Emma Humphries (she/her)
@emhumps.bsky.social
Researcher working on prescriptivism in popular culture. Interested in language attitudes and language policy. And Cruising with Jane McDonald.
Pinned
Your Wrong
yourwrong.co.uk
Introducing my new project… Your Wrong (yourwrong.co.uk). It’s all about the language rules and judgements that appear in different forms of popular culture. Films, series, podcasts, music, books, even graffiti!
I’d love your help to find examples!
I’d love your help to find examples!
The effects of the proposed cull of languages provision at the University of Nottingham and the University of Leicester will be massive: for the wonderful staff, for current students, and for future budding linguists. Esp those who, like me, come from working-class backgrounds in the East Midlands.
Staggering harm is being done to #language learning in Higher Ed. No oversight or strategic thinking, with cold spots now present. Petitions alone this week in response to closures:
Nottingham · Change.org
Leicester · Change.org
#edusky #langsky @britishacademy.bsky.social @hetanshah.bsky.social
Nottingham · Change.org
Leicester · Change.org
#edusky #langsky @britishacademy.bsky.social @hetanshah.bsky.social
Change starts here
Join over 500,000,000 people creating real change in their communities.
Change.org
November 12, 2025 at 11:34 AM
The effects of the proposed cull of languages provision at the University of Nottingham and the University of Leicester will be massive: for the wonderful staff, for current students, and for future budding linguists. Esp those who, like me, come from working-class backgrounds in the East Midlands.
The University of Nottingham is suspending all Modern Languages degrees. A short-sighted and terrifying decision from a 'global' university.
Please sign the petition started by its wonderful students.
Please sign the petition started by its wonderful students.
Modern Languages students at the University of Nottingham have started a petition to save languages degrees. Please sign and share www.change.org/p/stop-the-r...
Sign the Petition
Stop the removal of Modern Languages courses at the University of Nottingham!
www.change.org
November 7, 2025 at 3:46 PM
The University of Nottingham is suspending all Modern Languages degrees. A short-sighted and terrifying decision from a 'global' university.
Please sign the petition started by its wonderful students.
Please sign the petition started by its wonderful students.
Reposted by Emma Humphries (she/her)
Modern Languages students at the University of Nottingham have started a petition to save languages degrees. Please sign and share www.change.org/p/stop-the-r...
Sign the Petition
Stop the removal of Modern Languages courses at the University of Nottingham!
www.change.org
November 7, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Modern Languages students at the University of Nottingham have started a petition to save languages degrees. Please sign and share www.change.org/p/stop-the-r...
Reposted by Emma Humphries (she/her)
I am hearing that @uniofnottingham.bsky.social is suspending (i.e shutting down) *all modern language courses* in 2026-27. One of the largest departments in the UK. A shocking short sighted move that damages regional and national prospects @britishacademy.bsky.social @hetanshah.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 12:39 PM
I am hearing that @uniofnottingham.bsky.social is suspending (i.e shutting down) *all modern language courses* in 2026-27. One of the largest departments in the UK. A shocking short sighted move that damages regional and national prospects @britishacademy.bsky.social @hetanshah.bsky.social
Next month I'll be giving a TEDx talk at Queen's on my two favourite topics: prescriptivism and Sabrina Carpenter!
November 6, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Next month I'll be giving a TEDx talk at Queen's on my two favourite topics: prescriptivism and Sabrina Carpenter!
Reposted by Emma Humphries (she/her)
« Quand neuf Français sur dix font une ‘faute’ de prononciation, de vocabulaire ou de grammaire, c’est le dixième qui a tort, fût-il académicien. » – Jacques Cellard dans Le Monde.
Une chronique dominicale matinale sur la langue française, c'est une excellente idée ! Mais commencer par les fautes d'orthographe, bof...
Et que dire du titre : si "tout le monde" fait ces fautes, ne serait-ce pas plutôt l'orthographe qui est dans l'erreur ?
