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John Williams, Linguist @lexicoj0hn.bsky.social · 1d

- I heard the new Manchester goalkeeper singing along to 'I Will Survive'
- Donnarumma ?
- No, it's a Gloria Gaynor song

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Reposted by John Williams, Linguist

German at Portsmouth @germanatportsmouth.bsky.social · 3d

This GDR table football game neatly captures the excitement of watching BSG Nahrungsgütermaschinenbau Neubrandenburg play out a goalless draw with Kernkraftwerk Greifswald

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John Williams, Linguist @lexicoj0hn.bsky.social · 4d

Any hairdressers of Pakistani origin in Liverpool should be called Brush Up Yer Urdu

John Williams, Linguist @lexicoj0hn.bsky.social · 4d

USA right now reminds me of those Star Trek episodes where the crew get switched with their doppelgänger from the mirror universe, ruled by the evil, merciless Terran Empire. Maybe somewhere in the multiverse there is a thoughtful, witty Donald Trump and an intelligent, compassionate Pete Hegseth

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d

Leavitt: "President Trump will end the radical left's reign of terror in Portland once and for all. The president has directed Secretary Hegseth to provide all necessary troops to protect war-ravaged Portland."

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John Williams, Linguist @lexicoj0hn.bsky.social · 4d

Definitely a contender for Word Of The Year (though it started trending in 2024)

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John Williams, Linguist @lexicoj0hn.bsky.social · 4d

Pleased to have found the original of the Distracted Boyfriend meme - and not too far from home! Full reference in Alt

James Tissot, Portsmouth Dockyard (c.1877)

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Reposted by John Williams, Linguist

Wordorigins.org @wordorigins.bsky.social · 5d

I was interviewed by NPR the other day about the origin of "hoax"

www.npr.org/2025/10/01/n...

Fool me once: the magical origin of the word hoax

Frauds, swindles, cons, scams, and deceptions are collectively known as hoaxes. But there's more than meets the eye.

www.npr.org

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Reposted by John Williams, Linguist

Wordorigins.org @wordorigins.bsky.social · 7d

Meritocracy: a 1950s-era socialist/dystopian critique of capitalism that was popularized by satirists

#etymology #wordorigins #language

meritocracy — Wordorigins.org

1 October 2025 A meritocracy is lauded in some circles as the ideal society, where one is rewarded for one’s skill, intelligence, and abilities rather than, for instance, the circumstances of one’s...

www.wordorigins.org

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John Williams, Linguist @lexicoj0hn.bsky.social · 6d

Every day has its dog

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John Williams, Linguist @lexicoj0hn.bsky.social · 8d

Sad to hear of the death of 'Liverpool poet' Brian Patten. Like Roger McGough, he was a familar face around town during my youth. I also bumped into him once while on holiday in Greece. Here is my favourite poem of his, which recalls a certain period in my life: www.poetrynook.com/poem/and-not...

And Nothing Is Ever As You Want It To Be

You lose your love for her and then It is her who is lost, And then it is both who are lost, And nothing is ever as perfect as you want it to be. In a very ordinary world A most extraordinary pain

www.poetrynook.com

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Reposted by John Williams, Linguist

Isabel Picornell @picornell.bsky.social · 9d

Rest in Peace, John Searle.

#Linguistics

John Searle (1932-2025) - Daily Nous

Philosopher John Searle, well-known for his work on philosophy of mind and philosophy of language, has died. John Searle wrote extensively consciousness and the mind, intentionality, and speech act th...

dailynous.com

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John Williams, Linguist @lexicoj0hn.bsky.social · 10d

I used to think the Scottish song "Scots wha' hae" was "Scots Wahey!", about a lively group of noisy Scottish lads ready for some high jinks

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Reposted by John Williams, Linguist

Elena Semino @elenasemino.bsky.social · 14d

Our book 'Applying Corpus Linguistics to Illness and Healthcare' is out open access! We wrote it to share what we learnt in many years of research in @corpussocialsci.bsky.social, on topics such as communication about anxiety, dementia, cancer, obesity and vaccines. cambridgeblog.org/2025/08/appl...

Applying Corpus Linguistics to Illness and Healthcare

This book has been fun and also somewhat liberating to write. To explain this we have to tell the story of how the book came about.

cambridgeblog.org

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Reposted by John Williams, Linguist

Languages Direct @languages-direct.com · 14d

How speaking in a second language directly affects your moral judgement buff.ly/7hozq3X #langsky #xl8

How speaking in a second language directly affects your moral judgement

The ‘moral foreign language effect’ makes you more rational, and less emotional.

buff.ly

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John Williams, Linguist @lexicoj0hn.bsky.social · 13d

Mine is on Søren Malling, who seems to be in absolutely every Danish drama

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John Williams, Linguist @lexicoj0hn.bsky.social · 15d

In South African English, it can also be used as a noun to denote an extremely disappointing romantic evening 😉

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John Williams, Linguist @lexicoj0hn.bsky.social · 16d

At the start of each academic year, I routinely ask my lexicology students how many of them own a paper dictionary. Last year it was 1 (English/Albanian). I also ask how many would be willing to pay to use a reputable online dictionary. Zero for the last few years. That's *lexicology* students right

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John Williams, Linguist @lexicoj0hn.bsky.social · 16d

- I've just had lunch in a nice restaurant with Manchester City's new goalkeeper
- Donnarumma ?
- No, of course not, what do you take me for? We paid for our meal like everyone else
#LunchPun

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John Williams, Linguist @lexicoj0hn.bsky.social · 18d

Good call, but I'd go for Bowie's 'Shadowman'
youtu.be/kKx_nzMUWxw

David Bowie - Shadow Man (Unofficial Music Video) - footage from Myth of Man (2025)

YouTube video by Craig J. Clark

youtu.be

Reposted by John Williams, Linguist

The Onion @theonion.com · 19d

Fearful Americans Stockpiling Facts Before Federal Government Comes To Take Them Away https://theonion.com/fearful-americans-stockpiling-facts-before-federal-gove-1819579589/

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John Williams, Linguist @lexicoj0hn.bsky.social · 18d

Any film directed by Buñuelos

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John Williams, Linguist @lexicoj0hn.bsky.social · 18d

'Yous' is very common in many parts of Britain & Ireland to designate the plural. I grew up in Liverpool and it's still natural for me to say 'yous' when I need to make it clear that I'm addressing the group rather than an individual

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Reposted by John Williams, Linguist

Steve Smith @spsmith45.bsky.social · 19d

Something new from Cabrel. Celebrating linguistic diversity. youtu.be/uJbTnoiwVbw?...

Francis Cabrel - Un gramme de terre (Clip officiel)

YouTube video by franciscabrelVEVO

youtu.be

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Reposted by John Williams, Linguist

Moose Allain @mooseallain.bsky.social · 18d

One day I hope to be ubiquitous. That's me all over.

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John Williams, Linguist @lexicoj0hn.bsky.social · 20d

I would add to the card: "Let's get the language out of the way quickly so we can focus on the statistics"

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