Betsy Sneller
@betsysneller.bsky.social
Asst prof linguistics @ Michigan state. I like cats, fiber arts, people. I’ll finish the rest of this later.
Pinned
Betsy Sneller
@betsysneller.bsky.social
· Dec 18
Bill Labov died this morning. I'm not coherent enough to talk about how important and influential and brilliant he was. I am very sad.
I was so lucky to know him, and I am grateful every day that he (and Gillian, and Walt, etc) built an academic field where kindness is expected.
I was so lucky to know him, and I am grateful every day that he (and Gillian, and Walt, etc) built an academic field where kindness is expected.
Okay, buckle up bsky, it's time for the Tale of the Bunny Paper.
Here's the imported thread from twitter where the search all started:
bsky.app/profile/bets... (1/n)
Here's the imported thread from twitter where the search all started:
bsky.app/profile/bets... (1/n)
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Someone captured my colleagues an I servicing the cameras during Kīlauea’s episode 42. We stopped to discuss what we were seeing, but because I talk with my hands it looks like I’m fixing to push someone in…
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
February 16, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Someone captured my colleagues an I servicing the cameras during Kīlauea’s episode 42. We stopped to discuss what we were seeing, but because I talk with my hands it looks like I’m fixing to push someone in…
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
The University of Essex Language & Linguistics dept was critical to my journey - part of the reason that I am in the field I am in and have the career I have now.
If you can’t help be on the picket line, you can help by donating to the hardship fund (see links in Nina’s post below)
If you can’t help be on the picket line, you can help by donating to the hardship fund (see links in Nina’s post below)
good morning, #linguistics 🐦🐦 pals
the University of Essex wants to cut 50% of our Language & Linguistics department, close our foundation programme & our Southend campus, + cut 400 jobs academic departments and professional services jobs across all depts
join us in the fight against these cuts!
the University of Essex wants to cut 50% of our Language & Linguistics department, close our foundation programme & our Southend campus, + cut 400 jobs academic departments and professional services jobs across all depts
join us in the fight against these cuts!
February 12, 2026 at 12:30 PM
The University of Essex Language & Linguistics dept was critical to my journey - part of the reason that I am in the field I am in and have the career I have now.
If you can’t help be on the picket line, you can help by donating to the hardship fund (see links in Nina’s post below)
If you can’t help be on the picket line, you can help by donating to the hardship fund (see links in Nina’s post below)
Getting stuck on what message to put in your Valentine's Day cards this year? You can always borrow one of these bangers from my kid (3;5):
"Uncle S, do whatever you can to protect [baby]."
"[cousin], I am very hopeful that you have a bed."
"Uncle S, do whatever you can to protect [baby]."
"[cousin], I am very hopeful that you have a bed."
February 9, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Getting stuck on what message to put in your Valentine's Day cards this year? You can always borrow one of these bangers from my kid (3;5):
"Uncle S, do whatever you can to protect [baby]."
"[cousin], I am very hopeful that you have a bed."
"Uncle S, do whatever you can to protect [baby]."
"[cousin], I am very hopeful that you have a bed."
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Shame on @nature.com for publishing this ableist trash, and shame on the authors for writing it:
Short 🧵>>
Short 🧵>>
February 6, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Shame on @nature.com for publishing this ableist trash, and shame on the authors for writing it:
Short 🧵>>
Short 🧵>>
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
We put on an all-Yiddish community production of fiddler on the roof in Philadelphia and cast member and local artist Sofie Rose Seymour created the most amazing show poster that ever was
February 6, 2026 at 5:10 AM
We put on an all-Yiddish community production of fiddler on the roof in Philadelphia and cast member and local artist Sofie Rose Seymour created the most amazing show poster that ever was
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
One thing that gets lost in the "technically it's ehebophilia" crap is that these fuckers aren't attracted to youth at all. They're attracted to vulnerability. They're delighted to hit on an adult woman as long as she's a student or an employee: someone they can easily hurt & control
February 5, 2026 at 9:07 PM
One thing that gets lost in the "technically it's ehebophilia" crap is that these fuckers aren't attracted to youth at all. They're attracted to vulnerability. They're delighted to hit on an adult woman as long as she's a student or an employee: someone they can easily hurt & control
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Just told my house rep’s voicemail that I cannot believe they would think for a second about giving more money to the people who are tear-gassing and kidnapping children
Like what the fuck is wrong with you guys
Like what the fuck is wrong with you guys
February 3, 2026 at 12:48 AM
Just told my house rep’s voicemail that I cannot believe they would think for a second about giving more money to the people who are tear-gassing and kidnapping children
Like what the fuck is wrong with you guys
Like what the fuck is wrong with you guys
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
“just give poor people cash” works. Again.
