Catherine Laing
@cathelaing.bsky.social
Developmental linguist, outdoorsy type, PI for SENFM https://senfm.york.ac.uk/
Pinned
Catherine Laing
@cathelaing.bsky.social
· Nov 28
How lovely to reconnect with colleagues from all over - very much looking forward to hearing what everyone has been up to!
As for me: I'm currently running a project called SENFM, where we use ultrasound to scan babies' tongues, alongside daylong audio recordings taken across the first year.
As for me: I'm currently running a project called SENFM, where we use ultrasound to scan babies' tongues, alongside daylong audio recordings taken across the first year.
It made Pick of the Week as well! A listener said the episode is "a joyful celebration of the sound of words" and my partner's little girl presented it at Show and Tell. Career goals complete ✔️
Dr Catherine Laing from the Department of Language and Linguistic Science spoke with Michael Rosen on BBC Radio 4's "Word of Mouth" about her research on iconicity, onomatopoeia, and why babies use words like 'meow' and 'woof' so early in their language development.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Word of Mouth - Crash Bang Wallop: The Sound of Words - BBC Sounds
Michael Rosen and Dr Catherine Laing discuss words that sound like their meanings.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 25, 2025 at 7:15 PM
It made Pick of the Week as well! A listener said the episode is "a joyful celebration of the sound of words" and my partner's little girl presented it at Show and Tell. Career goals complete ✔️
Reposted by Catherine Laing
Our forensic speech scientists Dr James Tompkinson & Lauren Harrington recently provided expert evidence to a House of Lords inquiry on the use of police transcripts in the criminal justice system.
Their research is helping to inform UK policy.
Learn more:
www.york.ac.uk/language-lin...
Their research is helping to inform UK policy.
Learn more:
www.york.ac.uk/language-lin...
Forensic speech scientists contribute to House of Lords inquiry
Academics provided evidence to the parliamentary inquiry on the production of transcripts in the criminal justice system.
www.york.ac.uk
September 25, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Our forensic speech scientists Dr James Tompkinson & Lauren Harrington recently provided expert evidence to a House of Lords inquiry on the use of police transcripts in the criminal justice system.
Their research is helping to inform UK policy.
Learn more:
www.york.ac.uk/language-lin...
Their research is helping to inform UK policy.
Learn more:
www.york.ac.uk/language-lin...
Happening now on Radio 4! 🤓
#Radio Crash Bang Wallop: The Sound of Words
Word of Mouth
Thur 15:30
BBC Radio 4
@michaelrosenyes.bsky.social and Dr Catherine Laing discuss onomatopoeia and other words that sound like their meanings. Produced by Becky Ripley.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Word of Mouth
Thur 15:30
BBC Radio 4
@michaelrosenyes.bsky.social and Dr Catherine Laing discuss onomatopoeia and other words that sound like their meanings. Produced by Becky Ripley.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - Word of Mouth, Crash Bang Wallop: The Sound of Words
Michael Rosen and Dr Catherine Laing discuss words that sound like their meanings.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 11, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Happening now on Radio 4! 🤓
Reposted by Catherine Laing
I've enjoyed the Child Language Symposium at the University of Reading. It was especially fun to present my work on the iconicity advantage for young children learning onomatopoeia as part of our Iconicity Symposium @suzanneaussems.bsky.social @cyberming.bsky.social @cathelaing.bsky.social
September 10, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I've enjoyed the Child Language Symposium at the University of Reading. It was especially fun to present my work on the iconicity advantage for young children learning onomatopoeia as part of our Iconicity Symposium @suzanneaussems.bsky.social @cyberming.bsky.social @cathelaing.bsky.social
a lovely morning with @yorktoolkit.bsky.social - I always love being part of these events and so great to learn how my work is relevant to A level teaching. Thanks so much for having me!
We're off - first up is @cathelaing.bsky.social on size sound symbolism (or the lack of it?) in infant directed speech! #YorkCPD2025
July 11, 2025 at 12:40 PM
a lovely morning with @yorktoolkit.bsky.social - I always love being part of these events and so great to learn how my work is relevant to A level teaching. Thanks so much for having me!
The exact reason I deleted my account yesterday!
Well this is a very fine reason to scrub and delete your academic dot edu accounts
Academia dot edu just informed me that it'd converted my PhD thesis into a podcast.
I foolishly listened ...
I foolishly listened ...
June 26, 2025 at 3:39 PM
The exact reason I deleted my account yesterday!
New paper available in Language & Speech 🤓 another look at phonological networks, this time analysing network graphs for a (I think) zoomed-in view of systematicity in early production 🐣
Systematicity Over the Course of Early Development: An Analysis of Phonological Networks doi.org/10.1177/0023...
Systematicity Over the Course of Early Development: An Analysis of Phonological Networks doi.org/10.1177/0023...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
June 25, 2025 at 2:42 PM
New paper available in Language & Speech 🤓 another look at phonological networks, this time analysing network graphs for a (I think) zoomed-in view of systematicity in early production 🐣
Systematicity Over the Course of Early Development: An Analysis of Phonological Networks doi.org/10.1177/0023...
