Martin Spivey
@martintesol.bsky.social
MA TESOL. University lecturer of EAP in Japan. Research interests include data-driven learning, corpus-assisted discourse analysis and learner corpora.
Reposted by Martin Spivey
I well understand that different cultures have different ways of conveying and processing information, but there are limits, right? Humans have human brains.
So, when I see a Japanese presentation with slides covered in 45 text boxes with text in fonts as small as 8 point, I can say: THIS IS BAD.
So, when I see a Japanese presentation with slides covered in 45 text boxes with text in fonts as small as 8 point, I can say: THIS IS BAD.
November 27, 2025 at 1:01 AM
I well understand that different cultures have different ways of conveying and processing information, but there are limits, right? Humans have human brains.
So, when I see a Japanese presentation with slides covered in 45 text boxes with text in fonts as small as 8 point, I can say: THIS IS BAD.
So, when I see a Japanese presentation with slides covered in 45 text boxes with text in fonts as small as 8 point, I can say: THIS IS BAD.
Reposted by Martin Spivey
Today is #nationallinguisticsday! To celebrate, here is a great talk from from our late colleague Professor Michael Hoey at IATEFL 2014, on lexical priming. One example of how our dept. applies linguistics to English language research. Enjoy! @sotauol.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wlp5...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wlp5...
Prof. Michael Hoey - IATEFL 2014 Harrogate
YouTube video by Sebastian Lesniewski
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Today is #nationallinguisticsday! To celebrate, here is a great talk from from our late colleague Professor Michael Hoey at IATEFL 2014, on lexical priming. One example of how our dept. applies linguistics to English language research. Enjoy! @sotauol.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wlp5...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wlp5...
Reposted by Martin Spivey
Under the current University funding model international students are one of the few aspects of HE that actually makes money (most home tuition and research is loss making- yes it's more complicated than that). It's simply false to pretend international students take places from home students. 1/2
November 25, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Under the current University funding model international students are one of the few aspects of HE that actually makes money (most home tuition and research is loss making- yes it's more complicated than that). It's simply false to pretend international students take places from home students. 1/2
@aishiterutokyo.bsky.social I assume this means Japanese subscribers won't be able to watch all the Japanese players out in Belgium now?
The news that Belgian football feared: as happened in France, DAZN is pulling out of its broadcasting deal with the ProLeague with immediate effect. Should no solution be found (which appears the likeliest scenario), the league's 16th round will not be broadcast in Belgium.
November 25, 2025 at 12:24 PM
@aishiterutokyo.bsky.social I assume this means Japanese subscribers won't be able to watch all the Japanese players out in Belgium now?
Reposted by Martin Spivey
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-dvscn-...
Delighted to share this podcast that I recorded with Prof. Susan Hunston, expert in #corpuslinguistics, English grammar, and former senior grammarian. We talked about the paper “Coming to Terms with Success” (1/3)
Delighted to share this podcast that I recorded with Prof. Susan Hunston, expert in #corpuslinguistics, English grammar, and former senior grammarian. We talked about the paper “Coming to Terms with Success” (1/3)
#191 - Hunston, S. (2024). Coming to terms with success. Journal of Corpora and Discourse Studies, 7, 63–76. https://doi.org/10.18573/jcads.114
Chris Cooper speaks with Susan Hunston from Birmingham University
[email protected]
www.podbean.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:59 PM
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-dvscn-...
Delighted to share this podcast that I recorded with Prof. Susan Hunston, expert in #corpuslinguistics, English grammar, and former senior grammarian. We talked about the paper “Coming to Terms with Success” (1/3)
Delighted to share this podcast that I recorded with Prof. Susan Hunston, expert in #corpuslinguistics, English grammar, and former senior grammarian. We talked about the paper “Coming to Terms with Success” (1/3)
This is an interesting article from the 'other' perspective regarding pro football/uni. If he was in Japan, it would be natural to go to uni and start his pro career at 22. At Oxford, he might be graduating at 21. Not too late to continue after?
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
The teenager who quit Manchester City for Oxford University: ‘I felt I could do more’
Han Willhoft-King was fancied to succeed at Spurs then City but opted for law at Brasenose College above pressing sessions with Guardiola
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:48 AM
This is an interesting article from the 'other' perspective regarding pro football/uni. If he was in Japan, it would be natural to go to uni and start his pro career at 22. At Oxford, he might be graduating at 21. Not too late to continue after?
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Reposted by Martin Spivey
Ian showing his age, again.
November 12, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Ian showing his age, again.
What a quite archaic thing to write in 2025.
One of those daughters may never get married. And even if they do, they might keep their maiden name.
AND even if the current owners had sons, they might not want to work in the family business anyway!
One of those daughters may never get married. And even if they do, they might keep their maiden name.
AND even if the current owners had sons, they might not want to work in the family business anyway!