Direct cash assistance from the state is helping homeless Oregon youth find housing, according to the results of a pilot program that concluded last year.
Homeless Oregon youth got $1,000 a month for two years. Most found housing after. • Oregon Capital Chronicle
Oregon is the second of its kind in the nation to implement the direct cash transfer program after New York City.
buff.ly
January 30, 2026 at 11:45 PM
“just give poor people cash” works. Again.
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
This is unconscionable. Evil.
But it happened in May 2023, when Biden was president.
So no, we don’t “reform immigration detention,” we destroy ICE, CBP, and DHS. We can’t reform this soul sickness.
But it happened in May 2023, when Biden was president.
So no, we don’t “reform immigration detention,” we destroy ICE, CBP, and DHS. We can’t reform this soul sickness.
Anadith Danay Reyes Álvarez died in government custody.
She had sickle cell and congenital heart disease but couldn’t access timely and adequate medical care.
We need to reform immigration detention.
She had sickle cell and congenital heart disease but couldn’t access timely and adequate medical care.
We need to reform immigration detention.
January 28, 2026 at 5:18 AM
This is unconscionable. Evil.
But it happened in May 2023, when Biden was president.
So no, we don’t “reform immigration detention,” we destroy ICE, CBP, and DHS. We can’t reform this soul sickness.
But it happened in May 2023, when Biden was president.
So no, we don’t “reform immigration detention,” we destroy ICE, CBP, and DHS. We can’t reform this soul sickness.
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
there is no earthly reason to believe that these goons will comply with any new regulations! it’s like if I put a sign on my door ordering the pines not to drop their needles! they’re pines and those needles will drop! zero funding, “reform” my ass, this guy must be stopped
Word is from NBC that instructions from Mr. Schumer to his caucus are: “restrain, reform and restrict ICE.” 1/ www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
Senate Democrats plot strategy as DHS standoff deepens heading into shutdown week
Two sources who were on a Democratic caucus strategy call Sunday said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told the group the message must be to “restrain, reform and restrict ICE.”
www.nbcnews.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:47 PM
there is no earthly reason to believe that these goons will comply with any new regulations! it’s like if I put a sign on my door ordering the pines not to drop their needles! they’re pines and those needles will drop! zero funding, “reform” my ass, this guy must be stopped
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Reminder that, as of the latest reports, Liam Ramos is still in prison in Texas - now for 5 days.
His parents are legal asylum seekers with no criminal record.
His parents are legal asylum seekers with no criminal record.
January 27, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Reminder that, as of the latest reports, Liam Ramos is still in prison in Texas - now for 5 days.
His parents are legal asylum seekers with no criminal record.
His parents are legal asylum seekers with no criminal record.
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Yeah, I'm surprised this isn't a more central point. Abolish ICE and let everyone go!
I do think that not only should people like Walz be calling for ICE to leave MN, but they should also be calling for the immediate release (and return) of all people kidnapped during the operation
January 27, 2026 at 12:55 AM
Yeah, I'm surprised this isn't a more central point. Abolish ICE and let everyone go!
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
this is completely insane and more people need to say that doing this is completely insane
The @usdot.bsky.social, which oversees the safety of airplanes, cars and pipelines, plans to use Google Gemini to draft new regulations. “We don’t need the perfect rule,” said DOT’s top lawyer. “We want good enough.”
Government by AI? Trump Administration Plans to Write Regulations Using Artificial Intelligence
The Transportation Department, which oversees the safety of airplanes, cars and pipelines, plans to use Google Gemini to draft new regulations. “We don’t need the perfect rule,” said DOT’s top lawyer....
www.propublica.org
January 26, 2026 at 5:27 PM
this is completely insane and more people need to say that doing this is completely insane
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Good. We hate you. Everyone hates you. Even you hate yourselves.
Morale plummeting among ICE agents over long hours, quotas and public hatred: reports
Morale plummeting among ICE agents over long hours, quotas and public hatred: reports
Morale plummeting among ICE agents over long hours, quotas and public hatred: reports
www.independent.co.uk
January 26, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Good. We hate you. Everyone hates you. Even you hate yourselves.