Exemple 🧵
www.lemonde.fr/la-matinale/...
Et que dire du titre : si "tout le monde" fait ces fautes, ne serait-ce pas plutôt l'orthographe qui est dans l'erreur ?
Exemple 🧵
www.lemonde.fr/la-matinale/...
Les cinq fautes d’orthographe que tout le monde fait
CHRONIQUE. Le dernier dimanche de chaque mois, le service Correction du « Monde » propose sa sélection de curiosités, de trésors et de perles du français. Pour inaugurer ce premier rendez-vous, place ...
www.lemonde.fr
October 27, 2025 at 2:22 PM
« Quand neuf Français sur dix font une ‘faute’ de prononciation, de vocabulaire ou de grammaire, c’est le dixième qui a tort, fût-il académicien. » – Jacques Cellard dans Le Monde.
Side eye, Traitors and language judgement www.tiktok.com/@loveofhuns/...
You can’t just call someone a Traitor because they have a better vocabulary than you x #celebritytraitors #traitors #alancarr #tomdaley #loveofhuns
TikTok video by loveofhuns x
www.tiktok.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Side eye, Traitors and language judgement www.tiktok.com/@loveofhuns/...
Reposted by Emma Humphries (she/her)
Have done this with @heymrshallahan.bsky.social and @teachertapp.bsky.social - there will be some more on the way soon in various forms - articles and podcasts - about what we've discovered from this survey.
teachertapp.com/articles/how...
teachertapp.com/articles/how...
How Teachers Feel About Their Accents - Teacher Tapp
This September, Teacher Tapp asked teachers about accents — and how their voices are perceived by colleagues and students. We shared the results with Teacher … Continued
teachertapp.com
October 16, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Have done this with @heymrshallahan.bsky.social and @teachertapp.bsky.social - there will be some more on the way soon in various forms - articles and podcasts - about what we've discovered from this survey.
teachertapp.com/articles/how...
teachertapp.com/articles/how...
Are you teaching prescriptivism this year? If so, please consider introducing your students to YourWrong.co.uk. It could form part of a seminar activity or prep! I'd also be very happy to provide some corpus examples for a small analysis task. Just get in touch!
Your Wrong
YourWrong.co.uk
September 18, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Are you teaching prescriptivism this year? If so, please consider introducing your students to YourWrong.co.uk. It could form part of a seminar activity or prep! I'd also be very happy to provide some corpus examples for a small analysis task. Just get in touch!
I'm still very much looking for submissions (in any language) to my crowdsourced corpus of prescriptivism in popular culture, YourWrong.co.uk.
As the new academic year begins, I'd be hugely grateful if you'd keep an eye out for any examples of prescriptivism in any of the set texts you teach...
As the new academic year begins, I'd be hugely grateful if you'd keep an eye out for any examples of prescriptivism in any of the set texts you teach...
Your Wrong
YourWrong.co.uk
September 15, 2025 at 11:23 AM
I'm still very much looking for submissions (in any language) to my crowdsourced corpus of prescriptivism in popular culture, YourWrong.co.uk.
As the new academic year begins, I'd be hugely grateful if you'd keep an eye out for any examples of prescriptivism in any of the set texts you teach...
As the new academic year begins, I'd be hugely grateful if you'd keep an eye out for any examples of prescriptivism in any of the set texts you teach...
Taskmaster and Jason Mantzoukas providing some British vs American English YourWrong-isms!
YourWrong.co.uk
YourWrong.co.uk
Jason Mantzoukas brings his American charm to Taskmaster #Taskmaster
TikTok video by Channel 4 Entertainment
www.tiktok.com
August 15, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Taskmaster and Jason Mantzoukas providing some British vs American English YourWrong-isms!
YourWrong.co.uk
YourWrong.co.uk
Very grateful to everyone who has submitted to YourWrong.co.uk so far!
Still very much open for submissions (in any language)!
