Dr Danny Bate
@dannybate.bsky.social
"That etymology guy". Linguist, broadcaster, writer, researcher, language fanatic. 'Why Q Needs U' (https://geni.us/WhyQNeedsU) an Economist book of 2025. Host of ALILI podcast. Website: https://dannybate.com/. Inquiries: [email protected]
Pinned
Dr Danny Bate
@dannybate.bsky.social
· Oct 15
Why does Q always need a U? A quirky guide to the alphabet
The letter A was once an ox’s head and O was an eye — you’ll never look at a keyboard the same way after reading Danny Bate’s fascinating linguistic history
www.thetimes.com
The Times, specifically @jamesmcconnachie.bsky.social, has in this joyful review kindly bestowed on my book Britain's highest description: "lovely"
www.thetimes.com/culture/book...
www.thetimes.com/culture/book...
One of the accompanying joys of this new direction for me has been the opportunities to interact with writers and linguists I admire, with the book as my excuse and credentials. When I was 17 and first getting into linguistics, I had Gaston Dorren's books on my shelves. Now he says things like this.
In my private conversations with @dannybate.bsky.social, I've been very complimentary about his alphabet book, Why Q Needs U. But I haven't said much about it in public, I believe. Here then: Why Q Needs U is fascinating, fun and fabulously well written. Because it is.
February 2, 2026 at 12:16 PM
One of the accompanying joys of this new direction for me has been the opportunities to interact with writers and linguists I admire, with the book as my excuse and credentials. When I was 17 and first getting into linguistics, I had Gaston Dorren's books on my shelves. Now he says things like this.
Reposted by Dr Danny Bate
In my private conversations with @dannybate.bsky.social, I've been very complimentary about his alphabet book, Why Q Needs U. But I haven't said much about it in public, I believe. Here then: Why Q Needs U is fascinating, fun and fabulously well written. Because it is.
February 2, 2026 at 11:45 AM
In my private conversations with @dannybate.bsky.social, I've been very complimentary about his alphabet book, Why Q Needs U. But I haven't said much about it in public, I believe. Here then: Why Q Needs U is fascinating, fun and fabulously well written. Because it is.
Reposted by Dr Danny Bate
Such a rare survival - the nave ceiling at Peterborough Cathedral dates from the C13th - it has been overpainted twice but the original design remains - and original paint from the C13th has been found beneath the nail heads...
February 2, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Such a rare survival - the nave ceiling at Peterborough Cathedral dates from the C13th - it has been overpainted twice but the original design remains - and original paint from the C13th has been found beneath the nail heads...
Dia daoibh, language lovers! In time for St Brigid's Day, there's a new episode of ALILI, all about Modern Irish!
The language was the choice of Liam Ó Duibhiolla, an enthusiastic, eloquent expert and the founder of the 'Learn Irish Online' platform. Listen to it here:
pod.link/1703401848/e...
The language was the choice of Liam Ó Duibhiolla, an enthusiastic, eloquent expert and the founder of the 'Learn Irish Online' platform. Listen to it here:
pod.link/1703401848/e...
February 1, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Dia daoibh, language lovers! In time for St Brigid's Day, there's a new episode of ALILI, all about Modern Irish!
The language was the choice of Liam Ó Duibhiolla, an enthusiastic, eloquent expert and the founder of the 'Learn Irish Online' platform. Listen to it here:
pod.link/1703401848/e...
The language was the choice of Liam Ó Duibhiolla, an enthusiastic, eloquent expert and the founder of the 'Learn Irish Online' platform. Listen to it here:
pod.link/1703401848/e...
Reposted by Dr Danny Bate
The pronunciation of a language is always changing.
Its sounds don’t change randomly. Their articulation shifts ever so slightly.
Over the centuries, though, the result can be huge.
Click my video to hear and see how Proto-Germanic *staumaz became English ‘steam’ over the course of two millennia.
Its sounds don’t change randomly. Their articulation shifts ever so slightly.
Over the centuries, though, the result can be huge.
Click my video to hear and see how Proto-Germanic *staumaz became English ‘steam’ over the course of two millennia.
February 1, 2026 at 7:10 PM
The pronunciation of a language is always changing.
Its sounds don’t change randomly. Their articulation shifts ever so slightly.
Over the centuries, though, the result can be huge.
Click my video to hear and see how Proto-Germanic *staumaz became English ‘steam’ over the course of two millennia.
Its sounds don’t change randomly. Their articulation shifts ever so slightly.
