Michael Erard
@michaelerard.bsky.social
Writer, linguist. 3rd book: BYE BYE I LOVE YOU. The Economist: "Beautiful & strangely comforting." LARB: "Wise & gracefully written." Others: "Indelible." To buy: https://bit.ly/4kN0PKa
Explore www.michaelerard.com
Explore www.michaelerard.com
Reposted by Michael Erard
Love this - defeating nazis with the Yorkshire accent:
![Wilfred Pickles, a Yorkshireman born in Halifax, was selected by the BBC as an announcer for its North Regional radio service; he went on to be an occasional newsreader on the BBC Home Service during World War II. He was the first newsreader to speak in a regional accent rather than Received Pronunciation, "a deliberate attempt to make it more difficult for Nazis to impersonate BBC broadcasters",[80] and caused some comment with his farewell catchphrase "... and to all in the North, good neet".](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cjtzbvosvwlsney5t6iom34n/bafkreifjiuqk2qeu2tm4h4wvjsygltrp3rseckx62gacum3djlpthmp4zu@jpeg)
February 14, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Love this - defeating nazis with the Yorkshire accent:
Reposted by Michael Erard
They, especially Trump, like nothing about the US & Americans as they’ve actually been & actually are. Trump, the Trump/MAGA movement, the GOP, the conservative movement, & fellow travelers hate the US & Americans.
i’ll end this little brainstorm by just asking what it is, exactly, that the MAGA right likes about the United States, since it explicitly rejects those things that make this nation distinctive — its pluralism, its revolutionary heritage and egalitarian aspirations, and its republican institutions
February 15, 2026 at 4:59 PM
They, especially Trump, like nothing about the US & Americans as they’ve actually been & actually are. Trump, the Trump/MAGA movement, the GOP, the conservative movement, & fellow travelers hate the US & Americans.
Today I learned about this monument to the Georgian language. I’d love to hear of other statues, monuments, and shrines devoted to languages, language learning, literacy, etc.
Georgian students and other protesters have gathered in front of the Deda Ena (“Mother Tongue”) monument.
Students have protested daily since Georgian Dream imposed new rules dictating which programs state universities are allowed to offer and how many students they can admit. 1/2
Students have protested daily since Georgian Dream imposed new rules dictating which programs state universities are allowed to offer and how many students they can admit. 1/2
February 15, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Today I learned about this monument to the Georgian language. I’d love to hear of other statues, monuments, and shrines devoted to languages, language learning, literacy, etc.
Idea: A course reading fiction and nonfiction books about trips on rivers
February 15, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Idea: A course reading fiction and nonfiction books about trips on rivers
Yes, I wrote that NYT piece about the academic study of computer games in 2004 www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/th...
Deconstructing the Video Game
www.darkshire.net
February 15, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Yes, I wrote that NYT piece about the academic study of computer games in 2004 www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/th...
Reposted by Michael Erard
The future of liberalism... . My essay. open.substack.com/pub/timothyg...
The future of liberalism
What should come after liberalism? A better liberalism.
open.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 9:12 AM
The future of liberalism... . My essay. open.substack.com/pub/timothyg...
Reposted by Michael Erard
i’ll end this little brainstorm by just asking what it is, exactly, that the MAGA right likes about the United States, since it explicitly rejects those things that make this nation distinctive — its pluralism, its revolutionary heritage and egalitarian aspirations, and its republican institutions
February 15, 2026 at 1:49 AM
i’ll end this little brainstorm by just asking what it is, exactly, that the MAGA right likes about the United States, since it explicitly rejects those things that make this nation distinctive — its pluralism, its revolutionary heritage and egalitarian aspirations, and its republican institutions
This is why the think tank I worked for got hired by foundations: to cook up messaging that worked across all their programs, rather than have one program shiv another one.
(Maybe I’m making an error by assuming anti AI is a progressive position like harm reduction sex ed)
(Maybe I’m making an error by assuming anti AI is a progressive position like harm reduction sex ed)
If there's still a chance for him to bend someone's ear, using sex/alcohol ed as analogy has been working well for me to help AI advocates think differently about those who are anti-AI. Basically, abstinence is a viable option for sex/alcohol - we don't tell kids to do those things immediately.
