Lisa Davidson
@lisabdavidson.bsky.social
Phonetics, Language Acquisition, CogSci | co-editor Laboratory Phonology | ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
I'm not the only one on Bluesky saying this, but maybe together we can bring it into being: Brad Lander for first deputy mayor in the Mamdani administration.
November 5, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I'm not the only one on Bluesky saying this, but maybe together we can bring it into being: Brad Lander for first deputy mayor in the Mamdani administration.
Reposted by Lisa Davidson
This man hates this city.
Imagine running for a mayor in a city where between 600 and 700 languages - some of whom are some of the last speakers in the world - and going "diversity can be a weakness"
Imagine running for a mayor in a city where between 600 and 700 languages - some of whom are some of the last speakers in the world - and going "diversity can be a weakness"
Andrew Cuomo interview this morning on MSNBC and he…
-said diversity could be a weakness
-continued to repeatedly mispronounce “Mamdami”
-CONFUSED TWO BLACK ANCHORS WITH EACH OTHER
-said diversity could be a weakness
-continued to repeatedly mispronounce “Mamdami”
-CONFUSED TWO BLACK ANCHORS WITH EACH OTHER
November 1, 2025 at 1:11 PM
This man hates this city.
Imagine running for a mayor in a city where between 600 and 700 languages - some of whom are some of the last speakers in the world - and going "diversity can be a weakness"
Imagine running for a mayor in a city where between 600 and 700 languages - some of whom are some of the last speakers in the world - and going "diversity can be a weakness"
NYC linguists give the linguistic answer, but also patiently explain why this isn't an excuse:
“We can learn hard names. We can do it. We can figure out how the spellings map to the sounds. We can all get there. We just have to practice.” - @laurelmack.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
“We can learn hard names. We can do it. We can figure out how the spellings map to the sounds. We can all get there. We just have to practice.” - @laurelmack.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Why Can’t People Pronounce ‘Zohran Mamdani’? (Gift Article)
Friends and foes keep getting it wrong. Mr. Mamdani says, “It’s pretty phonetic honestly.”
www.nytimes.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:11 PM
NYC linguists give the linguistic answer, but also patiently explain why this isn't an excuse:
“We can learn hard names. We can do it. We can figure out how the spellings map to the sounds. We can all get there. We just have to practice.” - @laurelmack.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
“We can learn hard names. We can do it. We can figure out how the spellings map to the sounds. We can all get there. We just have to practice.” - @laurelmack.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Lisa Davidson
notice the general mood of the timeline? how everyone is in a good mood and there’s a lot less misery and dooming? how there’s a lot of “we’re going to beat these assholes”?
anyway that’s why these events are important
anyway that’s why these events are important
October 18, 2025 at 6:54 PM
notice the general mood of the timeline? how everyone is in a good mood and there’s a lot less misery and dooming? how there’s a lot of “we’re going to beat these assholes”?
anyway that’s why these events are important
anyway that’s why these events are important
In honor of Indigenous People's Day, here's a very brief timeline of the revitalization of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.
hilo.hawaii.edu/chancellor/s...
hilo.hawaii.edu/chancellor/s...
Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi! ʻŌlelo Resource of the Month: A timeline of significant milestones for Hawaiian language - UH Hilo Stories
In the second of a new monthly column, UH Hilo Director of Native Hawaiian Engagement Pele Harman shares a timeline of significant milestones for Hawaiian language.
hilo.hawaii.edu
October 13, 2025 at 3:29 PM
In honor of Indigenous People's Day, here's a very brief timeline of the revitalization of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.
hilo.hawaii.edu/chancellor/s...
hilo.hawaii.edu/chancellor/s...
I'm enjoying this thread about the greatest lyricists, but I can't include John Prine ever since I learned about Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian.
Andy Partridge of XTC, exquisite & erudite wordplay. I agree with Elvis Costello, Gillian Welch, John Prine, and Leonard Cohen. I enjoy the words of Mary Chaplin Carpenter, Patty Griffin, Natalie Merchant, & Bowie in all things, “Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow” always please me when I hear it
October 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
I'm enjoying this thread about the greatest lyricists, but I can't include John Prine ever since I learned about Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian.
