reviewing Copilot users’ prompts and uploaded images, according to internal documents obtained by 404 Media. The contractors are also bombarded with users’ requests for sexual AI...
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
News from the APLING Blog: Alumna and Lecturer Dr. Iuliia Fakhrutdinova Publishes in Research Methods in Applied Linguistics blogs.umb.edu/umassl...
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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 15/09/2026
New words just dropped. www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/new...
merriam-webster.com
1,400 New Words and Definitions Added to Merriam-Webster.com
Including vibe coding, yacht rock, parasocial, and Mandela Effect
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Gretchen McCulloch @gretchenmcculloch.com · 15/09/2026
The instrumental -el suffix (now spelled -le) is also found in spindle, ladle, treadle, handle, thimble, whittle Not to be confused with the frequentative suffix -el "often denoting diminutive, repetitive, or intensive actions or events" as in nestle, wrestle, trample, draggle, struggle, twinkle
etymonline.com
-el - Etymology & Meaning of the Suffix
"appliance, tool," from Old English -ol, -ul, -el, representing PIE *-lo- (see -ule). In… See origin and meaning of -el.
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
The new semester and new academic year kicked off this week🥳. It's been busy in APLING-central, so not a ton of social media presence this week (or next week), but once things get into a more predictable rhythm, I'll be back with language-related news :-). Hope you all had a fun summer! 📚👨‍🎓
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Alright - with commencement festivities in the rear view mirror, and the summer term ahead, it's time to take a summer-long social media break. Rest up🏖️, enjoy a good book📚, take care of yourselves (and others, if you can), and see you back on these socials in September🎇
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
That's What They Say #podcast: Scrimping, skimping, and the degrees of frugality
michiganpublic.org
TWTS: Scrimping, skimping, and the degrees of frugality
We scrimp and we save, and we skimp and we still save, which makes one wonder whether scrimping is different from skimping
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
News from the APLING Blog: Boston’s Cape Verdean Creole Community Takes Center Stage in Sociolinguistics Class blogs.umb.edu/umassl...
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Learning to belong in two languages
nation.cymru
Learning to belong in two languages
Vibagar Loganathan  On a Monday morning in Cardiff, the sky is grey, the pavements are wet, and the Number 27 bus is slowly filling up at the new bus interchange. Students in oversized hoodies and headphones shuffle on, swipe their cards and collapse into seats, half awake and already scrolling. As the bus pulls out, […]
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Vocal Fries #podcast: Unlocking Justice
podcasts.apple.com
Unlocking Justice
Podcast Episode · The Vocal Fries · June 1 · 1h 1m
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Quebec government websites overly available in English, says French-language commissioner www.cbc.ca/news/cana...
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Not Every Language Has Spelling Bees. Here’s Why English Is Perfect for Them. www.nytimes.com/2026...
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
A Whole Generation Seems to Be Using ‘POV’ Wrong
nytimes.com
A Whole Generation Seems to Be Using ‘POV’ Wrong
Gen Z might be using the abbreviation for “point of view” incorrectly. But linguists think it’s exciting.
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
First Nations father teaches dying Indigenous language to sons through bedtime story
abc.net.au
First Nations man's bedtime story for his sons revives dying language
Five years ago, Gudjala man Braithen Knox began learning his mob's language, which has fewer than 10 speakers. Now a father of two, he is passing it on to his sons through bedtime stories.
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
New at FLTMag: What Language Teachers Should Ask Any AI Vendor Before Signing: A Checklist From Someone on the Other Side of the Table fltmag.com/checklist...
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Sāmapriyavasuḣ @avzaagzonunaada.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Pennsylvania Dutch (German) seems to have unaspirated /t/ corresponding to both Std. German /tʰ/ (< *d) and /t/ (< *þ), cf. her [tɪʃ] (HG Tisch, Eng. disk) and [tɛɫʌ̟] (HG Teller) to [tɪːs] (HG das, Eng. this). But recent loan /tʰeː/ (HG Tee, Eng. tea) aspirated. youtube.com/shorts/kH95Q...
youtube.com
PA Deutsch words - Kitchen items in the Amish language. #examishgirl ##padeutsch #amishlanguage
YouTube video by My Amish Heritage
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
When a language returns to its territory: in Chile, UNESCO supports experiences that strengthen Aymara through memory and community
unesco.org
When a language returns to its territory: in Chile, UNESCO supports
In Putre and Camiña, in northern Chile, traditional educators of the Aymara people took part in linguistic, cultural and pedagogical immersion residential programmes aimed at strengthening the living
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Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
This is absolutely nuts: hackers are hijacking high-profile Instagram accounts by simply asking Meta's AI chatbot to change the email on the account. Meta's AI does it, hacker gets password reset code, they're in. A staggering security issue www.404media.co/hackers-simp...