Over the centuries, though, the result can be huge.
Click my video to hear and see how Proto-Germanic *staumaz became English ‘steam’ over the course of two millennia.
Reposted by Dr Danny Bate
You know it’s gonna be a Danny Bate Banger when the h₁éḱwos drops in
February 1, 2026 at 11:40 AM
You know it’s gonna be a Danny Bate Banger when the h₁éḱwos drops in
My website offering for February is a labour of love about ancient peoples, migrations and languages popping up where we today might not expect them. It's a biography of an old Indo-European language that met with success in the Middle East, with some help from horses.
dannybate.com/2026/02/01/a...
dannybate.com/2026/02/01/a...
An Unexpected ‘Indian’ Language in the Middle East
Delighted and motivated by the positive response to my recent article, Greek, the Asian and African Language, my mind has been occupied by an eagerness to share another example of historical l…
dannybate.com
February 1, 2026 at 10:59 AM
My website offering for February is a labour of love about ancient peoples, migrations and languages popping up where we today might not expect them. It's a biography of an old Indo-European language that met with success in the Middle East, with some help from horses.
dannybate.com/2026/02/01/a...
dannybate.com/2026/02/01/a...
Reposted by Dr Danny Bate
I found this ancient language story from @dannybate.bsky.social absolutely fascinating. #langsky
An Unexpected ‘Indian’ Language in the Middle East
Delighted and motivated by the positive response to my recent article, Greek, the Asian and African Language, my mind has been occupied by an eagerness to share another example of historical l…
wp.me
February 1, 2026 at 8:51 AM
I found this ancient language story from @dannybate.bsky.social absolutely fascinating. #langsky
While rare things happen once 'in a blue moon' in English, in Czech they occur once 'in a Hungarian year' ('jednou za uherský rok').
It's been suggested that this is a legacy of the Ottoman wars in Central Europe, when military service in Hungary could stretch on indefinitely.
It's been suggested that this is a legacy of the Ottoman wars in Central Europe, when military service in Hungary could stretch on indefinitely.
January 31, 2026 at 3:16 PM
While rare things happen once 'in a blue moon' in English, in Czech they occur once 'in a Hungarian year' ('jednou za uherský rok').
It's been suggested that this is a legacy of the Ottoman wars in Central Europe, when military service in Hungary could stretch on indefinitely.
It's been suggested that this is a legacy of the Ottoman wars in Central Europe, when military service in Hungary could stretch on indefinitely.
Reposted by Dr Danny Bate
I hate to tap the sign but again: this is all made to make in-person education and access to knowledge transfer a preserve of the elite. Human education for the few, bots for the many.
We want to make sure tutoring isn't the preserve of a lucky few, but accessible to every child who needs it.
AI can help us do that.
Safe, personalised, one-to-one learning support to help every child achieve and thrive.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01...
AI can help us do that.
Safe, personalised, one-to-one learning support to help every child achieve and thrive.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01...
Poorest pupils to be given AI tutors
Bridget Phillipson says tuition would no longer be the preserve of ‘the lucky few’
www.telegraph.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 10:34 AM
I hate to tap the sign but again: this is all made to make in-person education and access to knowledge transfer a preserve of the elite. Human education for the few, bots for the many.
'Puny' is a negative word today, but when it first appears in 16th-century English, it has the neutral meanings of 'junior' (in status) or 'younger' (in age).
These archaic senses are a product of its origins: as a French compound of puis 'after' and né 'born'.
These archaic senses are a product of its origins: as a French compound of puis 'after' and né 'born'.
January 28, 2026 at 2:54 PM
'Puny' is a negative word today, but when it first appears in 16th-century English, it has the neutral meanings of 'junior' (in status) or 'younger' (in age).
These archaic senses are a product of its origins: as a French compound of puis 'after' and né 'born'.
These archaic senses are a product of its origins: as a French compound of puis 'after' and né 'born'.
Reposted by Dr Danny Bate
Will the real St Brigid please stand up? 👋
Here's the evidence which indicates that the Kildare woman was real - and why this is worth emphasising today, writes Dr Niamh Wycherley from the Dept of Early Irish (Sean-Ghaeilge).
@ceilteachomn.bsky.social
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/research/spo...
Here's the evidence which indicates that the Kildare woman was real - and why this is worth emphasising today, writes Dr Niamh Wycherley from the Dept of Early Irish (Sean-Ghaeilge).
@ceilteachomn.bsky.social
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/research/spo...