Still very much open for submissions (in any language)!
Your Wrong
YourWrong.co.uk
August 8, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Very grateful to everyone who has submitted to YourWrong.co.uk so far!
Still very much open for submissions (in any language)!
Still very much open for submissions (in any language)!
Reposted by Emma Humphries (she/her)
✍️ Write a book review for Babel!
Review opportunities:
📗 Tracy Darnton - My Brother Is an Avocado; My Sister Is a Treasure
📘 Emma Humphries - Linguistic Insecurities and Authorities
📕 Rupert Gavin - Amorous or Loving?
📧 Get in touch at babelthelanguagemagazine@gmail.com
Review opportunities:
📗 Tracy Darnton - My Brother Is an Avocado; My Sister Is a Treasure
📘 Emma Humphries - Linguistic Insecurities and Authorities
📕 Rupert Gavin - Amorous or Loving?
📧 Get in touch at babelthelanguagemagazine@gmail.com
July 31, 2025 at 8:39 AM
✍️ Write a book review for Babel!
Review opportunities:
📗 Tracy Darnton - My Brother Is an Avocado; My Sister Is a Treasure
📘 Emma Humphries - Linguistic Insecurities and Authorities
📕 Rupert Gavin - Amorous or Loving?
📧 Get in touch at babelthelanguagemagazine@gmail.com
Review opportunities:
📗 Tracy Darnton - My Brother Is an Avocado; My Sister Is a Treasure
📘 Emma Humphries - Linguistic Insecurities and Authorities
📕 Rupert Gavin - Amorous or Loving?
📧 Get in touch at babelthelanguagemagazine@gmail.com
Reposted by Emma Humphries (she/her)
At LSP, we value the chance to learn from the expertise & insights of excellent researchers & practitioners who contributed to this special collection. Their work enables us to identify & understand areas of best practice & persistent challenges with Languages Education in the UK. www.lspjournal.com
LANGUAGES, SOCIETY AND POLICY - HOME | LSP
Languages, Society and Policy
www.lspjournal.com
July 9, 2025 at 2:50 PM
At LSP, we value the chance to learn from the expertise & insights of excellent researchers & practitioners who contributed to this special collection. Their work enables us to identify & understand areas of best practice & persistent challenges with Languages Education in the UK. www.lspjournal.com
Reposted by Emma Humphries (she/her)
We are grateful to our Guest Editors @wendya-b.bsky.social & @cforsdick.bsky.social for their leadership of the collection and each valued contributor who took time to communicate their insights. Big thanks to LSP team Petre Breazu, Nina Haket & Marco Fioratti for work on publication & promotion.
July 9, 2025 at 2:50 PM
We are grateful to our Guest Editors @wendya-b.bsky.social & @cforsdick.bsky.social for their leadership of the collection and each valued contributor who took time to communicate their insights. Big thanks to LSP team Petre Breazu, Nina Haket & Marco Fioratti for work on publication & promotion.
Bill Bailey | Major and Minor Keys (and more!)
YouTube video by Musical Comedy
www.youtube.com
July 9, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Reposted by Emma Humphries (she/her)
🌍 What happens when international exchanges vanish from schools and universities?
Vicky Gough and Philip Harding-Esch argue for restoring international experiences to the heart of language learning—for all learners, not just a privileged few. www.lspjournal.com/post/interna...
Vicky Gough and Philip Harding-Esch argue for restoring international experiences to the heart of language learning—for all learners, not just a privileged few. www.lspjournal.com/post/interna...
International experiences for all
Vicky Gough and Philip Harding-Esch | 21st May 2025 | Opinion Piece In this article, Vicky Gough and Philip Harding-Esch, drawing on their professional engagements with key stakeholders, argue that th...
www.lspjournal.com
May 21, 2025 at 12:00 PM
🌍 What happens when international exchanges vanish from schools and universities?
