Gretchen McCulloch
@gretchenmcc.bsky.social
Internet linguist. Wrote Because Internet, NYT bestseller about internet language. Co-hosts @lingthusiasm.bsky.social, a podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics.
she/her 🌈
Montreal en/fr 🇨🇦
gretchenmcculloch.com
she/her 🌈
Montreal en/fr 🇨🇦
gretchenmcculloch.com
Pinned
Hello! I'm an internet linguist!
I wrote a book called Because Internet about how we use language online gretchenmcculloch.com/book
I make @lingthusiasm.bsky.social, a podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
And I maintain a linguistics starter pack here: go.bsky.app/UUM7Gcx
I wrote a book called Because Internet about how we use language online gretchenmcculloch.com/book
I make @lingthusiasm.bsky.social, a podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
And I maintain a linguistics starter pack here: go.bsky.app/UUM7Gcx
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
The world met Ferdinand de Saussure on a night like this (in 1857)
A presumed European substrate word *salik-/*selik-/*welik-: "willow" -> salicylic, Saussay/Saussure, sargasso, sallow, willow
#WorldLinguisticsDay
circumvent bsky image compression in the link
A presumed European substrate word *salik-/*selik-/*welik-: "willow" -> salicylic, Saussay/Saussure, sargasso, sallow, willow
#WorldLinguisticsDay
circumvent bsky image compression in the link
November 27, 2025 at 2:13 AM
The world met Ferdinand de Saussure on a night like this (in 1857)
A presumed European substrate word *salik-/*selik-/*welik-: "willow" -> salicylic, Saussay/Saussure, sargasso, sallow, willow
#WorldLinguisticsDay
circumvent bsky image compression in the link
A presumed European substrate word *salik-/*selik-/*welik-: "willow" -> salicylic, Saussay/Saussure, sargasso, sallow, willow
#WorldLinguisticsDay
circumvent bsky image compression in the link
That's a wrap for World Linguistics Day in my timezone, at least!
Still time to celebrate for a few hours maybe if you live west of me!
Stay tuned in the next few days for a roundup of all the different places we had WLD greetings from (ps: belated greetings count!)
Still time to celebrate for a few hours maybe if you live west of me!
Stay tuned in the next few days for a roundup of all the different places we had WLD greetings from (ps: belated greetings count!)
Happy World Linguistics Day from Montreal, Canada!
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
Happy World Linguistics Day from Melbourne, Australia!
November 27, 2025 at 5:02 AM
That's a wrap for World Linguistics Day in my timezone, at least!
Still time to celebrate for a few hours maybe if you live west of me!
Stay tuned in the next few days for a roundup of all the different places we had WLD greetings from (ps: belated greetings count!)
Still time to celebrate for a few hours maybe if you live west of me!
Stay tuned in the next few days for a roundup of all the different places we had WLD greetings from (ps: belated greetings count!)
Canadians! You can now vote for the Canadian Word of the Year!
(If we had the option to choose a Canadian WOTY in French as well, I'd suggest the gender-neutral pronoun "iel" which has been in the news a lot in Quebec this year, but probably not applicable since this is an English dictionary)
(If we had the option to choose a Canadian WOTY in French as well, I'd suggest the gender-neutral pronoun "iel" which has been in the news a lot in Quebec this year, but probably not applicable since this is an English dictionary)
2025 has been an eventful year for Canada's identity. To commemorate the year, The Society for Canadian English is choosing a 2025 word of the year (CWOTY), based on the Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles.
Have your say: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Have your say: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
November 27, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Canadians! You can now vote for the Canadian Word of the Year!
(If we had the option to choose a Canadian WOTY in French as well, I'd suggest the gender-neutral pronoun "iel" which has been in the news a lot in Quebec this year, but probably not applicable since this is an English dictionary)
(If we had the option to choose a Canadian WOTY in French as well, I'd suggest the gender-neutral pronoun "iel" which has been in the news a lot in Quebec this year, but probably not applicable since this is an English dictionary)
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Happy world linguistics day from Limerick, Ireland!
Happy World Linguistics Day from Montreal, Canada!
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
Happy World Linguistics Day from Melbourne, Australia!
November 26, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Happy world linguistics day from Limerick, Ireland!
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Happy World Linguistics Day from Lenni Lenape land! (More specifically, Jersey City, NJ, USA.)
Happy World Linguistics Day from Montreal, Canada!
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
Happy World Linguistics Day from Melbourne, Australia!
November 26, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Happy World Linguistics Day from Lenni Lenape land! (More specifically, Jersey City, NJ, USA.)
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
#OTD 168 years ago, Ferdinand de Saussure (1857–1913) was born 🤩 One of the central figures in modern linguistics, he was an Indo-Europeanist, the author of the so-called Laryngeal Theory, and an influential semiotician and a founding figure of linguistic structuralism.
