Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Katie Carmichael

@drkatcarm.bsky.social

2.1K followers 680 following 190 posts

Sociolinguist at Virginia Tech | Academic mama | Studies New Orleans Language & Culture | she/her Author of ‘Language and Place’, available open access 👉 https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/language-and-place/E95116DA21FDDFCDF4DFE5375765514C

www.cambridge.org

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Katie Carmichael @drkatcarm.bsky.social · Nov 16

Introductory tweet for new followers! 🙋🏽‍♀️ I study all things language & culture in ⚜️Louisiana⚜️ — including Louisiana French & sociolinguistic variation in New Orleans English dialects, especially in the context of post-Katrina ruptures. Interested in intersection of lg practices & place-based identity

2 23

Katie Carmichael @drkatcarm.bsky.social · 27d

::slowly stands while clapping::

Image of labubu doll labeled labubu next to image of spiky labubu doll labeled lakiki

6 260 1K

Katie Carmichael @drkatcarm.bsky.social · Aug 28

Apparently 'Chronic Stress' is a journal name. But also: this e-mail subject represents an accurate statement 🤣

1 3 20

Katie Carmichael @drkatcarm.bsky.social · Aug 13

Why does the acronym ‘NOLA’ hit such a nerve in post-Katrina New Orleans? Answers touch on the relationship between language, place, identity, authenticity, gentrification, appropriation…all the things I spend most of my time thinking about!

www.axios.com/local/new-or...

NOLA vs. New Orleans: Why it hits a nerve with residents

Whatever you do, don't say N'awlins.

www.axios.com

Katie Carmichael @drkatcarm.bsky.social · Aug 12

My 8 year old while watching a cartoon today: "What is that noise?"
Me, tuning in to figure out what he's talking about: "oh. That's a phone ringing. Phones used to ring and sound like that..."

👵⚰️🪦☠️

2 10

Katie Carmichael @drkatcarm.bsky.social · Aug 11

The absolute jumpscare that occurs when listening to 'Hozier radio' on spotify and that one song he did with Noah Kahan comes on 😭

Katie Carmichael @drkatcarm.bsky.social · Aug 9

Hm it wasn’t yesterday and I know it’s meant to be open access, but you’re right when I click on it today the paywall is up. @jrkasstan.bsky.social @lhlew.bsky.social @betsysneller.bsky.social any idea what’s up with that?

1 6

Katie Carmichael @drkatcarm.bsky.social · Aug 8

I really recommend reading this one closely, as there are some incredible theoretical insights therein, & contentful clarifications of Labovian concepts and stances. It's a real testament to the intellectual tradition Labov inspired, very much embodying the refrain: "linguists are smart people."

Katie Carmichael @drkatcarm.bsky.social · Aug 8

Another lovely Labov obit by @betsysneller.bsky.social @laurelmack.bsky.social and Meredith Tamminga. This one takes a birds eye view of how Labov has contributed to where the field is going, which is a nice forward-looking complement to Eckert's obit onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Bill Labov: Looking Back, Looking Forward

Bill Labov passed away peacefully at home on December 17, 2024, with his wife and fellow Penn linguist Gillian Sankoff by his side. He leaves behind a legacy so large that it is hard to put into word....

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

1 10 15

Katie Carmichael @drkatcarm.bsky.social · Aug 7

Newest ep of Culture Study is a must-listen: it mobilizes the collective brilliance & pure rizz of 2 of the smartest, coolest women out there (@mixedlinguist.bsky.social + @annehelen.bsky.social) & is JAMPACKED w/ accessible info about sociolinguistic variation 😍🤗

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

The Ridiculously Interesting World of American Accents

Podcast Episode · Culture Study Podcast · 08/06/2025 · 1h 18m

podcasts.apple.com

1 3

Katie Carmichael @drkatcarm.bsky.social · Jul 31

"But I'm sure your little 25 page article it took you 4 years to get out the door is *just great*" 😌

Katie Carmichael @drkatcarm.bsky.social · Jul 31

RIGHT?? Like wow. Just confirm the rest of us are absolute losers whydon'tcha 🤣

2 2

Katie Carmichael @drkatcarm.bsky.social · Jul 31

Absolutely beautiful obituary for Bill Labov, describing a life rich in insights and in humanity www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

William (Bill) Labov (1927–2024) | Language in Society | Cambridge Core

William (Bill) Labov (1927–2024) - Volume 54 Issue 3

www.cambridge.org

28 67

Reposted by Katie Carmichael

Peggy Renwick @syllabicity.bsky.social · May 12

language change in the news! h/t all our @americandialect.org PADS contributors... apnews.com/article/migr... @joeystanley.com @drkatcarm.bsky.social @lhlew.bsky.social... 😊

apnews.com

2 6

Katie Carmichael @drkatcarm.bsky.social · Apr 22

My linguist brain always tingles when I pass this place 🙇🏽‍♀️

2 8

Reposted by Katie Carmichael

Mor Naaman @informor.bsky.social · Apr 5

I have never seen anything like this in NYC. 5th Ave covered from 42nd St well to the 20s. Nobody prepared for this volume. Volunteers are holding the traffic on all the side streets. No police in sight. #handsoff

Full of people down 5th avenue, view from 39th Street.