Vicky Gough and Philip Harding-Esch argue for restoring international experiences to the heart of language learning—for all learners, not just a privileged few. www.lspjournal.com/post/interna...
Vicky Gough and Philip Harding-Esch argue for restoring international experiences to the heart of language learning—for all learners, not just a privileged few. www.lspjournal.com/post/interna...
May 19, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Reposted by Emma Humphries (she/her)
Episode 70, just a few weeks ago, was a great one for paper 2. We talked to @emhumps.bsky.social about prescriptivism and how people try (and usually fail) to control language use. This gives a great overview for a lot of issues on the paper: open.spotify.com/episode/6aoS...
Episode 70 - Emma Humphries & prescriptivism
Lexis · Episode
open.spotify.com
May 13, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Episode 70, just a few weeks ago, was a great one for paper 2. We talked to @emhumps.bsky.social about prescriptivism and how people try (and usually fail) to control language use. This gives a great overview for a lot of issues on the paper: open.spotify.com/episode/6aoS...
Reposted by Emma Humphries (she/her)
Revising for Paper 2? I’ve gone back through a few dozen Lexis episodes to pick out the ones that I think could help you most. Here is a thread... 🧵
May 13, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Revising for Paper 2? I’ve gone back through a few dozen Lexis episodes to pick out the ones that I think could help you most. Here is a thread... 🧵
It's here! Linguistic Insecurities and Authorities, published by @johnbenjamins.bsky.social, written by me!
May 12, 2025 at 9:17 AM
It's here! Linguistic Insecurities and Authorities, published by @johnbenjamins.bsky.social, written by me!
Reposted by Emma Humphries (she/her)
How do we meet the challenge of language teacher shortages? Read Lisa Panford's new thought-provoking piece in LSP on the recruitment of teachers of Colour:
www.lspjournal.com/post/the-rec... @cforsdick.bsky.social @lspjournal.bsky.social
www.lspjournal.com/post/the-rec... @cforsdick.bsky.social @lspjournal.bsky.social
The Recruitment and Retention of Languages Teachers of Colour from the Global South in England
In the following opinion article Lisa Panford finds that urgent intervention is needed to address the conditions into which languages teachers of Colour from the Global South are inducted. Further, th...
www.lspjournal.com
May 7, 2025 at 2:53 PM
How do we meet the challenge of language teacher shortages? Read Lisa Panford's new thought-provoking piece in LSP on the recruitment of teachers of Colour:
www.lspjournal.com/post/the-rec... @cforsdick.bsky.social @lspjournal.bsky.social
www.lspjournal.com/post/the-rec... @cforsdick.bsky.social @lspjournal.bsky.social
Reposted by Emma Humphries (she/her)
📘 New from Languages in UK Education series 👇
Can students keep learning languages after GCSE—without a full A-level?
Neil Kenny proposes a practical, flexible Level 3 ‘Applied Languages’ certificate.
Read more: www.lspjournal.com/post/time-fo...
Can students keep learning languages after GCSE—without a full A-level?
Neil Kenny proposes a practical, flexible Level 3 ‘Applied Languages’ certificate.
Read more: www.lspjournal.com/post/time-fo...
May 7, 2025 at 10:48 AM
📘 New from Languages in UK Education series 👇
Can students keep learning languages after GCSE—without a full A-level?
Neil Kenny proposes a practical, flexible Level 3 ‘Applied Languages’ certificate.
Read more: www.lspjournal.com/post/time-fo...
Can students keep learning languages after GCSE—without a full A-level?
Neil Kenny proposes a practical, flexible Level 3 ‘Applied Languages’ certificate.
Read more: www.lspjournal.com/post/time-fo...
Five year olds! More accent diversity and less prescriptivism in popular culture, please! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Five year olds 'link accents with intelligence'
A study finds young children think someone with a
www.bbc.co.uk
April 23, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Five year olds! More accent diversity and less prescriptivism in popular culture, please! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...