Systematicity Over the Course of Early Development: An Analysis of Phonological Networks doi.org/10.1177/0023...
Awful news. University for public good?
Devastated that the Centre for Lifelong Learning @york.ac.uk is being closed after 40 years. What a loss to education in the region. Feel for students and staff. Being a tutor has been joy, doing what universities should be doing by sharing knowledge widely with our communities.
June 25, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Awful news. University for public good?
Reposted by Catherine Laing
Not that we in the library wish to encourage profanity, but if you want to get rid of these AI-search summaries (which are often absolute nonsense), just swear in your search terms.
It really works.
It really works.
![a Google search for 'the effect of UX on [expletive] libraries' showing no AI overview, just the search results](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:jgpxmpiumlpxxclzsgar5lnq/bafkreic6uzw2erxbl6v67yece6647wgdmxvqjfglrs767cq7rghazbukxu@jpeg)
March 19, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Not that we in the library wish to encourage profanity, but if you want to get rid of these AI-search summaries (which are often absolute nonsense), just swear in your search terms.
It really works.
It really works.
My latest article, "Vocal gestures in early multimodal communication: A commentary on Karadöller, Sümer and Özyürek", is now available to read in First Language. There is a paywall, but I can share the electronic version with anyone who needs it.
doi.org/10.1177/0142...
doi.org/10.1177/0142...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
doi.org
March 19, 2025 at 9:10 AM
My latest article, "Vocal gestures in early multimodal communication: A commentary on Karadöller, Sümer and Özyürek", is now available to read in First Language. There is a paywall, but I can share the electronic version with anyone who needs it.
doi.org/10.1177/0142...
doi.org/10.1177/0142...
👋👋
Hello, world! We are the department of Language and Linguistic Science at the University of York, UK.
We are recognised for our research and teaching on languages and linguistics. We are excited to join Bluesky and share with you the latest news and events!
More details:
www.york.ac.uk/language/
We are recognised for our research and teaching on languages and linguistics. We are excited to join Bluesky and share with you the latest news and events!
More details:
www.york.ac.uk/language/
Language and Linguistic Science - Language and Linguistic Science, University of York
The Department of Language and Linguistic Science at the University of York
www.york.ac.uk
February 12, 2025 at 2:52 PM
👋👋
Reposted by Catherine Laing
Open-ended professorial position at University of Sheffield. We are seeking a Head of the School of English (any EGH discipline, including Language & Linguistics). Deadline 23rd Feb.
Details here: jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk/job/Head-of-.... Please share.
Details here: jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk/job/Head-of-.... Please share.
Head of School (School of English)
Head of School (School of English)
jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk
February 10, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Open-ended professorial position at University of Sheffield. We are seeking a Head of the School of English (any EGH discipline, including Language & Linguistics). Deadline 23rd Feb.
Details here: jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk/job/Head-of-.... Please share.
Details here: jobsite.sheffield.ac.uk/job/Head-of-.... Please share.
I bought my gifts last night! I usually hate buying Christmas presents but here is a way to make it really meaningful 🎄
The first gifts are appearing under the Library Tree of Wishes! If you can support this please do, it’s a great thing we do every year.
We get gift lists from local charities, you source the gift and wrap it and put it under the tree, we take them to the charities. 🧵
www.york.ac.uk/library/abou...
We get gift lists from local charities, you source the gift and wrap it and put it under the tree, we take them to the charities. 🧵
www.york.ac.uk/library/abou...
December 12, 2024 at 10:52 AM
I bought my gifts last night! I usually hate buying Christmas presents but here is a way to make it really meaningful 🎄
Reposted by Catherine Laing
academics who boast about overworking are being bad role models and should stop overworking and barring that should shut thee fuck up about it in front of students. <-- general complaint not subtweet of anyone in particular, just pissed off about this today and always
December 3, 2024 at 3:55 AM
academics who boast about overworking are being bad role models and should stop overworking and barring that should shut thee fuck up about it in front of students. <-- general complaint not subtweet of anyone in particular, just pissed off about this today and always
How lovely to reconnect with colleagues from all over - very much looking forward to hearing what everyone has been up to!
As for me: I'm currently running a project called SENFM, where we use ultrasound to scan babies' tongues, alongside daylong audio recordings taken across the first year.
As for me: I'm currently running a project called SENFM, where we use ultrasound to scan babies' tongues, alongside daylong audio recordings taken across the first year.
November 28, 2024 at 12:09 PM
How lovely to reconnect with colleagues from all over - very much looking forward to hearing what everyone has been up to!
As for me: I'm currently running a project called SENFM, where we use ultrasound to scan babies' tongues, alongside daylong audio recordings taken across the first year.
As for me: I'm currently running a project called SENFM, where we use ultrasound to scan babies' tongues, alongside daylong audio recordings taken across the first year.