#LinguisticBirthdays #Histlx
#LinguisticBirthdays #Histlx
November 26, 2025 at 8:49 AM
#OTD 168 years ago, Ferdinand de Saussure (1857–1913) was born 🤩 One of the central figures in modern linguistics, he was an Indo-Europeanist, the author of the so-called Laryngeal Theory, and an influential semiotician and a founding figure of linguistic structuralism.
#LinguisticBirthdays #Histlx
#LinguisticBirthdays #Histlx
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Happy World Linguistics Day 🎉
Not Saussure how to celebrate? Episodes 12 and 13 of our podcast will give your plans some structure...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/02/01/p...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/03/01/p...
#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx #WorldLinguisticsDay
Not Saussure how to celebrate? Episodes 12 and 13 of our podcast will give your plans some structure...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/02/01/p...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/03/01/p...
#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx #WorldLinguisticsDay
!["Dans la langue, il n'y a que des différences sans termes positifs [=In a language, there are only differences and no positive terms.]" (Ferdinand de Saussure: Cours de linnguistique générale, p. 166)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:r6wjosgpmompi6hot3pbmyj2/bafkreicxbh6gr7vxtgn63slt6va5sdqvishbb7byqxx5ya2ykb7sa3ctdm@jpeg)
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Happy World Linguistics Day 🎉
Not Saussure how to celebrate? Episodes 12 and 13 of our podcast will give your plans some structure...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/02/01/p...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/03/01/p...
#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx #WorldLinguisticsDay
Not Saussure how to celebrate? Episodes 12 and 13 of our podcast will give your plans some structure...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/02/01/p...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/03/01/p...
#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx #WorldLinguisticsDay
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Happy World Linguistics Day from the great harbour Kjipuktuk, in the Sɨpekne'katik region of Mi'kma'ki, the territory of the Mi'kmaq (L'nuk), one of the peoples of the Wapna'ki Alliance, where I live under the terms of the Treaties of Peace and Friendship in a settlement called Halifax!
Happy World Linguistics Day from Montreal, Canada!
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
Happy World Linguistics Day from Melbourne, Australia!
November 26, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Happy World Linguistics Day from the great harbour Kjipuktuk, in the Sɨpekne'katik region of Mi'kma'ki, the territory of the Mi'kmaq (L'nuk), one of the peoples of the Wapna'ki Alliance, where I live under the terms of the Treaties of Peace and Friendship in a settlement called Halifax!
Today in linguists are NOT KIDDING when we say that your knowledge of language enables you to understand sentences that have never been said before.
November 26, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Today in linguists are NOT KIDDING when we say that your knowledge of language enables you to understand sentences that have never been said before.
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
So far I've seen happy World Linguistics Day wishes from 5 continents:
Europe
Oceania
North America
South America
Asia
And 27 countries!
I think I'm going to win my bet with @superlinguo.bsky.social that we can crack 30 countries, what do you think?
Didn't even think to bet on cities 😯
Europe
Oceania
North America
South America
Asia
And 27 countries!
I think I'm going to win my bet with @superlinguo.bsky.social that we can crack 30 countries, what do you think?
Didn't even think to bet on cities 😯
November 26, 2025 at 8:55 PM
So far I've seen happy World Linguistics Day wishes from 5 continents:
Europe
Oceania
North America
South America
Asia
And 27 countries!
I think I'm going to win my bet with @superlinguo.bsky.social that we can crack 30 countries, what do you think?
Didn't even think to bet on cities 😯
Europe
Oceania
North America
South America
Asia
And 27 countries!
I think I'm going to win my bet with @superlinguo.bsky.social that we can crack 30 countries, what do you think?
Didn't even think to bet on cities 😯
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
The @lagbling.bsky.social is having a video contest for World Linguistics Day to explain the importance of sign languages in BSL or International Sign, with prizes thanks to the European Research Council!
via @adamcschembri.bsky.social on fb
www.signmorph.net/worldlinguis...
via @adamcschembri.bsky.social on fb
www.signmorph.net/worldlinguis...
WORLD LINGUISTICS DAY | SignMorph
www.signmorph.net
November 26, 2025 at 8:44 PM
The @lagbling.bsky.social is having a video contest for World Linguistics Day to explain the importance of sign languages in BSL or International Sign, with prizes thanks to the European Research Council!
via @adamcschembri.bsky.social on fb
www.signmorph.net/worldlinguis...
via @adamcschembri.bsky.social on fb
www.signmorph.net/worldlinguis...
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
The #WorldLinguisticsDay wishes are coming in on various places faster than I can confidently count, but so far I *think* we're up to 27 countries and I'll tally up the cities and states and provinces later!