1K 12K 46K

Reposted by Katie Carmichael

Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · Apr 1

In 1957, Strom Thurmond held the Senate for 24 hours and 18 minutes to block the passage of a Civil Rights bill.

In 2025, Cory Booker held the Senate for 24 hours and >19+ minutes to defend freedom & democracy.

Courage over fear; liberty over tyranny. #goodtrouble www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2ut...

Live: Speaking on Trump, Musk, and America’s Moral Moment on the Senate Floor | Senator Cory Booker

YouTube video by Senator Cory Booker

www.youtube.com

4 53 230

Reposted by Katie Carmichael

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · Apr 1

"This will go down as one of the darkest days in modern scientific history." Story on the decimation of NIH by @maxkozlov.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/d41...?

‘One of the darkest days’: NIH purges agency leadership amid mass layoffs

In shock move, four institute directors at the US biomedical agency are removed from their posts.

www.nature.com

42 660 1.6K

Reposted by Katie Carmichael

David Dayen @ddayen.bsky.social · Apr 1

"There's a room here in the Senate named after Strom Thurmond... I'm here despite his speech, I'm here because as powerful as he was, the people were more powerful." -Cory Booker as he eclipses Thurmond's record for the longest filibuster in US history.

64 1.3K 7K

Reposted by Katie Carmichael

The New Republic @newrepublic.com · Mar 29

The Trump administration has detained another international student—this time from the University of Alabama and without providing any justification.

All are assaults on free speech and are blatant violations of immigration law.

ICE Makes Another Student Disappear—and No One Knows Why

Federal immigration officials have abducted another international student.

newrepublic.com

29 200 330

Reposted by Katie Carmichael

Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · Mar 27

It’s patently false, but notice that “humans won’t be needed” to these people is identified as the desired future rather than the deeply dystopian vision that it actually is.

Bill Gates: Within 10 years, AI will replace many doctors and teachers—humans won't be needed ‘for most things'

Over the next decade, advances in artificial intelligence will mean that humans will no longer be needed "for most things" in the world, says Bill Gates.

www.nbcchicago.com

210 600 2.3K

Reposted by Katie Carmichael

Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · Mar 27

Well over a hundred years of friendship, history, and cooperation blown to bits in a few months by an incompetent, simple-minded buffoon who doesn't understand tariffs and never had any real friends so doesn't know how to keep allies.

98 670 4.3K

Katie Carmichael @drkatcarm.bsky.social · Mar 27

Witnessing FAFO in real time 😩

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Mar 27

Carney: "The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over."

Reposted by Katie Carmichael

Gravel Influencer @gravelinfluencer.bsky.social · Mar 26

This is the latest update we have from her lawyer.

Gravel Influencer @gravelinfluencer.bsky.social · Mar 26

Rumeysa Ozturk's lawyer doesn't know where she is and hasn't been able to contact her. A federal judge has ordered her not to be removed from the state.

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/26/m...

Khanbabai is unaware of her client’s whereabouts, and has not been able to contact her, she said, and she is not aware of any criminal charges filed against her. A federal judge in Boston, Judge Indira Talwani, ordered US Immigration and Customs Enforcement not to remove Ozturk from Massachusetts.

In a court filing, Khanbabai said Ozturk was “unlawfully detained” by the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE. “We hope Rumeysa will be released immediately,” Khanbabai said in a statement.

1 260 1K

Reposted by Katie Carmichael

Gravel Influencer @gravelinfluencer.bsky.social · Mar 26

Not sure if this has been shared here yet, but this is video of Rumeysa Ozturk's arrest posted by WCVB. It's terrifying.

50 2.3K 4.6K

Reposted by Katie Carmichael

Mark Peifer (He, him) @peiferlabunc.bsky.social · Mar 26

14 pages of terminated NIH grants--everyone should read through the list. The sweep is VERY broad, including "The Impact of the Herpes Zoster Vaccine on Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus" & "Mitochondrial-based Determinants of Sex Differences in Acute Kidney Injury"🧪 1/n
taggs.hhs.gov/Content/Data...

taggs.hhs.gov

24 350 690