404media.co
Hackers Simply Asked Meta AI to Give Them Access to High-Profile Instagram Accounts. It Worked
The exploit shows the extreme risk of offloading technical support to AI.
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Highland could become an 'area of linguistic significance'
bbc.com
Highland could become an 'area of linguistic significance'
The region's local authority is proposing using powers in Scotland's new languages act.
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
New from #FLTmag: From Classroom to the Booth: Professionalizing the Novice Interpreter
fltmag.com
From Classroom to the Booth: Professionalizing the Novice Interpreter - The FLTMAG
By Cristina Pardo-Ballester, Iowa State University DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.69732/ILTP1621 Introduction Translation and interpreting are often grouped together, but they involve very different kinds of communication. Translation usually works with written texts. A translator has time to stop, think, revise, consult dictionaries,
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
To ‘86’ occasionally means to kill but usually doesn’t: A linguistic investigation into the Instagram threat charge against James Comey
theconversation.com
To ‘86’ occasionally means to kill but usually doesn’t: A linguistic investigation into the Instagram threat charge against James Comey
Does a seashell arrangement in the form of the numerals ‘86 47’ amount to a criminal threat to assassinate President Donald Trump, as prosecutors suggest?
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
How Social Media Is Turning Kazakh Language Into A Form Of Self-Expression for Gen Z
timesca.com
How Social Media Is Turning Kazakh Language Into A Form Of Self-Expression for Gen Z - The Times Of Central Asia
Not long ago, for many of Kazakhstan's urban teenagers, the Kazakh language sounded like something between a school subject, a family obligation, and an
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Death of 'drongo': Are Aussie insults and swearwords dying out?
abc.net.au
Death of 'drongo': Are Aussie insults and swearwords dying out?
Classic Australian swearwords and insults are becoming less popular with younger generations. What does losing them mean for our culture?
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Mignon Fogarty @grammargirl.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
These book club scams are rampant right now. Another widespread new scam is interest in buying your business if you have one.
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Do we judge people by the way they sound? How accents shape our lives
theguardian.com
Do we judge people by the way they sound? How accents shape our lives
A new book by linguistics professor Valerie Fridland, who was raised in Memphis by parents with French accents, explores the power behind the way we speak
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Diné software developer creates language app to revitalize Navajo
kunm.org
Diné software developer creates language app to revitalize Navajo
Across the United States, there are over 575 federally recognized American Indian tribes. According to the U.S. Census, Native North American language use fell by 6% from 2013 to 2021, but among those who spoke a Native language nearly half spoke Navajo.
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
You're Saying It Wrong #npr #podcast: Common Grammar Controversies
kmuw.org
Common Grammar Controversies
To split infinitives or to not split them? (Ir)regardless, we'll dive into some everyday language arguments that get people all worked up.
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Are regional accents dyin’? Not on Tik-Tawk. www.washingtonpost.c...
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Καλό μήνα! New month, new (summer) term starting today, and hopefully warmer weather on the horizon 🌞
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
You're Saying It Wrong #podcast: A Lowdown Dirty Spelling Quiz
kmuw.org
A Lowdown Dirty Spelling Quiz
Kathy and Ross pull out all the stops to try to trick Fletcher with a new spelling quiz. Fletcher does his best to upset them.
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
You're Saying It Wrong #podcast: A Lowdown Dirty Spelling Quiz (Part 2)
kmuw.org
A Lowdown Dirty Spelling Quiz (Part 2)
Kathy and Ross did their darndest to stump Fletcher in last week's spelling quiz, to moderate success. How will things go this week? The thrilling conclusion...
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Linguistics Careercast #podcast: Danny Bate, a linguist, writer, and podcaster based in Prague, Danny Bate has turned a lifelong passion with language into a career that spans teaching, academia, and online media
linguisticscareercast.com
Episode #87: Danny Bate - Linguistics Careercast
"My mission is to show people how much language they already know without realizing it" A linguist, writer, and podcaster based in Prague, Danny Bate has turned a lifelong passion with language into a career that spans teaching, academia, and online media. After completing his Master’s, he worked as a language teacher before diving into
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
That's what they say #podcast: The death of doornails
michiganpublic.org
TWTS: The death of doornails
Many of us don’t talk about doornails very often, but sometimes we will when things are really, well, dead.
