Lucas Lawson
@lawhijo.bsky.social
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
In celebration of Mamdani's first day in office, the map from our 2016 NYC atlas celebrating Queens as the most linguistically diverse place on earth. (800 languages spoken in NYC, according to NY's Endangered Language Institute, which collaborated with us on this map.
January 3, 2026 at 3:21 AM
In celebration of Mamdani's first day in office, the map from our 2016 NYC atlas celebrating Queens as the most linguistically diverse place on earth. (800 languages spoken in NYC, according to NY's Endangered Language Institute, which collaborated with us on this map.
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
Linguaphile Magazine is crowdfunding printing for their first physical edition. It looks very beautiful.
www.linguaphilemagazine.org
This project received a 2024 #lingcomm grant commendation, it's exciting to see this turn into a physical product!
www.linguaphilemagazine.org
This project received a 2024 #lingcomm grant commendation, it's exciting to see this turn into a physical product!
Linguaphile Magazine
We are a non-profit magazine exploring the essence of languages and the cultures they shape. From endangered dialects to the global impact of multilingualism, we delve into the stories behind the worl...
www.linguaphilemagazine.org
December 22, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Linguaphile Magazine is crowdfunding printing for their first physical edition. It looks very beautiful.
www.linguaphilemagazine.org
This project received a 2024 #lingcomm grant commendation, it's exciting to see this turn into a physical product!
www.linguaphilemagazine.org
This project received a 2024 #lingcomm grant commendation, it's exciting to see this turn into a physical product!
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
Spanish ‘tengo un sueño’ means “I have a dream”.
In contrast, ‘tengo sueño’ means “I’m sleepy” (lit. “I have sleep”).
Why does ‘sueño’ mean both “sleep” and “dream”, two very different things?
It’s because ‘sueño’ and ‘sueño’ are different words – with a different etymology.
My graphic explains:
In contrast, ‘tengo sueño’ means “I’m sleepy” (lit. “I have sleep”).
Why does ‘sueño’ mean both “sleep” and “dream”, two very different things?
It’s because ‘sueño’ and ‘sueño’ are different words – with a different etymology.
My graphic explains:
April 18, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Spanish ‘tengo un sueño’ means “I have a dream”.
In contrast, ‘tengo sueño’ means “I’m sleepy” (lit. “I have sleep”).
Why does ‘sueño’ mean both “sleep” and “dream”, two very different things?
It’s because ‘sueño’ and ‘sueño’ are different words – with a different etymology.
My graphic explains:
In contrast, ‘tengo sueño’ means “I’m sleepy” (lit. “I have sleep”).
Why does ‘sueño’ mean both “sleep” and “dream”, two very different things?
It’s because ‘sueño’ and ‘sueño’ are different words – with a different etymology.
My graphic explains:
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
I try not to be antagonistic on social media much, but I need to be very clear: if you do not stand shoulder-to-shoulder with trans people, you are on the wrong side of history, my pal.
April 17, 2025 at 9:21 PM
I try not to be antagonistic on social media much, but I need to be very clear: if you do not stand shoulder-to-shoulder with trans people, you are on the wrong side of history, my pal.
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
In Hitler's last will and testament, dictating hours before he committed suicide, 80 years ago in April 1945, he insisted that no one had wanted war in 1939. It had been forced on him by 'international Jewry and its helpers.'
Trump has fully turned on Zelenskyy: "He's always looking to purchase missiles. Listen, when you start a war, you gotta know you can win a war. You don't start a war against somebody that's 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles."
April 15, 2025 at 10:15 AM
In Hitler's last will and testament, dictating hours before he committed suicide, 80 years ago in April 1945, he insisted that no one had wanted war in 1939. It had been forced on him by 'international Jewry and its helpers.'
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
The words "host" and "guest" are from the same source, with "host" reaching us via French, and "guest" reaching us via Old Norse.
#etymology
#etymology
April 11, 2025 at 8:11 AM
The words "host" and "guest" are from the same source, with "host" reaching us via French, and "guest" reaching us via Old Norse.
#etymology
#etymology
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
Here are a few of the grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence.
These were the justification for the revolution and the break with Britain.