If you’ve ever asked AI to summarize a paper, you know it provides only a surface-level and uncritical description. Even if you asked it for a review, what criteria would it use to provide meaningful critical feedback? If it said “X is unclear”, how would you know humans would feel that way?
Oh FFS. Because what overburdened peer review systems really need is more noise between the reviewers & ACs. Yeah, that's the ticket.
aaai.org/aaai-launche...
>>
aaai.org/aaai-launche...
>>
October 7, 2025 at 1:17 PM
If you’ve ever asked AI to summarize a paper, you know it provides only a surface-level and uncritical description. Even if you asked it for a review, what criteria would it use to provide meaningful critical feedback? If it said “X is unclear”, how would you know humans would feel that way?
So I take it we're still not going to get to hear Grogu speak? I've been waiting since 2019 (from before we knew his name!) to learn whether they'd make him sound like Yoda or have him just speak Basic, as he obviously should 😆
slate.com/technology/2...
slate.com/technology/2...
September 22, 2025 at 9:09 PM
So I take it we're still not going to get to hear Grogu speak? I've been waiting since 2019 (from before we knew his name!) to learn whether they'd make him sound like Yoda or have him just speak Basic, as he obviously should 😆
slate.com/technology/2...
slate.com/technology/2...
I found an example in the wild on here of a possible suffix usage that we were discussing in class. I want to show my students, but since the post is critical of the administration, I'm worried about potential consequences, even though the content is entirely irrelevant. This is what we've come to.
September 22, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I found an example in the wild on here of a possible suffix usage that we were discussing in class. I want to show my students, but since the post is critical of the administration, I'm worried about potential consequences, even though the content is entirely irrelevant. This is what we've come to.
Did they not see Kaʻiana in **Chief of War**?
September 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Did they not see Kaʻiana in **Chief of War**?
The ambiguity of this headline is pretty great. Have we reached the singularity, and this is the only actual proof?
September 16, 2025 at 9:13 PM
The ambiguity of this headline is pretty great. Have we reached the singularity, and this is the only actual proof?
I say aloud often that one of the worst catastrophes of this era will be the dismantling of the American science infrastructure. Sorry to be reposting the NYT, but the wording of this headline is more stark and apt than usual. 🎁 link (via my institutional subscription, which I'm not paying for)
Opinion | We Are Watching a Scientific Superpower Destroy Itself
www.nytimes.com
September 8, 2025 at 7:19 PM
I say aloud often that one of the worst catastrophes of this era will be the dismantling of the American science infrastructure. Sorry to be reposting the NYT, but the wording of this headline is more stark and apt than usual. 🎁 link (via my institutional subscription, which I'm not paying for)
Someday when we can look back at this time, we'll see that there were some profiles in courage. Many judges who made the right call, so many incredibly brave civil servants, labor and immigrant leaders, a handful of college administrator (but a few), even a couple of politicians.
Host: There are new calls this morning for RFK Jr.'s resignation, and those calls coming from inside HHS itself. More than 1,000 current and former HHS workers are making this demand in a letter released this morning. They say his leadership has "put the health of all Americans at risk"
September 3, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Someday when we can look back at this time, we'll see that there were some profiles in courage. Many judges who made the right call, so many incredibly brave civil servants, labor and immigrant leaders, a handful of college administrator (but a few), even a couple of politicians.
I just want something to make a difference so badly. Big kudos to the CDC folks, I fervently hope something comes of it.
BREAKING: Big moment as CDC staff stage a mass walkout.
They have lined the street outside its HQ to greet and salute the four top officials who have resigned in protest at RFK Jr’s attack on the agency’s science base.
(🎥 AP)
They have lined the street outside its HQ to greet and salute the four top officials who have resigned in protest at RFK Jr’s attack on the agency’s science base.
(🎥 AP)
August 28, 2025 at 7:59 PM
I just want something to make a difference so badly. Big kudos to the CDC folks, I fervently hope something comes of it.
The irony, of course, is that the “phonetic way to say umami” is [umami].
August 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
The irony, of course, is that the “phonetic way to say umami” is [umami].
Reposted by Lisa Davidson
Draw a geographically accurate map of New York City and label all the neighborhoods. This thing is not going to put neighborhood boundary expert @rachelholliday.bsky.social out of a job any time soon.
August 8, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Draw a geographically accurate map of New York City and label all the neighborhoods. This thing is not going to put neighborhood boundary expert @rachelholliday.bsky.social out of a job any time soon.
