Heddwen Newton - English & Dutch
@heddwen.bsky.social
I write the monthly newsletter English and the Dutch, about all the ways English and Dutch interact: https://englishandthedutch.substack.com/
English teacher at Bielefeld University (EAL & ELA)
Dutch English
World Englishes
AI English
Lexicography
English teacher at Bielefeld University (EAL & ELA)
Dutch English
World Englishes
AI English
Lexicography
If you are doing, or thinking of starting, a project about language that will (also) teach 'regular folks' about language, you should apply for this grant! Apart from some money, it will also give you publicity and a wider network.
Working on a project bringing linguistics to broader audiences?
The 2026 LingComm Grants are $300 USD grants to help you with your project!
Please apply and/or share with any up and coming lingcommers you know!
Details:
lingcomm.org/grants
#linguistics #langsky #lingcomm
The 2026 LingComm Grants are $300 USD grants to help you with your project!
Please apply and/or share with any up and coming lingcommers you know!
Details:
lingcomm.org/grants
#linguistics #langsky #lingcomm
January 25, 2026 at 1:55 PM
If you are doing, or thinking of starting, a project about language that will (also) teach 'regular folks' about language, you should apply for this grant! Apart from some money, it will also give you publicity and a wider network.
I was a bit ill last weekend, so I made it easy on myself: the theme this month is ‘no theme’ 😉
It did give me the chance to dig up some of my favourite fun facts that don’t really fit into any easy category!
It did give me the chance to dig up some of my favourite fun facts that don’t really fit into any easy category!
A truth like a cow 🐮, It's a random edition! 🎲
English and the Dutch #37
englishandthedutch.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:48 AM
I was a bit ill last weekend, so I made it easy on myself: the theme this month is ‘no theme’ 😉
It did give me the chance to dig up some of my favourite fun facts that don’t really fit into any easy category!
It did give me the chance to dig up some of my favourite fun facts that don’t really fit into any easy category!
A typical Dutch winter scene in Delft 🙂
January 5, 2026 at 7:01 AM
A typical Dutch winter scene in Delft 🙂
The Belgian prime minister's cat is popular on social media, and on The Guardian's homepage - and he speaks Dutch!
Belgian PM’s cat Maximus is social media star with ‘subliminal political message’
Maximus Textoris Pulcher, an official resident at Rue de la Loi 16, shows a warmer side of Bart De Wever
www.theguardian.com
January 4, 2026 at 5:12 PM
The Belgian prime minister's cat is popular on social media, and on The Guardian's homepage - and he speaks Dutch!
Labubu is Dutch! (not really) Flemish people speak the best non-native English in the world (yes, really), and the Dutch language has a whole lot of proverbs about teeth.
All that and more in my latest newsletter :-)
All that and more in my latest newsletter :-)
English and the Dutch Newsletter #36
About Labubu, Flanders being better than everyone else, and feeling people on the tooth
open.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Labubu is Dutch! (not really) Flemish people speak the best non-native English in the world (yes, really), and the Dutch language has a whole lot of proverbs about teeth.
All that and more in my latest newsletter :-)
All that and more in my latest newsletter :-)
Date formats always confuse my English students. So I made a helpful slide.
December 10, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Date formats always confuse my English students. So I made a helpful slide.
I thought the word "dogmatic" was a combination of "dog" and "automatic". Like a persistent and not very clever dog who is following a certain idea like an unstoppable robot.
I just looked it up. It comes from the word "dogma".
OMG, of course it does. 🤦♀️😂
I just looked it up. It comes from the word "dogma".
OMG, of course it does. 🤦♀️😂
October 17, 2025 at 8:08 AM
I thought the word "dogmatic" was a combination of "dog" and "automatic". Like a persistent and not very clever dog who is following a certain idea like an unstoppable robot.
I just looked it up. It comes from the word "dogma".
OMG, of course it does. 🤦♀️😂
I just looked it up. It comes from the word "dogma".
OMG, of course it does. 🤦♀️😂
In her latest newsletter, Daisy Christodoulou makes the point that educational apps can never compete with apps that have "hold the user's attention" as their sole purpose.
The following excerpt made me LOL
The following excerpt made me LOL
October 5, 2025 at 9:25 AM
In her latest newsletter, Daisy Christodoulou makes the point that educational apps can never compete with apps that have "hold the user's attention" as their sole purpose.
The following excerpt made me LOL
The following excerpt made me LOL
I did a pilot study for longitudinal slang research in February (128 respondents). Got discouraged because of methodological issues (too much slang!). Have now had an idea how to address these issues. Feeling encouraged again!
Also: having ChatGPT help you with R is FIRE.
Also: having ChatGPT help you with R is FIRE.
October 1, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I did a pilot study for longitudinal slang research in February (128 respondents). Got discouraged because of methodological issues (too much slang!). Have now had an idea how to address these issues. Feeling encouraged again!
Also: having ChatGPT help you with R is FIRE.