(Might need to make a spreadsheet...)
(Might need to make a spreadsheet...)
November 26, 2025 at 8:41 PM
The #WorldLinguisticsDay wishes are coming in on various places faster than I can confidently count, but so far I *think* we're up to 27 countries and I'll tally up the cities and states and provinces later!
(Might need to make a spreadsheet...)
(Might need to make a spreadsheet...)
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Happy World Linguistics Day from El Salvador.
November 26, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Happy World Linguistics Day from El Salvador.
gonna need someone else to volunteer to make the interactive world linguistics day map next year, that's slightly beyond my skillset
interactive map when xD
November 26, 2025 at 8:48 PM
gonna need someone else to volunteer to make the interactive world linguistics day map next year, that's slightly beyond my skillset
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Happy World Linguistics day from Oulu, Finland!
November 26, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Happy World Linguistics day from Oulu, Finland!
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Happy World Linguistics Day from Budapest, capital of a peculiar linguistic phenomenon--the Hungarian language!
November 26, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Happy World Linguistics Day from Budapest, capital of a peculiar linguistic phenomenon--the Hungarian language!
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Seeing this post made me think about hometown (which is broadly hated-upon) and how it's linguistic quirks make me love it and feel at home here. So, Happy World Linguistics Day from the land where the first syllable in "tiger" is the same vowel sound as in "bag" (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada)
Happy World Linguistics Day from Montreal, Canada!
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
Happy World Linguistics Day from Melbourne, Australia!
November 26, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Seeing this post made me think about hometown (which is broadly hated-upon) and how it's linguistic quirks make me love it and feel at home here. So, Happy World Linguistics Day from the land where the first syllable in "tiger" is the same vowel sound as in "bag" (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada)
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Happy World Linguistics Day from Lower Saxony in Germany!
Happy World Linguistics Day from Montreal, Canada!
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
Happy World Linguistics Day from Melbourne, Australia!
November 26, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Happy World Linguistics Day from Lower Saxony in Germany!
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Happy World Linguistics Day from Edinburgh, UK, specifically from the University of Edinburgh's excellent and lovely linguistics department!
Happy World Linguistics Day from Montreal, Canada!
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
Happy World Linguistics Day from Melbourne, Australia!
November 26, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Happy World Linguistics Day from Edinburgh, UK, specifically from the University of Edinburgh's excellent and lovely linguistics department!
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Happy World Linguistics Day from Boston, MA!
Happy World Linguistics Day from Montreal, Canada!
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
Happy World Linguistics Day from Melbourne, Australia!
November 26, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Happy World Linguistics Day from Boston, MA!
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Happy World Linguistics from New York, NY!! 🗽🍎
Happy World Linguistics Day from Montreal, Canada!
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
Happy World Linguistics Day from Melbourne, Australia!
November 26, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Happy World Linguistics from New York, NY!! 🗽🍎
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Happy World Linguistics Day from Waterloo, Canada!
Happy World Linguistics Day from Montreal, Canada!
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
Happy World Linguistics Day from Melbourne, Australia!
November 26, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Happy World Linguistics Day from Waterloo, Canada!
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Happy World Linguistics Day from Vancouver, BC, Canada!
Happy World Linguistics Day from Montreal, Canada!
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
(I wonder how many different places we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!)
Happy World Linguistics Day from Melbourne, Australia!
November 26, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Happy World Linguistics Day from Vancouver, BC, Canada!
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Happy World Linguistics Day from the Linguistic Association of Finland!
Today, the association's board had a meeting and discovered that NINE excellent theses had been submitted to the Master’s Thesis Award 2025!
Now the jury will read all the theses and announce the winner in February 2026. 🏆
Today, the association's board had a meeting and discovered that NINE excellent theses had been submitted to the Master’s Thesis Award 2025!
Now the jury will read all the theses and announce the winner in February 2026. 🏆
November 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Happy World Linguistics Day from the Linguistic Association of Finland!
Today, the association's board had a meeting and discovered that NINE excellent theses had been submitted to the Master’s Thesis Award 2025!
Now the jury will read all the theses and announce the winner in February 2026. 🏆
Today, the association's board had a meeting and discovered that NINE excellent theses had been submitted to the Master’s Thesis Award 2025!
Now the jury will read all the theses and announce the winner in February 2026. 🏆
Reposted by Gretchen McCulloch
Happy World Linguistics Day! I write about #language in the key of narrative non-fiction; you might find my books interesting! A thread --
#lingsky #langsky #linguistics
#lingsky #langsky #linguistics
November 26, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Happy World Linguistics Day! I write about #language in the key of narrative non-fiction; you might find my books interesting! A thread --
#lingsky #langsky #linguistics
#lingsky #langsky #linguistics