Reposted by Lisa Davidson
I'm curious. If someone responds to a texted question by providing a brief answer, followed by "More later, I'm running out now", do you read this as expectation-setting/a promissory note, or is it just a conventionalized pleasantry (that does not lead to the expectation of a later response)?
August 6, 2025 at 7:25 PM
I'm curious. If someone responds to a texted question by providing a brief answer, followed by "More later, I'm running out now", do you read this as expectation-setting/a promissory note, or is it just a conventionalized pleasantry (that does not lead to the expectation of a later response)?
I'm curious. If someone responds to a texted question by providing a brief answer, followed by "More later, I'm running out now", do you read this as expectation-setting/a promissory note, or is it just a conventionalized pleasantry (that does not lead to the expectation of a later response)?
August 6, 2025 at 7:25 PM
I'm curious. If someone responds to a texted question by providing a brief answer, followed by "More later, I'm running out now", do you read this as expectation-setting/a promissory note, or is it just a conventionalized pleasantry (that does not lead to the expectation of a later response)?
I’m equally embarrassed for my alma mater
What an absolute disgrace. As a trans alumna of #BrownUniversity, I am deeply ashamed of my alma mater. All they've done is signaled that their principles are up for negotiation, and the Trump administration will most certainly come back demanding more concessions.
July 31, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I’m equally embarrassed for my alma mater
This was the same take I also had when I saw this graphic earlier today, but this is worded more directly and insightfully. This poll is actually kind of remarkable.
Democrats broadly like the United States, while Republicans virulently hate some of our largest and most iconic cities
Reporting from Oakland: Tracks with online car community vibes
July 23, 2025 at 5:48 PM
This was the same take I also had when I saw this graphic earlier today, but this is worded more directly and insightfully. This poll is actually kind of remarkable.
Cuomo and Adams beefing is a delicious moment in this dark time. Let us all wish that the only effect it has is to leave even greater distaste for both of them in New Yorkers' mouths.
There was an independent survey, Rich. It was the party primary that your creepy boss lost by double digit. But these guys can tear themselves to pieces while the primary winner has extreme message discipline.
bsky.app/profile/kati...
bsky.app/profile/kati...
It’s going to be a long summer !
July 7, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Cuomo and Adams beefing is a delicious moment in this dark time. Let us all wish that the only effect it has is to leave even greater distaste for both of them in New Yorkers' mouths.
Reposted by Lisa Davidson
This bill is an act of war by the billionaires and their white nationalist allies against the people of the United States.
It will take health care from millions of people to fund tax cut for billionaires, secret police to arrest the President’s critics, and concentration camps.
It’s fascism.
It will take health care from millions of people to fund tax cut for billionaires, secret police to arrest the President’s critics, and concentration camps.
It’s fascism.
July 3, 2025 at 6:51 PM
This bill is an act of war by the billionaires and their white nationalist allies against the people of the United States.
It will take health care from millions of people to fund tax cut for billionaires, secret police to arrest the President’s critics, and concentration camps.
It’s fascism.
It will take health care from millions of people to fund tax cut for billionaires, secret police to arrest the President’s critics, and concentration camps.
It’s fascism.
Q about LSA abstracts for the linguists: I know there is a 2nd page for figs/refs/tables etc, but if we want to put a fig in the main text, is that possible? The problem is that we have a few figs and if we shrink them too much, they won't be readable.
July 3, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Q about LSA abstracts for the linguists: I know there is a 2nd page for figs/refs/tables etc, but if we want to put a fig in the main text, is that possible? The problem is that we have a few figs and if we shrink them too much, they won't be readable.
I'm filling out some paperwork and there are a whole series of questions like this: Please confirm that the individual will not be entitled to a job with the Department at the conclusion of the proposed Internship or Research affiliation (Yes__ No __)
So, uhh, is the right answer yes or no?
So, uhh, is the right answer yes or no?
June 26, 2025 at 7:46 PM
I'm filling out some paperwork and there are a whole series of questions like this: Please confirm that the individual will not be entitled to a job with the Department at the conclusion of the proposed Internship or Research affiliation (Yes__ No __)
So, uhh, is the right answer yes or no?
So, uhh, is the right answer yes or no?