These were the justification for the revolution and the break with Britain.
April 10, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Here are a few of the grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence.
These were the justification for the revolution and the break with Britain.
These were the justification for the revolution and the break with Britain.
Happy Liberation Day to all who support these tariffs. I hope you’re liberated from your savings due to higher prices and liberated from the idea that these will make our country a better place to live.
April 2, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Happy Liberation Day to all who support these tariffs. I hope you’re liberated from your savings due to higher prices and liberated from the idea that these will make our country a better place to live.
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
Hey. The fragmentation of the social media landscape has been hard on indie #scicomm 🧪 projects
So if you'd like to follow a podcast that's enthusiastic about #linguistics, could you check out @lingthusiasm.bsky.social?
And if you think your followers might like to, could you give this a repost?
So if you'd like to follow a podcast that's enthusiastic about #linguistics, could you check out @lingthusiasm.bsky.social?
And if you think your followers might like to, could you give this a repost?
March 29, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Hey. The fragmentation of the social media landscape has been hard on indie #scicomm 🧪 projects
So if you'd like to follow a podcast that's enthusiastic about #linguistics, could you check out @lingthusiasm.bsky.social?
And if you think your followers might like to, could you give this a repost?
So if you'd like to follow a podcast that's enthusiastic about #linguistics, could you check out @lingthusiasm.bsky.social?
And if you think your followers might like to, could you give this a repost?
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
March 17, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
Happy Friday! Did you know that the name “Friday” comes from the Old English “Frigedæg” ‘Frigga’s Day’? Frigga is the Germanic goddess of love, and the name for Friday is a *calque* (loan translation) of the Latin phrase “diēs Vēneris” ‘Venus’ day’. #linguistics #language
March 14, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Happy Friday! Did you know that the name “Friday” comes from the Old English “Frigedæg” ‘Frigga’s Day’? Frigga is the Germanic goddess of love, and the name for Friday is a *calque* (loan translation) of the Latin phrase “diēs Vēneris” ‘Venus’ day’. #linguistics #language
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
Moreover, the Proto-Indo-European root of “Frigga” is *pri- ‘love’, which also yielded words like “friend” and “free” and “freedom”. So Friday etymologically could also be called “Free Day”, which I think is appropriate since it’s the day you’re finally free from work.
#TGIF #Friday #etymology
#TGIF #Friday #etymology
March 14, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Moreover, the Proto-Indo-European root of “Frigga” is *pri- ‘love’, which also yielded words like “friend” and “free” and “freedom”. So Friday etymologically could also be called “Free Day”, which I think is appropriate since it’s the day you’re finally free from work.
#TGIF #Friday #etymology
#TGIF #Friday #etymology
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
I learned today from the 8 year old that the imperative is now called ‘bossy verbs’😅. Unironically love it
March 13, 2025 at 9:57 PM
I learned today from the 8 year old that the imperative is now called ‘bossy verbs’😅. Unironically love it
The most worrisome aspect about today’s politics is not that corrupt, self-serving individuals have power (that has always been the case), but that so many people are OK with corruption as long as it’s “their person” doing it.
March 12, 2025 at 2:46 AM
The most worrisome aspect about today’s politics is not that corrupt, self-serving individuals have power (that has always been the case), but that so many people are OK with corruption as long as it’s “their person” doing it.
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
This is a thing that fascist regimes always do, and it’s specially designed to terrorize brown people here. I spoke about it on TikTok www.tiktok.com/t/ZP821vydf/
March 2, 2025 at 2:55 PM
This is a thing that fascist regimes always do, and it’s specially designed to terrorize brown people here. I spoke about it on TikTok www.tiktok.com/t/ZP821vydf/
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
"There are very few, if any, monolingual nations in the world. What most have is an officially imposed language as the national language: the language of power.. a dictatorship of the monolingual on a plurality of languages and it negates the human right to one's
language."
- Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
language."
- Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
October 12, 2023 at 1:49 PM
"There are very few, if any, monolingual nations in the world. What most have is an officially imposed language as the national language: the language of power.. a dictatorship of the monolingual on a plurality of languages and it negates the human right to one's
language."
- Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
language."
- Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
March 1, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
This is WILD
This kind of public fight in the Oval Office almost never happens historically. Nothing about the current Administration can truly astonish but this fight & not signing a pre-negotiated deal, sends real signals worldwide. It is unlike US foreign policy in the past. No real precedents.
So much going on...take note of the U.S President AND Vice President berating + getting heated in an exchange with a foreign head of state during an Oval Office visit in front of the media. This is significant. It portends major foreign relations problems to come.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/02...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/02...
February 28, 2025 at 9:20 PM
This is WILD
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
Print it on a t-shirt! That’s the message!
Whatever side of history Trump and Vance are on, I'm against it.
February 28, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Print it on a t-shirt! That’s the message!
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
Trump berates Zelensky, the leader of a democratic country courageously fighting Russian imperialism, while he allies himself with Putin, a dictator who started the bloodiest European war in 80 years.
Sorry, President Trump. We believe in democracy, not authoritarianism.
Sorry, President Trump. We believe in democracy, not authoritarianism.
February 28, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Trump berates Zelensky, the leader of a democratic country courageously fighting Russian imperialism, while he allies himself with Putin, a dictator who started the bloodiest European war in 80 years.
Sorry, President Trump. We believe in democracy, not authoritarianism.
Sorry, President Trump. We believe in democracy, not authoritarianism.
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
On Nov. 7th, I told my sociolinguistics students this was going to happen. They did an activity on language policy and one of the lessons was that repressive regimes always try to criminalize languages that are not ideologically associated with nationalism. I’m sorry I was right.
BREAKING: President Trump expected to sign an executive order to make English the official U.S. language for the first time in history, according to a White House official. nbcnews.to/43gRPGH
February 28, 2025 at 5:22 PM
On Nov. 7th, I told my sociolinguistics students this was going to happen. They did an activity on language policy and one of the lessons was that repressive regimes always try to criminalize languages that are not ideologically associated with nationalism. I’m sorry I was right.
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
On 15 March 1939 Hitler and his deputy summoned the Czech President to Hitler’s residence in Berlin and then bullied him to submitting to a German invasion of his country.
They drove him to the point of physical collapse, threatening him until he eventually signed his country’s death warrant.
They drove him to the point of physical collapse, threatening him until he eventually signed his country’s death warrant.
February 28, 2025 at 6:56 PM
On 15 March 1939 Hitler and his deputy summoned the Czech President to Hitler’s residence in Berlin and then bullied him to submitting to a German invasion of his country.
They drove him to the point of physical collapse, threatening him until he eventually signed his country’s death warrant.
They drove him to the point of physical collapse, threatening him until he eventually signed his country’s death warrant.
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
If we want to avoid autocracy we need to reinvigorate the checks&balances in our system. If we can't (or won't) do that then we're just arguing over the uses which our "temporary, far-too-powerful Chief Executive's" power is being used for. It's not about the goals of power:it's about power itself.
February 19, 2025 at 8:50 PM
If we want to avoid autocracy we need to reinvigorate the checks&balances in our system. If we can't (or won't) do that then we're just arguing over the uses which our "temporary, far-too-powerful Chief Executive's" power is being used for. It's not about the goals of power:it's about power itself.
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
And of course no side wants to "unilaterally disarm" if the other side won't. But Presidents have LONG had too much power and we are seeing the real world results of that right now (and if you LIKE what you see, wait until your enemies start doing this). What's good for the goose...
February 19, 2025 at 8:50 PM
And of course no side wants to "unilaterally disarm" if the other side won't. But Presidents have LONG had too much power and we are seeing the real world results of that right now (and if you LIKE what you see, wait until your enemies start doing this). What's good for the goose...
Reposted by Lucas Lawson
I realize no one wants to hear context and "how we got here" when things are so knife-edged right now. But if we really want to make this a "reforming" moment we need to push for the reigning in of presidential power and authority. The problem is that both sides like that when they have it.
February 19, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I realize no one wants to hear context and "how we got here" when things are so knife-edged right now. But if we really want to make this a "reforming" moment we need to push for the reigning in of presidential power and authority. The problem is that both sides like that when they have it.