David Adger
@davidadger.bsky.social
syntax and other stuff, mainly more linguistics and cogsci but occasional queerness, poetry, cats and @ans.bsky.social 🏳️🌈
Reposted by David Adger
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
December 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
"... and let me call
This hour her vigil, and her eve, since this
Both the year's, and the day's deep midnight is."
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44122/...
This hour her vigil, and her eve, since this
Both the year's, and the day's deep midnight is."
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44122/...
A Nocturnal upon St. Lucy's Day
'Tis the year's midnight, and it is the day's, Lucy's, who scarce seven hours herself unmasks; The sun is spent, and now his flasks Send forth light squibs, no constant rays; The world's whole sap is ...
www.poetryfoundation.org
December 13, 2025 at 10:04 AM
"... and let me call
This hour her vigil, and her eve, since this
Both the year's, and the day's deep midnight is."
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44122/...
This hour her vigil, and her eve, since this
Both the year's, and the day's deep midnight is."
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44122/...
Reposted by David Adger
A “Reform vs Not Reform” strategy is only going to work for Labour if they are seen as credibly “not Reform” by LD/Green curious voters. Every hardline intervention on immigration weakens that credibility but without persuading Reform curious voters.
December 12, 2025 at 12:35 PM
A “Reform vs Not Reform” strategy is only going to work for Labour if they are seen as credibly “not Reform” by LD/Green curious voters. Every hardline intervention on immigration weakens that credibility but without persuading Reform curious voters.
Reposted by David Adger
Job alert!
3 tenured research positions at CNRS, France with one preferably in philosophy of language
Get in touch with a lab for more information
#linguistics
www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORF...
3 tenured research positions at CNRS, France with one preferably in philosophy of language
Get in touch with a lab for more information
#linguistics
www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORF...
www.legifrance.gouv.fr
December 11, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Job alert!
3 tenured research positions at CNRS, France with one preferably in philosophy of language
Get in touch with a lab for more information
#linguistics
www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORF...
3 tenured research positions at CNRS, France with one preferably in philosophy of language
Get in touch with a lab for more information
#linguistics
www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORF...
HESA put the academic staff numbers in 23-24 in Essex at 1560, and given voluntary severence schemes it's likely to be lower now, so this is at least 2/3rds of all academic staff in Essex receiving risk of redundancy letters.
Ongoing decimation of British universities part 252:
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
December 11, 2025 at 5:22 PM
HESA put the academic staff numbers in 23-24 in Essex at 1560, and given voluntary severence schemes it's likely to be lower now, so this is at least 2/3rds of all academic staff in Essex receiving risk of redundancy letters.
Reposted by David Adger
Today, the Academy publishes a report setting out findings from our Where We Live Next programme on place-led approaches to environmental sustainability. www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications...
December 11, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Today, the Academy publishes a report setting out findings from our Where We Live Next programme on place-led approaches to environmental sustainability. www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications...
Reposted by David Adger
And yet the BBC has blocked its journalists from even reporting that @rutgerbregman.com made this same, spectacularly self-evident, statement of fact in his Reith Lecture.
I genuinely don't think I've ever seen a more transparently corrupt government and I'm from India
trumpcard.gov is live and the million dollar fees are all referred to as “gifts” or “contributions” to an undisclosed party lol
December 11, 2025 at 7:36 AM
And yet the BBC has blocked its journalists from even reporting that @rutgerbregman.com made this same, spectacularly self-evident, statement of fact in his Reith Lecture.
Reposted by David Adger
my great-grandparents arrived in the UK in the 1890s with nothing.
they sold pickles from the front room window, took in laundry, worked as tailors.
their children were nurses, teachers, salesmen.
their grandchildren were professors, designers, opticians, doctors, magistrates, entrepreneurs.
they sold pickles from the front room window, took in laundry, worked as tailors.
their children were nurses, teachers, salesmen.
their grandchildren were professors, designers, opticians, doctors, magistrates, entrepreneurs.
December 7, 2025 at 8:59 AM
my great-grandparents arrived in the UK in the 1890s with nothing.
they sold pickles from the front room window, took in laundry, worked as tailors.
their children were nurses, teachers, salesmen.
their grandchildren were professors, designers, opticians, doctors, magistrates, entrepreneurs.
they sold pickles from the front room window, took in laundry, worked as tailors.
their children were nurses, teachers, salesmen.
their grandchildren were professors, designers, opticians, doctors, magistrates, entrepreneurs.
Reposted by David Adger
New paper just published with @evelinaleivada.bsky.social @garymarcus.bsky.social, Vittoria Dentella, Raquel Montero and Fritz Günther
Fundamental Principles of Linguistic Structure Are Not Represented by ChatGPT
bioling.psychopen.eu/index.php/bi...
Fundamental Principles of Linguistic Structure Are Not Represented by ChatGPT
bioling.psychopen.eu/index.php/bi...
December 7, 2025 at 8:39 PM
New paper just published with @evelinaleivada.bsky.social @garymarcus.bsky.social, Vittoria Dentella, Raquel Montero and Fritz Günther
Fundamental Principles of Linguistic Structure Are Not Represented by ChatGPT
bioling.psychopen.eu/index.php/bi...
Fundamental Principles of Linguistic Structure Are Not Represented by ChatGPT
bioling.psychopen.eu/index.php/bi...
Such a surprise!
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Rising racism blamed for collapse in number of foreign nurses coming to UK
Number of overseas nurses and midwives registered between April and September was half that of a year ago
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Such a surprise!
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by David Adger
Holy shit.
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
December 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Holy shit.