Also: having ChatGPT help you with R is FIRE.
Reposted by Heddwen Newton - English & Dutch
The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia is now on sale in the UK. It’s pretty sweet seeing something that has consumed so much of your life sitting in Waterstones like it’s always belonged there… Thank you @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social.
If words are your jam, it’ll make you happy.
shorturl.at/5TwQI
If words are your jam, it’ll make you happy.
shorturl.at/5TwQI
September 25, 2025 at 2:44 PM
The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia is now on sale in the UK. It’s pretty sweet seeing something that has consumed so much of your life sitting in Waterstones like it’s always belonged there… Thank you @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social.
If words are your jam, it’ll make you happy.
shorturl.at/5TwQI
If words are your jam, it’ll make you happy.
shorturl.at/5TwQI
Reposted by Heddwen Newton - English & Dutch
Merriam survives on snarky posts, games, and sharper SEO. With U.S. lexicographers down from about 200 to under 50, this piece urges treating dictionaries as public goods amid fights over words like insurrection and woke.
By @stefanfatsis.bsky.social in @theatlantic.com
buff.ly/ycOMo0K
By @stefanfatsis.bsky.social in @theatlantic.com
buff.ly/ycOMo0K
Is This the End of the Dictionary?
Obsolete (adj.): no longer in use or no longer useful
buff.ly
September 29, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Merriam survives on snarky posts, games, and sharper SEO. With U.S. lexicographers down from about 200 to under 50, this piece urges treating dictionaries as public goods amid fights over words like insurrection and woke.
By @stefanfatsis.bsky.social in @theatlantic.com
buff.ly/ycOMo0K
By @stefanfatsis.bsky.social in @theatlantic.com
buff.ly/ycOMo0K
From around late July 2025, Urban Dictionary no longer shows an upvote/downvote count. Nobody knows why. It might just be a bug, or it may have been intentional.
The missing counts make the site unusable for slang researchers like me :-(
The missing counts make the site unusable for slang researchers like me :-(
September 28, 2025 at 2:29 PM
From around late July 2025, Urban Dictionary no longer shows an upvote/downvote count. Nobody knows why. It might just be a bug, or it may have been intentional.
The missing counts make the site unusable for slang researchers like me :-(
The missing counts make the site unusable for slang researchers like me :-(
Another nail in the coffin of internet blogging...
Spam comments have existed for many years, and so have spam filters.
But now spammers are using AI to read the blog post and write relevant comments, and my spam filter lets them through, meaning I have to sift through them manually.
Spam comments have existed for many years, and so have spam filters.
But now spammers are using AI to read the blog post and write relevant comments, and my spam filter lets them through, meaning I have to sift through them manually.
September 23, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Another nail in the coffin of internet blogging...
Spam comments have existed for many years, and so have spam filters.
But now spammers are using AI to read the blog post and write relevant comments, and my spam filter lets them through, meaning I have to sift through them manually.
Spam comments have existed for many years, and so have spam filters.
But now spammers are using AI to read the blog post and write relevant comments, and my spam filter lets them through, meaning I have to sift through them manually.
Reposted by Heddwen Newton - English & Dutch
My September newsletter is out now, with links to lots of good stuff and a couple of linguisticky pics from my trip to Guangzhou:
open.substack.com/pub/lynnegui...
open.substack.com/pub/lynnegui...
Caught or seen
This time: caught dead, China unbound, British-American lexical relations and links to clink
open.substack.com
September 22, 2025 at 5:10 PM
My September newsletter is out now, with links to lots of good stuff and a couple of linguisticky pics from my trip to Guangzhou:
open.substack.com/pub/lynnegui...
open.substack.com/pub/lynnegui...
Reposted by Heddwen Newton - English & Dutch
Stefan Fatsis on the current state of American lexicography www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
Is This the End of the Dictionary?
Obsolete (adj.): no longer in use or no longer useful
www.theatlantic.com
September 21, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Stefan Fatsis on the current state of American lexicography www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
XKCD from 20 Sep 25.
Is this a thing? I've never heard it, or heard anyone talk about it.
Is this a thing? I've never heard it, or heard anyone talk about it.
September 21, 2025 at 8:20 AM
XKCD from 20 Sep 25.
Is this a thing? I've never heard it, or heard anyone talk about it.
Is this a thing? I've never heard it, or heard anyone talk about it.
Reposted by Heddwen Newton - English & Dutch
Vibe coding, with cites from @harrymccracken.com @carlyayres.com @joanwestenberg.com
open.substack.com/pub/fritinan...
open.substack.com/pub/fritinan...
Word of the week: Vibe coding
It's a whole mood.
open.substack.com
September 8, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Vibe coding, with cites from @harrymccracken.com @carlyayres.com @joanwestenberg.com
open.substack.com/pub/fritinan...
open.substack.com/pub/fritinan...
Reposted by Heddwen Newton - English & Dutch
Cod digits? Striped equids? Dam-building rodents? Elongated yellow fruit?
