Judith Jesch
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judithjesch.bsky.social
Judith Jesch
@judithjesch.bsky.social
2.1K followers 650 following 910 posts

Retired professor of Viking Studies, Visiting Professor @insuhi.bsky.social, FBA. The Saga of the Earls of Orkney: https://birlinn.co.uk/product/the-saga-of-the-earls-of-orkney/ See also https://uonenglish.substack.com/s/ragnas-islands .. more

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Judith Jesch is a British scholar of Old Norse language and literature, runology, and the Viking Age. She was Professor of Viking Age Studies at the University of Nottingham until 2025. Jesch is chair of the international Runic Advisory Group and president of the English Place-Name Society. .. more

History 45%
Communication & Media Studies 18%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Jonathan Hopkin, Graham Dutfield, Judith Jesch , and 1 more

johnsimpsonnews.bsky.social
John Simpson @johnsimpsonnews.bsky.social · 1h
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.

Reposted by Judith Jesch

paulblinkhorn.bsky.social
Paul Blinkhorn @paulblinkhorn.bsky.social · 9h
BBC impartiality: A full list of all the British MEPs who appeared on BBC Question Time.

Reposted by Catriona Seth, Judith Jesch

hetanshah.bsky.social
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 12h
‘If multilingualism builds resilience against ageing, then encouraging additional language learning in schools, protecting migrant and minoritised languages… could be as important as campaigns that promote physical activity, or smoking cessation,"
www.thetimes.com/article/9b5b...
Speaking more than one language could keep old age at bay
The more languages you speak, the less likely you are to experience ‘accelerated ageing’, according to the largest study of its kind
www.thetimes.com

Reposted by Judith Jesch

dfgillie.bsky.social
Dr Darcey Gillie @dfgillie.bsky.social · 12h
Good to see more people finally on board with what all us furriners have been saying about the BBC for years - there is no perfect system, and for all its faults, the BBC is a wonderful thing.

Reposted by Catriona Seth, Judith Jesch, Andrew Perchard

hetanshah.bsky.social
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 14h
At a time when humanities and social science courses are facing severe cutbacks I’ll be mounting a defence of them and their role in shaping a better future at this lecture at De Montfort University on 27 November. All welcome
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shaping-a-...
Shaping a Brighter Future
The first event in our Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture Series, delivered by Hetan Shah, Chief Executive, The British Academy
www.eventbrite.co.uk

Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich, Peter Thorne, James M. Bullock , and 5 more

bestforbritain.org
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 15h
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.

"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA

Reposted by Judith Jesch

theguardian.com
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 16h
Shetland islanders accuse Tom Daley’s Game of Wool of cultural appropriation
Shetland islanders accuse Tom Daley’s Game of Wool of cultural appropriation
Fair Isle practitioners say Channel 4’s knitting show is littered with errors about their historic craft and demand an apology The group chat for Shetland knitters was popping off, says one member, as they settled down to watch the first episode of Game of Wool: Britain’s Best Knitter. But their enthusiasm for the Channel 4 elimination show hosted by former Olympian and crafts enthusiast Tom Daley quickly unravelled. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Judith Jesch

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 16h
'In 2024, 42,265 people were employed as researchers in Norway, down from 42,348 in 2023. The losses were more pronounced in universities and colleges'.

Et tu, Britain?

Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Steve Peers, Judith Jesch

davidallengreen.bsky.social
dag @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 17h
My post on President Trump threatening to sue the BBC will up tomorrow morning.

Reposted by Alan Lester, Judith Jesch

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 20h
Thought for the day:

On Bluesky, it's "nice" to "Like", but it's (more) effective to Repost. Be effective. (You can also be nice).
Bluesky logo: the 4 wings of a blue butterfly against a grey backgroound.

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Ben H. Ansell, Steve Peers , and 8 more

robertshrimsley.bsky.social
Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 20h
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.

Reposted by Judith Jesch

jollyjourno.bsky.social
James Cracknell @jollyjourno.bsky.social · 20h
If the BBC is guilty of anything it has been far too ready and willing to follow the right-wing media narratives pushed by the billionaire press barons, instead of pursuing its own independent journalism based on exposing and uncovering the truth – regardless of whether people want to hear it.

Reposted by Judith Jesch

gregjenner.bsky.social
Greg Jenner @gregjenner.bsky.social · 21h
There are many subtle and complex arguments one can have about the future of the BBC — but I guarantee you that no other channel or streaming service will be as committed to factual programming, children’s education, history shows, religious discussion, poetry, arts, or state of the nation debate

Reposted by Andrew Scott, Judith Jesch

peterjukes.bsky.social
Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 22h
If you have a doubt the MAGA attack on the BBC is not co-ordinated, read what GB News owner told the US

“We need you to come and save us. To rescue us … You are making America great again… We need to make Britain great again”

subscribe.bylinetimes.com/edition/79/a...
‘America Must Save Britain’ – Byline Times Digital / Print Edition
GB News’ new programme broadcast live from Washington DC features climate denial, vaccine misinformation, and non-stop praise for Donald Trump – with the channel’s co-owner telling ‘MAGA’ politicians ...
subscribe.bylinetimes.com

judithjesch.bsky.social
Judith Jesch @judithjesch.bsky.social · 1d
For giants and dwarves in Norse Orkney, see some brief comments by me in ‘Kirkwall, Orkney’, in Europe: A Literary History 1348-1418, ed. David Wallace, Oxford: OUP 2016, I, 375-383.