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reposted by David Adger
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
word
jesus christ, not sure what it is today but every single post about every single piece of news is just harrowingly depressing, from Reform racism and RFK on vaccines to unhinged BBC attacks on Reeves and the horrors in Palestine, could we not maybe have a gentler start to the week, fucking hell
December 1, 2025 at 9:04 AM
word
This isn't a snapshot of Doogie doing a dynamic stretch. It's a static pose. He literally sleeps like that. #caturday #thedoogster
November 29, 2025 at 7:11 AM
This isn't a snapshot of Doogie doing a dynamic stretch. It's a static pose. He literally sleeps like that. #caturday #thedoogster
Reposted by David Adger
Archaeologist uncovers Ireland’s first known wildcat from 5,500 years ago 🌍
www.westernpeople.ie/archaeologis...
www.westernpeople.ie/archaeologis...
Archaeologist uncovers Ireland’s first known wildcat from 5,500 years ago - Homepage - Western People
The earliest directly dated wildcat (Felis silvestris) ever found in Ireland has been identified
www.westernpeople.ie
November 29, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Archaeologist uncovers Ireland’s first known wildcat from 5,500 years ago 🌍
www.westernpeople.ie/archaeologis...
www.westernpeople.ie/archaeologis...
Reposted by David Adger
Welcome Shabana Mahmood to your next four years of headlines!!!
Foreign doctors trained by the NHS face deportation under visa rules
Foreign doctors trained by the NHS face deportation under visa rules
www.thetimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Welcome Shabana Mahmood to your next four years of headlines!!!
Reposted by David Adger
‘More than ever before, we need British diplomats, spies and soldiers to speak the language of our adversaries.’
Stark piece from a former diplomat on how loss of language learning hits our defence & geopolitical capabilities
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/proc... @timeshighered.bsky.social
Stark piece from a former diplomat on how loss of language learning hits our defence & geopolitical capabilities
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/proc... @timeshighered.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 8:54 AM
‘More than ever before, we need British diplomats, spies and soldiers to speak the language of our adversaries.’
Stark piece from a former diplomat on how loss of language learning hits our defence & geopolitical capabilities
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/proc... @timeshighered.bsky.social
Stark piece from a former diplomat on how loss of language learning hits our defence & geopolitical capabilities
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/proc... @timeshighered.bsky.social
Reposted by David Adger
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Please sign and share EVERYWHERE 🙏
Please sign and share EVERYWHERE 🙏
November 24, 2025 at 1:45 PM
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Please sign and share EVERYWHERE 🙏
Please sign and share EVERYWHERE 🙏
Reposted by David Adger
Net migration fell sharply agaim to 204,000 in the year to June 2025, having been 344k in 2024 and 848k in 2023. But falling immigration has been the biggest secret - and it is time for the media and political debate to catch up with this change
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...
UK net migration fell to 204,000 in year to June - live updates
Net migration, the difference between those entering and leaving the country, was 345,000 in 2024 according to revised figures.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Net migration fell sharply agaim to 204,000 in the year to June 2025, having been 344k in 2024 and 848k in 2023. But falling immigration has been the biggest secret - and it is time for the media and political debate to catch up with this change
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...
I'm not usually a fan of THES, but this piece is spot on. @britishacademy.bsky.social has been making this argument for a long time, but the government seems uninterested in the loss of languages in UKHE www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/proc...
The procession of university language closures will trip up UK diplomacy
The government needs to signal its demand for elite foreign language skills before more universities leave provision to inferior alternatives, says Ian Proud
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:46 AM
I'm not usually a fan of THES, but this piece is spot on. @britishacademy.bsky.social has been making this argument for a long time, but the government seems uninterested in the loss of languages in UKHE www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/proc...
@ans.bsky.social's running the Spine (268 miles up the Pennine Way in January!) and raising money for Oracle Head and Neck Cancer. If you can chuck in a bob or two to support, that would be marvelous! www.justgiving.com/page/anson-m...
Anson's fundraiser for Oracle Head and Neck Cancer UK
Help Anson Mackay raise money to support Oracle Head and Neck Cancer
www.justgiving.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:46 AM
@ans.bsky.social's running the Spine (268 miles up the Pennine Way in January!) and raising money for Oracle Head and Neck Cancer. If you can chuck in a bob or two to support, that would be marvelous! www.justgiving.com/page/anson-m...
Reposted by David Adger
Happy World Linguistics Day! Celebratory days take off when groups of people decide to make them happen so... let's see how many different locations we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!
November 26, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Happy World Linguistics Day! Celebratory days take off when groups of people decide to make them happen so... let's see how many different locations we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!
Reposted by David Adger
‘Get someone from Linguistics down here!’
Happy World Linguistics Day!
Happy World Linguistics Day!
November 26, 2025 at 7:33 AM
‘Get someone from Linguistics down here!’
Happy World Linguistics Day!
Happy World Linguistics Day!
Reposted by David Adger
At last! Open Access version of the book on MIT's site. One for the syntax nerds. I argue we need to replace Merge, that there are no Phases, and that we need to rethink the basic theoretical typology of Islands. Feel free to download with abandon! 🐦🐦 #syntax direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...
Mereological Syntax: Phrase Structure, Cyclicity, and Islands
An argument for replacing Chomsky’s set-theoretic Merge view of syntax with a theory of syntax based on mereological objects.Mereology is the study of part
direct.mit.edu
November 23, 2025 at 1:51 PM
At last! Open Access version of the book on MIT's site. One for the syntax nerds. I argue we need to replace Merge, that there are no Phases, and that we need to rethink the basic theoretical typology of Islands. Feel free to download with abandon! 🐦🐦 #syntax direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...