A new book about second mentions dives deep into those supposedly elegant variations and many others.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/s...
A new book about second mentions dives deep into those supposedly elegant variations and many others.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/s...
Cod digits and striped equids: new book celebrates media staple ‘the second mention’
Married monographers have collated sometimes absurd word choices through which journalists avoid repetition
www.theguardian.com
September 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Cod digits? Striped equids? Dam-building rodents? Elongated yellow fruit?
A new book about second mentions dives deep into those supposedly elegant variations and many others.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/s...
A new book about second mentions dives deep into those supposedly elegant variations and many others.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/s...
Reposted by Heddwen Newton - English & Dutch
Happy Unicode 17.0 Day!
Includes seven new emoji that are rolling out on your phones and computers in the coming year:
treasure chest, trombone, avalanche, big foot, bulging face, fight cloud, orca
@jenniferdaniel.bsky.social has the lowdown:
jenniferdaniel.substack.com/p/tomorrows-...
Includes seven new emoji that are rolling out on your phones and computers in the coming year:
treasure chest, trombone, avalanche, big foot, bulging face, fight cloud, orca
@jenniferdaniel.bsky.social has the lowdown:
jenniferdaniel.substack.com/p/tomorrows-...
September 10, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Happy Unicode 17.0 Day!
Includes seven new emoji that are rolling out on your phones and computers in the coming year:
treasure chest, trombone, avalanche, big foot, bulging face, fight cloud, orca
@jenniferdaniel.bsky.social has the lowdown:
jenniferdaniel.substack.com/p/tomorrows-...
Includes seven new emoji that are rolling out on your phones and computers in the coming year:
treasure chest, trombone, avalanche, big foot, bulging face, fight cloud, orca
@jenniferdaniel.bsky.social has the lowdown:
jenniferdaniel.substack.com/p/tomorrows-...
Reposted by Heddwen Newton - English & Dutch
Slopper: “A person who uses ChatGPT to do everything for them.” www.todayintabs.com/p/we-need-to... | via @americandialect.org listserv
We Need To Talk About Sloppers
The best ever death metal bot out of Denton
www.todayintabs.com
August 31, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Slopper: “A person who uses ChatGPT to do everything for them.” www.todayintabs.com/p/we-need-to... | via @americandialect.org listserv
I posted that Americans call lecterns podiums and it turns out there's an entire account devoted to correcting people who say podium and I'm like
1) oh dear, prescriptivism
But also
2) this is utterly hilarious
1) oh dear, prescriptivism
But also
2) this is utterly hilarious
No we don't. 🤨
August 28, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I posted that Americans call lecterns podiums and it turns out there's an entire account devoted to correcting people who say podium and I'm like
1) oh dear, prescriptivism
But also
2) this is utterly hilarious
1) oh dear, prescriptivism
But also
2) this is utterly hilarious
After years of teaching my students about the differences between American and British English, today I learned one that was completely new to me:
Americans call a 'lectern' a 'podium'!
I have heard it used many times, and have simply always misunderstood it as the thing they were standing on!
Americans call a 'lectern' a 'podium'!
I have heard it used many times, and have simply always misunderstood it as the thing they were standing on!
August 27, 2025 at 2:48 PM
After years of teaching my students about the differences between American and British English, today I learned one that was completely new to me:
Americans call a 'lectern' a 'podium'!
I have heard it used many times, and have simply always misunderstood it as the thing they were standing on!
Americans call a 'lectern' a 'podium'!
I have heard it used many times, and have simply always misunderstood it as the thing they were standing on!
Reposted by Heddwen Newton - English & Dutch
According to this my book is “stellar“ and I am possibly the worlds “most devoted chronicler” of British and American English differences.
I’ll take it. 😉
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
I’ll take it. 😉
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Column | What are the most American and most British words?
Is American English really that different than its British ancestor? And if so, what words truly separate the American from the Brit? The Department of Data is on the case.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 22, 2025 at 5:01 PM
According to this my book is “stellar“ and I am possibly the worlds “most devoted chronicler” of British and American English differences.
I’ll take it. 😉
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
I’ll take it. 😉
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Reposted by Heddwen Newton - English & Dutch
It's my August newsletter: packed full of languagey, booky, mappy things to read, do, and think about.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
fly me to the tip
This time: no tipping no posting no dumping, plus things to click and do!
substack.com
August 24, 2025 at 3:14 PM
It's my August newsletter: packed full of languagey, booky, mappy things to read, do, and think about.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reposted by Heddwen Newton - English & Dutch
That was short but sweet! If you want to hear Tony talking more about some of this new generation of 'influencer' words, have a listen to this episode of @lexispodcast.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/3fUW...
open.spotify.com/episode/3fUW...
August 18, 2025 at 8:05 AM
That was short but sweet! If you want to hear Tony talking more about some of this new generation of 'influencer' words, have a listen to this episode of @lexispodcast.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/3fUW...
open.spotify.com/episode/3fUW...