Reposted by Judith Jesch

papayranger.bsky.social
Papay ranger - Jonathan Ford @papayranger.bsky.social · 2d
It's time for the 2026 Papay calendar.
A4 folding out to an A3, a mix of Papay landcapes and birds.
Price is £17.50 inc UK postage.
Orders being taken, for fine year long view of Papay.
Papay Calendar 2026 — Jonathan Ford
www.jonathanford.org/products.../...

Reposted by Judith Jesch

papayranger.bsky.social
Papay ranger - Jonathan Ford @papayranger.bsky.social · 3d
All the colours aligned for the arrival of the stone.
Sea, land, tractor, and ship.

Stone for the resurfacing of Papay runway one, arriving at the New pier yesterday.

judithjesch.bsky.social
Judith Jesch @judithjesch.bsky.social · 3d
Wouldn't mind being there right now.

Reposted by Judith Jesch

hildur.bsky.social
Hildur Knútsdóttir @hildur.bsky.social · 3d
🙏
Icelandic swimming pool

Reposted by Judith Jesch

rossbalzaretti.bsky.social
Ross Balzaretti @rossbalzaretti.bsky.social · 3d
c.org/ynWBqN9SSR
We Can Make an Impact.
Stop the removal of Modern Languages courses at the University of Nottingham!
c.org

Reposted by Judith Jesch

dgplacenames.bsky.social
dgplacenames (now in Orkney) @dgplacenames.bsky.social · 3d
Made a site where you can practise Old English scansion. You get given a half-line and have to select which of Sievers's five types it belongs to.
Just Beowulf for now, but that's 6364 half-lines to be getting on with: dgplacenames.github.io/scansion/

[Data: clasp.ell.ox.ac.uk/]

judithjesch.bsky.social
Judith Jesch @judithjesch.bsky.social · 4d
After years (decades, even) of listening to archaeologists who are pointing at lumps in a field, I can truly say 'I see it'!

judithjesch.bsky.social
Judith Jesch @judithjesch.bsky.social · 4d
Hope you enjoy reading it, and good luck with the op!

judithjesch.bsky.social
Judith Jesch @judithjesch.bsky.social · 4d
He has some interesting (!) place-name etymologies...

judithjesch.bsky.social
Judith Jesch @judithjesch.bsky.social · 4d
Also, the Latin text is reproduced in Barry's History of the Orkney Islands (1805; pp. 433 ff. in the 1975 facsimile reprint and p. 447 ff. in the Internet Archive version). archive.org/details/hist... 2/2
The history of the Orkney Islands : with a prefatory account of the agricultural progress and present state of the islands : Barry, George, 1748-1805 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet ...
archive.org

judithjesch.bsky.social
Judith Jesch @judithjesch.bsky.social · 4d
Don't think the author was called 'Joseph', though, the only info is that he was 'Jo Ben'. There's some useful stuff in this: www.orcadian.co.uk/shop/orkney-... 1/2
New Orkney Antiquarian Journal - Volume 6 - The Orcadian Bookshop
A sixth volume of historical and archaeological papers relating to Orkney. Published by Orkney Heritage Society with Orkney Archaeological Trust. Paperback.
www.orcadian.co.uk

judithjesch.bsky.social
Judith Jesch @judithjesch.bsky.social · 4d
I see @jesszafarris.bsky.social beat me to it. bsky.app/profile/jess...
judithjesch.bsky.social Judith Jesch @judithjesch.bsky.social · 4d
I got intrigued and checked oed.com. Forebear is actually 'fore-be-er', one who was before, which I didn't know, and there is even an 'afterbeer/afterbear' with quotations from 1625 and 2008. There's also an 'afterliver', so take your pick!

judithjesch.bsky.social
Judith Jesch @judithjesch.bsky.social · 4d
I got intrigued and checked oed.com. Forebear is actually 'fore-be-er', one who was before, which I didn't know, and there is even an 'afterbeer/afterbear' with quotations from 1625 and 2008. There's also an 'afterliver', so take your pick!

judithjesch.bsky.social
Judith Jesch @judithjesch.bsky.social · 4d
Good to see that Prof. Pohl has visited the Karlevi stone #runology. app.raa.se/open/runor/i...

Reposted by Judith Jesch

adammarkham.bsky.social
Adam Markham @adammarkham.bsky.social · 4d
The shocking knitting scandal rocking Shetland deserves more attention. It's got everything - Fair Isle tank tops, cutting, "peeries", needle lengths, yarn thickness, and most controversially, crochet. 🐑 🐑
I don't know what Tom Daley is looking so smug about.
Shetland knitting group ‘shocked and saddened’ by representation in Channel 4 show
A GROUP protecting Shetland’s knitting heritage has criticised a new Channel 4 show for spreading “negative misconceptions about Fair Isle knitting...
www.shetnews.co.uk