Spouse described Winnie the Pooh to M (3;3) yesterday.
This morning: “Can we talk more about the golden bear who poops mama?”
This morning: “Can we talk more about the golden bear who poops mama?”
January 24, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Spouse described Winnie the Pooh to M (3;3) yesterday.
This morning: “Can we talk more about the golden bear who poops mama?”
This morning: “Can we talk more about the golden bear who poops mama?”
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
WATCH NOW: Jack Smith testifies before the House Judiciary Committee
WATCH LIVE: Jack Smith testifies publicly about his Trump investigations
YouTube video by PBS NewsHour
www.youtube.com
January 22, 2026 at 3:02 PM
WATCH NOW: Jack Smith testifies before the House Judiciary Committee
lol please enjoy the entirety of my chat history with microsoft copilot
January 22, 2026 at 3:29 PM
lol please enjoy the entirety of my chat history with microsoft copilot
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
The cognitive dissonance of constantly reading that I need to spend some time mastering generative AI while not knowing a single person in my industry who uses it to do good work 🤙
January 21, 2026 at 3:26 PM
The cognitive dissonance of constantly reading that I need to spend some time mastering generative AI while not knowing a single person in my industry who uses it to do good work 🤙
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Promo for my latest book!
Racism, White Supremacy and Language Ideologies
This month we published The Public Pedagogy of the Master Narrative by JPB Gerald. In this post the author gives an overview of the different geographical and cultural contexts explored in the book…
wp.me
January 17, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Promo for my latest book!
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Anthropic: Best for coding applications
Gemini: Best for summarizing meetings and taking notes
Grok: Best for harassing women and sexualizing children
ChatGPT: Best for assisted suicide
Gemini: Best for summarizing meetings and taking notes
Grok: Best for harassing women and sexualizing children
ChatGPT: Best for assisted suicide
January 15, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Anthropic: Best for coding applications
Gemini: Best for summarizing meetings and taking notes
Grok: Best for harassing women and sexualizing children
ChatGPT: Best for assisted suicide
Gemini: Best for summarizing meetings and taking notes
Grok: Best for harassing women and sexualizing children
ChatGPT: Best for assisted suicide
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
🥳🥳🥳 A wild @betsysneller.bsky.social appears in the Inquirer!!! 🥳🥳🥳 www.inquirer.com/life/philly-...
January 15, 2026 at 2:47 PM
🥳🥳🥳 A wild @betsysneller.bsky.social appears in the Inquirer!!! 🥳🥳🥳 www.inquirer.com/life/philly-...
Woohoo! What a thrill to talk about Philly English (my fave), AND to get to hype up another Betsy! (if you haven't checked out Philly Ms Rachel ... just ... go do it).
🥳🥳🥳 A wild @betsysneller.bsky.social appears in the Inquirer!!! 🥳🥳🥳 www.inquirer.com/life/philly-...
January 15, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Woohoo! What a thrill to talk about Philly English (my fave), AND to get to hype up another Betsy! (if you haven't checked out Philly Ms Rachel ... just ... go do it).
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Downtown Lansing is getting her orchi today, good for her
January 13, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Downtown Lansing is getting her orchi today, good for her
Aside from her poetry, which is beautiful, Jane Zwart taught me my favorite classroom trick, which is Rumpelstiltskin-ing.
One day when no one was contributing she said: "You guys. Don't worry. My whole job is to be Rumpelstiltskin, and turn anything you say into gold."
One day when no one was contributing she said: "You guys. Don't worry. My whole job is to be Rumpelstiltskin, and turn anything you say into gold."
Let me tell you: some of our countries aren’t where we left them.
Jane Zwart, from her luminous collection ODDEST & OLDEST & SADDEST & BEST
#smallpoemsunday
Jane Zwart, from her luminous collection ODDEST & OLDEST & SADDEST & BEST
#smallpoemsunday
January 12, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Aside from her poetry, which is beautiful, Jane Zwart taught me my favorite classroom trick, which is Rumpelstiltskin-ing.
One day when no one was contributing she said: "You guys. Don't worry. My whole job is to be Rumpelstiltskin, and turn anything you say into gold."
One day when no one was contributing she said: "You guys. Don't worry. My whole job is to be Rumpelstiltskin, and turn anything you say into gold."