January 26, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Will the real St Brigid please stand up? 👋
Here's the evidence which indicates that the Kildare woman was real - and why this is worth emphasising today, writes Dr Niamh Wycherley from the Dept of Early Irish (Sean-Ghaeilge).
@ceilteachomn.bsky.social
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/research/spo...
Here's the evidence which indicates that the Kildare woman was real - and why this is worth emphasising today, writes Dr Niamh Wycherley from the Dept of Early Irish (Sean-Ghaeilge).
@ceilteachomn.bsky.social
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/research/spo...
Reposted by Dr Danny Bate
A few days ago, I was invited to the award ceremony for a prize my book 'Die goeie ouwe taal' was announced to be nominated for.
As a result, I won't be able to join tomorrow's talk. ☹️
Fortunately, Danny Hieber of Linguistic Discovery will be there in my stead. 😊
As a result, I won't be able to join tomorrow's talk. ☹️
Fortunately, Danny Hieber of Linguistic Discovery will be there in my stead. 😊
This free talk about public linguistics and books is still on for tomorrow (sign up at the link), although @yvanspijk.bsky.social has had to drop out on account of being too successful.
But fear not: Daniel Hieber of @linguisticdiscovery.com fame has gallantly stepped up to be the fourth speaker!
But fear not: Daniel Hieber of @linguisticdiscovery.com fame has gallantly stepped up to be the fourth speaker!
January 26, 2026 at 5:07 PM
A few days ago, I was invited to the award ceremony for a prize my book 'Die goeie ouwe taal' was announced to be nominated for.
As a result, I won't be able to join tomorrow's talk. ☹️
Fortunately, Danny Hieber of Linguistic Discovery will be there in my stead. 😊
As a result, I won't be able to join tomorrow's talk. ☹️
Fortunately, Danny Hieber of Linguistic Discovery will be there in my stead. 😊
This free talk about public linguistics and books is still on for tomorrow (sign up at the link), although @yvanspijk.bsky.social has had to drop out on account of being too successful.
But fear not: Daniel Hieber of @linguisticdiscovery.com fame has gallantly stepped up to be the fourth speaker!
But fear not: Daniel Hieber of @linguisticdiscovery.com fame has gallantly stepped up to be the fourth speaker!
January 26, 2026 at 4:57 PM
This free talk about public linguistics and books is still on for tomorrow (sign up at the link), although @yvanspijk.bsky.social has had to drop out on account of being too successful.
But fear not: Daniel Hieber of @linguisticdiscovery.com fame has gallantly stepped up to be the fourth speaker!
But fear not: Daniel Hieber of @linguisticdiscovery.com fame has gallantly stepped up to be the fourth speaker!
Reposted by Dr Danny Bate
Being a journalist is sick: I just contacted a pre-eminent jaguar conservationist in Argentine with a question that has been weighing on me for ages and he wrote back right away with an informed answer.
January 25, 2026 at 11:13 PM
Being a journalist is sick: I just contacted a pre-eminent jaguar conservationist in Argentine with a question that has been weighing on me for ages and he wrote back right away with an informed answer.
Reposted by Dr Danny Bate
Bloomsbury, 1933, and each week my father & his pals were going to meetings & marches to try to do something, anything, about the rising anti-semitism in Germany. Everyone was fully aware of what was happening. Fully aware. This was six years before the outbreak of war.
January 28, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Bloomsbury, 1933, and each week my father & his pals were going to meetings & marches to try to do something, anything, about the rising anti-semitism in Germany. Everyone was fully aware of what was happening. Fully aware. This was six years before the outbreak of war.
Reposted by Dr Danny Bate
In Norwegian, we took the "Uhu" and threw in a "bro" – 'brother'. The owl is called "hubro". Uhu-brother.
January 24, 2026 at 10:27 AM
In Norwegian, we took the "Uhu" and threw in a "bro" – 'brother'. The owl is called "hubro". Uhu-brother.
In addition to the standard word Uhu, German names for the Eurasian eagle-owl have included Schuhu, Huhu and Buhu, and I'll be damned if there are better owl names out there.
January 24, 2026 at 10:10 AM
In addition to the standard word Uhu, German names for the Eurasian eagle-owl have included Schuhu, Huhu and Buhu, and I'll be damned if there are better owl names out there.
Reposted by Dr Danny Bate
This essay on my odd relationship to my mother tongue is still one of my favourites -- probably because I first wrote it in Romanian, basically the only essay I've ever done that for.
therumpus.net/2021/10/12/t...
therumpus.net/2021/10/12/t...
