Frank Monaghan
@franklinguistics.bsky.social
Honorary Associate in the School of Languages and Applied Linguistics at the OU. Interested in all things language - esp. in public spaces - how it is shaped by and shapes society. LFC fans' banners a particular interest! Also green spaces and photography.
Was at a #LedbyDonkeys #Guardian event last night and reminded by the set how much their interventions rely on appropriating signifiers from the #LinguisticLandscape like HiViz jackets, signage, and formulaic language to evade barriers like security guards and police to get their massage through. 👍👏
October 1, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Was at a #LedbyDonkeys #Guardian event last night and reminded by the set how much their interventions rely on appropriating signifiers from the #LinguisticLandscape like HiViz jackets, signage, and formulaic language to evade barriers like security guards and police to get their massage through. 👍👏
A different use of the flag at today’s #StandUpToRacism rally in London. I trust this is a biblical reference rather than a nod to the rather dodgy 1970s sitcom of that name. #LinguisticLandscapes
September 13, 2025 at 12:14 PM
A different use of the flag at today’s #StandUpToRacism rally in London. I trust this is a biblical reference rather than a nod to the rather dodgy 1970s sitcom of that name. #LinguisticLandscapes
A wonderful keynote from Jackie Jia Lou reminding us - and even better modelling for us - that bringing our creativity (Poesie) to our research (Theoria) is not a paradigm shift, but a paradigm extension. #LL16
September 4, 2025 at 8:14 AM
A wonderful keynote from Jackie Jia Lou reminding us - and even better modelling for us - that bringing our creativity (Poesie) to our research (Theoria) is not a paradigm shift, but a paradigm extension. #LL16
Channeling my inner Munch last night ahead of giving a talk at #LL16 this morning! God knows what I’d be like if this wasn’t the most friendly gathering!
September 4, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Channeling my inner Munch last night ahead of giving a talk at #LL16 this morning! God knows what I’d be like if this wasn’t the most friendly gathering!
Taking a break at #LL16 to take a look at Essen Uni’s linguistic landscape. This seems very on-topic for a conference on ‘Collapse and Transformation’ (You can do it’.) Whether I’d look to religion for transformation rather than the library nearby is less obvious. And why express hope in English?!
September 3, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Taking a break at #LL16 to take a look at Essen Uni’s linguistic landscape. This seems very on-topic for a conference on ‘Collapse and Transformation’ (You can do it’.) Whether I’d look to religion for transformation rather than the library nearby is less obvious. And why express hope in English?!
‘The Triumph of Art’ procession and fayre, bringing new and old vibes to Trafalgar Square. Hip hop and Morris’s, steel pans and brass band, art, craft and joy from all over the land. All brought together by #JeremyDeller, a charming man, a prodigious feller.’
July 26, 2025 at 12:00 PM
‘The Triumph of Art’ procession and fayre, bringing new and old vibes to Trafalgar Square. Hip hop and Morris’s, steel pans and brass band, art, craft and joy from all over the land. All brought together by #JeremyDeller, a charming man, a prodigious feller.’
A bilingual sign by some steps leading down to Lake Constance. It struck me as interesting that the German tells you what the danger is (slipping), but not the potential cause, the English tells you what might cause a problem, but leaves you to infer what the danger is. #LinguisticLandscapes
July 4, 2025 at 4:27 PM
A bilingual sign by some steps leading down to Lake Constance. It struck me as interesting that the German tells you what the danger is (slipping), but not the potential cause, the English tells you what might cause a problem, but leaves you to infer what the danger is. #LinguisticLandscapes
A very interesting combination of the watermelon, symbol of Palestine, and Liverpool Football Club’s mantra ‘You’ll never walk alone’. Solidarity in the shared struggle for justice.
May 17, 2025 at 5:44 PM
A very interesting combination of the watermelon, symbol of Palestine, and Liverpool Football Club’s mantra ‘You’ll never walk alone’. Solidarity in the shared struggle for justice.
A reminder that fascists are always happy to bomb civilians: Franco then, Netanyahu now.
May 17, 2025 at 12:39 PM
A reminder that fascists are always happy to bomb civilians: Franco then, Netanyahu now.
In Runnymede, where Magna Carta enshrined the principle that kings are not above the law, came across an amazing artwork by #MarkWallinger, ‘Writ in Water’ citing Clause 39 of Magna Carta, & thought of #AbregoGarcia & al other victims of would-be King Donald. All tyrants fall. #LinguisticLandscapes
May 2, 2025 at 7:03 PM
In Runnymede, where Magna Carta enshrined the principle that kings are not above the law, came across an amazing artwork by #MarkWallinger, ‘Writ in Water’ citing Clause 39 of Magna Carta, & thought of #AbregoGarcia & al other victims of would-be King Donald. All tyrants fall. #LinguisticLandscapes
Walking in Runnymede today, home of the Magna Carta, wellspring of habeas corpus, and this memorial to JFK. Can’t help thinking how far from these ideals the US and its current president have fallen. #LinguisticLandscapes
May 2, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Walking in Runnymede today, home of the Magna Carta, wellspring of habeas corpus, and this memorial to JFK. Can’t help thinking how far from these ideals the US and its current president have fallen. #LinguisticLandscapes
How bona to varda Greenwich Maritime Museum putting this event on. Put a smile on my eek!
February 23, 2025 at 12:24 PM
How bona to varda Greenwich Maritime Museum putting this event on. Put a smile on my eek!
Hope springing eternal in the #LinguisticLandscape.
January 18, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Hope springing eternal in the #LinguisticLandscape.
I wonder how much time and effort the copywriter calculated readers might be willing to put in decoding this: only ever inverting the position of two adjacent letters, always including a vowel.
December 14, 2024 at 10:53 PM
I wonder how much time and effort the copywriter calculated readers might be willing to put in decoding this: only ever inverting the position of two adjacent letters, always including a vowel.
Lots of really interesting work at the Koestler Awards ‘No Comment’ exhibition of prisoner art at London’s SouthBank. Curated by Jeremy Deller and John Cost. Ends Dec 15 so hurry!
December 9, 2024 at 11:43 AM
Lots of really interesting work at the Koestler Awards ‘No Comment’ exhibition of prisoner art at London’s SouthBank. Curated by Jeremy Deller and John Cost. Ends Dec 15 so hurry!
Another banner from last week’s climate demo in London. Interesting how the parallel lettering sizes & layout are used to make/emphasise a connection between the climate catastrophe & the catastrophic events in Gaza & their foundation in an underlying human rights ethos. One struggle, one fight!
November 22, 2024 at 2:47 PM
Another banner from last week’s climate demo in London. Interesting how the parallel lettering sizes & layout are used to make/emphasise a connection between the climate catastrophe & the catastrophic events in Gaza & their foundation in an underlying human rights ethos. One struggle, one fight!
Interesting use of lab coat to underscore science message!
November 16, 2024 at 1:19 PM
Interesting use of lab coat to underscore science message!
Hearts may be on sleeves, but the messages are on backs!
November 16, 2024 at 1:13 PM
Hearts may be on sleeves, but the messages are on backs!
And off we go! Lots of banners linking the climate to other issues such as human rights and Palestine.
November 16, 2024 at 1:08 PM
And off we go! Lots of banners linking the climate to other issues such as human rights and Palestine.