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Lingthusiasm #podcast: Cross-cultural communication (in space!)
podcasts.apple.com
116: Cross-cultural communication (in space!)
Podcast Episode · Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics · May 22 · 32m
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Allusionist #podcast: Draculae part 2: Surprises in the Vaults
theallusionist.org
Allusionist 228. Draculae part 2: Surprises in the Vaults — The Allusionist
Happy World Dracula Day to all who celebrate! This is the second episode of the Draculae miniseries, about a literary mystery which came to me via a meme: “Someone translated&nbsp; Dracula &nbsp;into Icelandic, and it took over 100 years for anyone to point out he just made a fanfic rewrite of what he wanted the story to be.” In Draculae part 2, Ásgeir Jónsson explains how he got that Icelandic adaptation of Dracula back into print, to little fanfare - but then Dutch scholar Hans Corneel de Roos set about making an English translation. Following that: like me, Will Trimble also got meme-struck, and that propelled him to get a translation of the Swedish version that begat the Icelandic one. Before listening to this, check out the first episode of the Draculae miniseries explaining the three versions of&nbsp; Dracula :&nbsp; Dracula &nbsp;published by Bram Stoker in 1897; the Icelandic version&nbsp; Makt Myrkranna &nbsp;by newspaper editor Valdimar Ásmundsson, serialised in his newspaper Fyallkonan in 1900-1901; and the Swedish version&nbsp; Mörkrets makter&nbsp; by an author known only as A—e, and serialised in a couple of Swedish newspapers 1899-1900.
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Words for granted #podcast: The Proto-Indo-European Puzzle: Interview with Laura Spinney
wordsforgranted.com
Words for Granted
An exploration of Proto-Indo-European — the lost ancestor of hundreds of modern languages — and the surprisingly unknown story of how it shaped much of the modern world.
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Grammar Girl #podcast: How ‘bee’s knees’ became high praise, and why do recipes sound so bossy?
podcasts.apple.com
How ‘bee’s knees’ became high praise, and why do recipes sound so bossy?
Podcast Episode · Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. · May 26 · 17m
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Words Unravelled #podcast: The origins of the alphabet
podcasts.apple.com
The origins of the alphabet
Podcast Episode · Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris · May 20 · 42m
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Because Language #podcast: Pop-Up Gaeltacht, live w/ Laura Pakenham and friends. becauselanguage.com/...
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 #podcast: LIVE: Anthropic Imagines a Very Special Boy, 2026.04.3
podcasts.apple.com
LIVE: Anthropic Imagines a Very Special Boy, 2026.04.30
Podcast Episode · Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 · May 26 · 1h 1m
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Grammar Girl #podcast: How many people is a 'troop'? Why spelling bees are called 'bees.'
podcasts.apple.com
How many people is a 'troop'? Why spelling bees are called 'bees.'
Podcast Episode · Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers. · May 19 · 15m
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
It's Friday. It's the end of the month...the end of the semester...and the end of the academic year. Gotta catch up on those podcasts (listening at a respectful volume of course, yes...sometimes I feel like Milton, red stapler and all 😅) . Happy Friday everyone! www.youtube.com/watc...
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
DIESOL #podcast: Summer Splash! A Curriculum for Summer Exploration
diesol.org
Episode 138: Summer Splash! A Curriculum for Summer Exploration
How can you explore new ideas while still taking time to unwind from the school year? In this episode, we share practical tools, creative pedagogy, and accessible resources to keep your innovative …
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Allusionist #podcast: Draculae part 1: Enter the Castle
theallusionist.org
Allusionist 227. Draculae part 1: Enter the Castle — The Allusionist
A literary mystery came to me via a meme.
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Words Unravelled #podcast Spanish words hiding in English
podcasts.apple.com
Spanish words hiding in English
Podcast Episode · Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris · May 27 · 43m
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Rethinking bilingual education: New Kinder Institute study shows promising results for Pasadena ISD students news.rice.edu/news/2...
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UMassLinguistics @umasslinguistics.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
News from the APLING Blog: Applied Linguistics Lecture Series: Dr. Mariana Achugar on Youth and Activism blogs.umb.edu/umassl...
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