February 14, 2026 at 3:57 PM
This is why the think tank I worked for got hired by foundations: to cook up messaging that worked across all their programs, rather than have one program shiv another one.
(Maybe I’m making an error by assuming anti AI is a progressive position like harm reduction sex ed)
(Maybe I’m making an error by assuming anti AI is a progressive position like harm reduction sex ed)
Do not put this shit on your face
Facebook plans to put facial recognition in its glasses and they think we’re too stupid to fight back.
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Their internal memo: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Do not put this shit on your face
If you're contemplating going to the Venice International University summer school on ethics at the end of life, DM me and I'll give you my review from last year.
February 13, 2026 at 12:38 PM
If you're contemplating going to the Venice International University summer school on ethics at the end of life, DM me and I'll give you my review from last year.
Reposted by Michael Erard
relevant discussions, quandaries, resistance happening all around the world for all of us to learn from. read @globalvoices.org and donate if you can so we can keep amplifying the perspectives, people, and stories that don't get much attention elsewhere.
globalvoices.org/donate/
globalvoices.org/donate/
Is it useful to talk to a dictator? Belarusian opposition have doubts
Maria Kalesnikava made several calls to negotiate with the Belarusian dictator. This goes against the usual policies of both the Belarusian opposition in exile as well as the EU politicians
globalvoices.org
February 13, 2026 at 11:30 AM
relevant discussions, quandaries, resistance happening all around the world for all of us to learn from. read @globalvoices.org and donate if you can so we can keep amplifying the perspectives, people, and stories that don't get much attention elsewhere.
globalvoices.org/donate/
globalvoices.org/donate/
this looks great too
We are very excited about our upcoming conference!
The programme has now published on our website. We will have a vast array of talks ranging from environmental crises to pandemics and from global pandemics to more personal crises – and the role of language in these. #lancris2026
The programme has now published on our website. We will have a vast array of talks ranging from environmental crises to pandemics and from global pandemics to more personal crises – and the role of language in these. #lancris2026
Programme – Languaging Crises
blogs.helsinki.fi
February 13, 2026 at 11:06 AM
this looks great too
i am very here for the metaphor criticism
“If a single animal can have several different genomes at once, which one is the blueprint? This may not even be the right question to ask...” Intriguing jumping-off point for a superb piece on why our favourite metaphors fail to capture biology; @elisecutts.bsky.social in @pioneerwork.bsky.social
🧪
🧪
Myth of the Genetic Blueprint | Broadcast
Life isn't constructed along pre-drawn plans. It grows.
pioneerworks.org
February 13, 2026 at 11:03 AM
i am very here for the metaphor criticism
Just finished a draft of what I’m going to call my anti-true crime spiritual book for non spiritual people
February 12, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Just finished a draft of what I’m going to call my anti-true crime spiritual book for non spiritual people
Reposted by Michael Erard
The volume & geographic distribution of protest nationwide during year 1 of Trump's second term was extraordinary.
February 12, 2026 at 6:19 PM
The volume & geographic distribution of protest nationwide during year 1 of Trump's second term was extraordinary.
Reposted by Michael Erard
New at Can We Still Govern: One aspect of ICE that is not discussed much is how dependent it is on private supply chains, including foreign companies. That provides an opportunity to name-and-shame firms providing its services.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/private-ch...
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/private-ch...
Private Chains, Public Harm
How Supply Networks Fuel ICE Operations
donmoynihan.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM
New at Can We Still Govern: One aspect of ICE that is not discussed much is how dependent it is on private supply chains, including foreign companies. That provides an opportunity to name-and-shame firms providing its services.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/private-ch...
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/private-ch...
I hope your cognitive doesn't dissonance too badly today
February 12, 2026 at 12:07 PM
I hope your cognitive doesn't dissonance too badly today
Reposted by Michael Erard
Those in power care more about the (theoretical) potential of selfhood of a machine than about the actual selfhood of the people around them.
All the while, tech bros continue to make their millions, people continue to suffer, and we all become a little less human in each other’s eyes.
10/10
All the while, tech bros continue to make their millions, people continue to suffer, and we all become a little less human in each other’s eyes.