November 11, 2025 at 12:46 PM
What a quite archaic thing to write in 2025.
One of those daughters may never get married. And even if they do, they might keep their maiden name.
AND even if the current owners had sons, they might not want to work in the family business anyway!
One of those daughters may never get married. And even if they do, they might keep their maiden name.
AND even if the current owners had sons, they might not want to work in the family business anyway!
Reposted by Martin Spivey
Akita Prefecture has Japan's most aged population, lowest birthrate and fastest declining population. Rigid gender roles are prompting young women to leave rural areas like this for opportunities elsewhere.
Rigid gender roles are prompting women to leave rural Japan
Akita Prefecture has Japan's most aged population, lowest birthrate and fastest declining population. Rigid gender roles are prompting young women to leave rural areas like this for opportunities elsewhere.
n.pr
November 9, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Akita Prefecture has Japan's most aged population, lowest birthrate and fastest declining population. Rigid gender roles are prompting young women to leave rural areas like this for opportunities elsewhere.
Reposted by Martin Spivey
In our latest blog piece, Gareth Mulvey argues that it is British elites who most stubbornly refuse to integrate.
www.gla.ac.uk/schools/soci...
www.gla.ac.uk/schools/soci...
November 3, 2025 at 8:41 AM
In our latest blog piece, Gareth Mulvey argues that it is British elites who most stubbornly refuse to integrate.
www.gla.ac.uk/schools/soci...
www.gla.ac.uk/schools/soci...
A worthy petition as the University of Nottingham plans to cut Modern Languages courses.
c.org/GLtQhR49jV
c.org/GLtQhR49jV
We Can Make an Impact.
Stop the removal of Modern Languages courses at the University of Nottingham!
c.org
November 8, 2025 at 3:07 AM
A worthy petition as the University of Nottingham plans to cut Modern Languages courses.
c.org/GLtQhR49jV
c.org/GLtQhR49jV
Reposted by Martin Spivey
Words & Actions podcast alert:
@linguadigitalis.bsky.social, Matt Drury and I have recorded the first episode in a six-part series "The language of...". First up: language of emotion. To follow: the language of food, waste, nature, music and water.
wordsandactionspodcast.wordpress.com
@linguadigitalis.bsky.social, Matt Drury and I have recorded the first episode in a six-part series "The language of...". First up: language of emotion. To follow: the language of food, waste, nature, music and water.
wordsandactionspodcast.wordpress.com
Words & Actions
A podcast about how language matters in business, politics and beyond.
wordsandactionspodcast.wordpress.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Words & Actions podcast alert:
@linguadigitalis.bsky.social, Matt Drury and I have recorded the first episode in a six-part series "The language of...". First up: language of emotion. To follow: the language of food, waste, nature, music and water.
wordsandactionspodcast.wordpress.com
@linguadigitalis.bsky.social, Matt Drury and I have recorded the first episode in a six-part series "The language of...". First up: language of emotion. To follow: the language of food, waste, nature, music and water.
wordsandactionspodcast.wordpress.com
Reposted by Martin Spivey
Members of the Ground Self-Defense Force were dispatched to Akita Prefecture to assist with bear control as the number of attacks and subsequent fatalities continue to rise in Japan. 👉 ebx.sh/BN9fcL
November 5, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Members of the Ground Self-Defense Force were dispatched to Akita Prefecture to assist with bear control as the number of attacks and subsequent fatalities continue to rise in Japan. 👉 ebx.sh/BN9fcL
Long but inspirational speech. Many, many metaphors featured. 😅 A few light metaphors caught.
youtu.be/R6ocK3AZ24U
youtu.be/R6ocK3AZ24U
Zohran Mamdani's full victory speech following New York mayor election
YouTube video by Guardian News
youtu.be
November 5, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Long but inspirational speech. Many, many metaphors featured. 😅 A few light metaphors caught.
youtu.be/R6ocK3AZ24U
youtu.be/R6ocK3AZ24U
Reposted by Martin Spivey
New Date Announced: We’re delighted to announce that Teun A. van Dijk (Centre of Discourse Studies, Barcelona) will now be joining us on Tuesday 11th November, 1–2pm (UK time) for his talk: Title: Discourse and Ideologies of the Radical Right
Location: MS Teams
Online link: lnkd.in/eAXSgT6r
Location: MS Teams
Online link: lnkd.in/eAXSgT6r
November 2, 2025 at 10:25 AM
New Date Announced: We’re delighted to announce that Teun A. van Dijk (Centre of Discourse Studies, Barcelona) will now be joining us on Tuesday 11th November, 1–2pm (UK time) for his talk: Title: Discourse and Ideologies of the Radical Right
Location: MS Teams
Online link: lnkd.in/eAXSgT6r
Location: MS Teams
Online link: lnkd.in/eAXSgT6r
Working on metaphors in political speech right now and the 'history will/won't...' metaphor is an interesting one.