Tongue Stuck - The Rumpus
It was a kind of madness to speak a language to my son that I hadn’t used in almost a decade.
therumpus.net
January 23, 2026 at 8:24 AM
This essay on my odd relationship to my mother tongue is still one of my favourites -- probably because I first wrote it in Romanian, basically the only essay I've ever done that for.
therumpus.net/2021/10/12/t...
therumpus.net/2021/10/12/t...
This article spends a lot of time in the ancient Greek region of Ionia, and a related fact that didn't fit in is that the geography of Greece has historically included both Ionia to the west and the Ionian Sea to the east, towards Italy – and the region and the sea are unrelated words.
I spent Christmas thinking about Greco-Bactrian kings and Greek texts in Nubia, and now you can too!
If you'd welcome some distraction from Armageddon, here's my January mega-post, all about the Greek language's life beyond Europe.
dannybate.com/2026/01/06/g...
If you'd welcome some distraction from Armageddon, here's my January mega-post, all about the Greek language's life beyond Europe.
dannybate.com/2026/01/06/g...
Greek, the Asian and African Language
Just as the borders of Europe are geographically, politically and socially fuzzy, so too are its linguistic edges. Whatever lines of demarcation we care to draw, the many flavours of speech to be h…
dannybate.com
January 21, 2026 at 7:26 PM
This article spends a lot of time in the ancient Greek region of Ionia, and a related fact that didn't fit in is that the geography of Greece has historically included both Ionia to the west and the Ionian Sea to the east, towards Italy – and the region and the sea are unrelated words.
Reposted by Dr Danny Bate
america how to turn off
america how to silence notifications
america how to delete
america why included as part of default software in world
america can i replace it with linux
america how to silence notifications
america how to delete
america why included as part of default software in world
america can i replace it with linux
January 20, 2026 at 4:29 PM
america how to turn off
america how to silence notifications
america how to delete
america why included as part of default software in world
america can i replace it with linux
america how to silence notifications
america how to delete
america why included as part of default software in world
america can i replace it with linux
Mē and mec are variants of accusative 'me' in Old English.
Mē is typical of Wessex texts, and mec of Mercian ones (with a final consonant that's still there in German mich).
Yet the Alfred Jewel text ('Alfred ordered me made') uses "mec" – evidence perhaps of Mercians working for the Wessex king.
Mē is typical of Wessex texts, and mec of Mercian ones (with a final consonant that's still there in German mich).
Yet the Alfred Jewel text ('Alfred ordered me made') uses "mec" – evidence perhaps of Mercians working for the Wessex king.
January 20, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Mē and mec are variants of accusative 'me' in Old English.
Mē is typical of Wessex texts, and mec of Mercian ones (with a final consonant that's still there in German mich).
Yet the Alfred Jewel text ('Alfred ordered me made') uses "mec" – evidence perhaps of Mercians working for the Wessex king.
Mē is typical of Wessex texts, and mec of Mercian ones (with a final consonant that's still there in German mich).
Yet the Alfred Jewel text ('Alfred ordered me made') uses "mec" – evidence perhaps of Mercians working for the Wessex king.
In one week's time! Sign up at the link!
If you like books about linguistics and languages (perhaps you'd like to write your own?), here's a free talk for you!
On the 27/1, I'll be putting questions to four fabulous authors over Zoom, getting their experience of writing linguistically for the public. Link:
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
On the 27/1, I'll be putting questions to four fabulous authors over Zoom, getting their experience of writing linguistically for the public. Link:
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
January 20, 2026 at 4:19 PM
In one week's time! Sign up at the link!
Reposted by Dr Danny Bate
“O” happy day!
This fascinating tome from @dannybate.bsky.social finally arrived to my Swiss doorstep.
(We had to wait for the second printing, apparently.) Výborně!
This fascinating tome from @dannybate.bsky.social finally arrived to my Swiss doorstep.
(We had to wait for the second printing, apparently.) Výborně!
January 20, 2026 at 4:09 PM
“O” happy day!
This fascinating tome from @dannybate.bsky.social finally arrived to my Swiss doorstep.
(We had to wait for the second printing, apparently.) Výborně!
This fascinating tome from @dannybate.bsky.social finally arrived to my Swiss doorstep.
(We had to wait for the second printing, apparently.) Výborně!
Reposted by Dr Danny Bate
January 19, 2026 at 6:56 PM