10/10
February 11, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Those in power care more about the (theoretical) potential of selfhood of a machine than about the actual selfhood of the people around them.
All the while, tech bros continue to make their millions, people continue to suffer, and we all become a little less human in each other’s eyes.
10/10
All the while, tech bros continue to make their millions, people continue to suffer, and we all become a little less human in each other’s eyes.
10/10
Reposted by Michael Erard
Here are 8 successful *proposals* for academic books/monographs. I am hoping that these help someone who is starting out trying to write one and wants to see what worked for me. They are provided as examples, rather than exemplars. A lot of it was just finding my own way eve.gd/2026/01/16/s...
Some example academic book proposal forms in case they help
A pivotal moment in my academic career, or at least one I remember clearly, was when a very senior professor in the US sent me his book proposal for an acade...
eve.gd
January 16, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Here are 8 successful *proposals* for academic books/monographs. I am hoping that these help someone who is starting out trying to write one and wants to see what worked for me. They are provided as examples, rather than exemplars. A lot of it was just finding my own way eve.gd/2026/01/16/s...
Reposted by Michael Erard
Absolutely love the title of this Ada Lovelace Inst report into use of AI transcription in social work www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/report/scrib... and am frankly a bit jealous it didn't occur to me
Scribe and prejudice?
Exploring the use of AI transcription tools in social care
www.adalovelaceinstitute.org
February 12, 2026 at 10:56 AM
Absolutely love the title of this Ada Lovelace Inst report into use of AI transcription in social work www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/report/scrib... and am frankly a bit jealous it didn't occur to me
@restofworld.org back on its language journalism!
Google backs African push to reclaim AI language data
A new 21-language data set gives African institutions ownership and control in a field long dominated by Big Tech.
restofworld.org/2026/google-...
#language #diversity #Africa #langsky
A new 21-language data set gives African institutions ownership and control in a field long dominated by Big Tech.
restofworld.org/2026/google-...
#language #diversity #Africa #langsky
Google backs African push to reclaim AI language data
A new 21-language data set gives African institutions ownership and control in a field long dominated by Big Tech.
restofworld.org
February 12, 2026 at 10:19 AM
@restofworld.org back on its language journalism!
Reposted by Michael Erard
Absolutely fascinating piece by @elisecutts.bsky.social that should be required reading for all scientists and science journalists 👩🔬🧪 www.reviewertoo.com/pop-science-...
Pop science doesn't reach a "general audience"
Pop sci readers are wealthy, educated, and left-leaning
www.reviewertoo.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Absolutely fascinating piece by @elisecutts.bsky.social that should be required reading for all scientists and science journalists 👩🔬🧪 www.reviewertoo.com/pop-science-...
Reposted by Michael Erard
“In a performance centered on Puerto Rican culture—where Spanish powerfully challenged linguistic hierarchies on a national stage—the presence of Puerto Rican Sign Language deepened that challenge by affirming that Puerto Rican Deaf people are part of that cultural fabric.”
In light of online curiosity about the LSPR interpreters at the Super Bowl, I wanted to take the opportunity to clarify misconceptions of sign languages that I have seen circulating and to discuss why the use of LSPR was such a powerful statement
educationallinguist.wordpress.com/2026/02/11/w...
educationallinguist.wordpress.com/2026/02/11/w...
What Did Responses to Puerto Rican Sign Language at the Super Bowl Reveal About the Misconceptions People Have About Sign Languages?
In my last blog post, I briefly referenced the presence of Puerto Rican Sign Language (Lenguaje de Señas Puertorriqueño, LSPR) interpreters at the Super Bowl. At the time, my focus was on the broad…
educationallinguist.wordpress.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:39 PM
“In a performance centered on Puerto Rican culture—where Spanish powerfully challenged linguistic hierarchies on a national stage—the presence of Puerto Rican Sign Language deepened that challenge by affirming that Puerto Rican Deaf people are part of that cultural fabric.”
Reposted by Michael Erard
Gee why what were they finding
Gallup will no longer measure presidential approval after 88 years thehill.com/homenews/med...
February 11, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Gee why what were they finding