First of all, who/what is history? Secondly, surely it is future generations that won't forgive us (the history)? I guess it comes from 'the history books won't be kind' metaphor...
First of all, who/what is history? Secondly, surely it is future generations that won't forgive us (the history)? I guess it comes from 'the history books won't be kind' metaphor...
‘History won’t forgive us’ if UK falls behind in quantum computing race, says Tony Blair
‘History won’t forgive us’ if UK falls behind in quantum computing race, says Tony Blair
Exclusive: Former PM and ex-Tory leader William Hague warn UK lacks high-risk capital and infrastructure to harness benefits of powerful technology
Tony Blair has said “history won’t forgive us” if the UK falls behind in the race to harness quantum computing, a frontier technology predicted to trigger the next wave of breakthroughs in everything from drug design to climate modelling.
The former British Labour prime minister, whose thinktank and consultancy, the Tony Blair Institute, is backed by tech industry leaders including the Oracle founder, Larry Ellison, warned: “The country risks failing to convert its leadership in quantum research.” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Working on metaphors in political speech right now and the 'history will/won't...' metaphor is an interesting one.
First of all, who/what is history? Secondly, surely it is future generations that won't forgive us (the history)? I guess it comes from 'the history books won't be kind' metaphor...
First of all, who/what is history? Secondly, surely it is future generations that won't forgive us (the history)? I guess it comes from 'the history books won't be kind' metaphor...
Reposted by Martin Spivey
📚 Lexical Priming: Evolution, Evaluation and Applications to English and Japanese is out now! In it, we build on and expand Hoey’s LP theory by applying it to specific varieties of Japanese and English, as represented in corpora
🔗 You can find it here doi.org/10.4324/9781... & more details below👇
🔗 You can find it here doi.org/10.4324/9781... & more details below👇
October 30, 2025 at 11:04 AM
📚 Lexical Priming: Evolution, Evaluation and Applications to English and Japanese is out now! In it, we build on and expand Hoey’s LP theory by applying it to specific varieties of Japanese and English, as represented in corpora
🔗 You can find it here doi.org/10.4324/9781... & more details below👇
🔗 You can find it here doi.org/10.4324/9781... & more details below👇
Reposted by Martin Spivey
The Mainichi has an English article on the incident yesterday morning, when a bear broke into a high school gym in Yamagata, had a bit of a frolic, then left. mainichi.jp/english/arti...
October 30, 2025 at 10:05 AM
The Mainichi has an English article on the incident yesterday morning, when a bear broke into a high school gym in Yamagata, had a bit of a frolic, then left. mainichi.jp/english/arti...
Reposted by Martin Spivey
Another update to the fall-spring transition plans (h/t @rbyryo.bsky.social) - of the ¥10.8 billion the league has set aside for the transition, ¥5 billion ($32.9m) will be used as subsidies for northern clubs to buy cold-weather equipment such as air domes, heating systems and pitch covers.
October 28, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Another update to the fall-spring transition plans (h/t @rbyryo.bsky.social) - of the ¥10.8 billion the league has set aside for the transition, ¥5 billion ($32.9m) will be used as subsidies for northern clubs to buy cold-weather equipment such as air domes, heating systems and pitch covers.
Reposted by Martin Spivey
This week’s Literary Linguistics seminar on metaphor features this seasonal absolute paranoid cracker by Hugh Sykes Davies (1936)
October 28, 2025 at 12:11 PM
This week’s Literary Linguistics seminar on metaphor features this seasonal absolute paranoid cracker by Hugh Sykes Davies (1936)
Reposted by Martin Spivey
Please read our statement, share it with your networks, and support us if you can. www.python.org/sponsors/app... psfmember.org/civicrm/cont...
October 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Please read our statement, share it with your networks, and support us if you can. www.python.org/sponsors/app... psfmember.org/civicrm/cont...
Reposted by Martin Spivey
Akita is considering asking for the deployment of Self-Defense Forces troops following a spate of bear attacks across the prefecture.
Akita to seek SDF deployment over bear attacks
More than 100 people across the country have been killed or injured by bears in the current fiscal year.
ebx.sh
October 27, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Akita is considering asking for the deployment of Self-Defense Forces troops following a spate of bear attacks across the prefecture.
Reposted by Martin Spivey
Bear attack survival tips released in Japan as encounters surge
Bear attack survival tips released in Japan as encounters surge
Governor of one prefecture says he is considering asking the military for help to tackle increasing attacks amid thousands-strong bear population
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Bear attack survival tips released in Japan as encounters surge
Reposted by Martin Spivey
October 26, 2025 at 4:17 AM
@mynameisjef.bsky.social Kawano starting at CB against his old club. May the best team (not) win! 😅
October 26, 2025 at 3:31 AM
@mynameisjef.bsky.social Kawano starting at CB against his old club. May the best team (not) win! 😅