Dr. Grace — Science Communication
@gracetalkslanguage.bsky.social
Linguist & Cog. Scientist 🧠
Linguistics PhD from U. Florida 🐊
Visiting faculty @ Bard College 🌲
Striving to make linguistics and cognitive science fun and accessible 🎉🥳
Linguistics PhD from U. Florida 🐊
Visiting faculty @ Bard College 🌲
Striving to make linguistics and cognitive science fun and accessible 🎉🥳
Day 10!
Continuing EEG fun facts, there are “neural signatures” (or, basically, brain waves that happen at different times and that are differently shaped) that suggest that we process oddities with meaning (semantics) differently than we process oddities with grammar (syntax). Pretty cool!
Continuing EEG fun facts, there are “neural signatures” (or, basically, brain waves that happen at different times and that are differently shaped) that suggest that we process oddities with meaning (semantics) differently than we process oddities with grammar (syntax). Pretty cool!
February 12, 2026 at 1:19 AM
Day 10!
Continuing EEG fun facts, there are “neural signatures” (or, basically, brain waves that happen at different times and that are differently shaped) that suggest that we process oddities with meaning (semantics) differently than we process oddities with grammar (syntax). Pretty cool!
Continuing EEG fun facts, there are “neural signatures” (or, basically, brain waves that happen at different times and that are differently shaped) that suggest that we process oddities with meaning (semantics) differently than we process oddities with grammar (syntax). Pretty cool!
In EEG, electrodes are placed all over the scalp. Electrodes placed over one part of the scalp can still pick up activity from different locations of the brain. One thing EEG CAN do well is tell us in milliseconds *when* something happens! (We call this temporal precision.) (3/3 🧵)
February 12, 2026 at 1:16 AM
In EEG, electrodes are placed all over the scalp. Electrodes placed over one part of the scalp can still pick up activity from different locations of the brain. One thing EEG CAN do well is tell us in milliseconds *when* something happens! (We call this temporal precision.) (3/3 🧵)
Actually, on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, the doctors suggested using EEG on a patient suffering from seizures, to nail down the location of those seizures. But actually, EEG actually can’t reveal the location in the brain of where things happen. (2/3 🧵)
February 12, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Actually, on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, the doctors suggested using EEG on a patient suffering from seizures, to nail down the location of those seizures. But actually, EEG actually can’t reveal the location in the brain of where things happen. (2/3 🧵)
Day 9! (Almost caught up.)
Linguists who study the brain are called psycholinguists and neurolinguists. Psycho- and neurolinguists can use a technique that measures brain waves to study how your brain responds to language. This is called electroencephalography, or EEG. (1/3 🧵)
Linguists who study the brain are called psycholinguists and neurolinguists. Psycho- and neurolinguists can use a technique that measures brain waves to study how your brain responds to language. This is called electroencephalography, or EEG. (1/3 🧵)
February 12, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Day 9! (Almost caught up.)
Linguists who study the brain are called psycholinguists and neurolinguists. Psycho- and neurolinguists can use a technique that measures brain waves to study how your brain responds to language. This is called electroencephalography, or EEG. (1/3 🧵)
Linguists who study the brain are called psycholinguists and neurolinguists. Psycho- and neurolinguists can use a technique that measures brain waves to study how your brain responds to language. This is called electroencephalography, or EEG. (1/3 🧵)
As the word unfolds, your brain narrows down which word to “select” and can rule out the competing candidates. (2/2 🧵)
February 11, 2026 at 7:03 PM
As the word unfolds, your brain narrows down which word to “select” and can rule out the competing candidates. (2/2 🧵)
Day 8! (Catching up from a busy couple days!)
When you first hear a word begin to be a spoken, your brain has lots of other words activated at the same time, based on the commonalities in sound between all the words (1/2 🧵)
When you first hear a word begin to be a spoken, your brain has lots of other words activated at the same time, based on the commonalities in sound between all the words (1/2 🧵)
February 11, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Day 8! (Catching up from a busy couple days!)
When you first hear a word begin to be a spoken, your brain has lots of other words activated at the same time, based on the commonalities in sound between all the words (1/2 🧵)
When you first hear a word begin to be a spoken, your brain has lots of other words activated at the same time, based on the commonalities in sound between all the words (1/2 🧵)
In a bilingual environment, a baby will be able to hear the distinct sounds in both languages, even after this six month mark! For example, a baby consistently exposed to both English and Spanish will be able to hear and perceive the distinct sounds of both languages.
February 8, 2026 at 1:19 PM
In a bilingual environment, a baby will be able to hear the distinct sounds in both languages, even after this six month mark! For example, a baby consistently exposed to both English and Spanish will be able to hear and perceive the distinct sounds of both languages.
Day 7! (Just a touch late.)
Did you know that babies can distinguish sounds in all languages until about 6 months to 1 year of age? Then, they begin to show preference towards their native language.
Did you know that babies can distinguish sounds in all languages until about 6 months to 1 year of age? Then, they begin to show preference towards their native language.
February 8, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Day 7! (Just a touch late.)
Did you know that babies can distinguish sounds in all languages until about 6 months to 1 year of age? Then, they begin to show preference towards their native language.
Did you know that babies can distinguish sounds in all languages until about 6 months to 1 year of age? Then, they begin to show preference towards their native language.
Day 6! (A little late!)
Day 6 fun fact is that we develop sensitivity to sound even before we’re born — we begin to develop sensitivity to rhythm (what linguists call “prosodic patterns”) in utero!
Day 6 fun fact is that we develop sensitivity to sound even before we’re born — we begin to develop sensitivity to rhythm (what linguists call “prosodic patterns”) in utero!
February 8, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Day 6! (A little late!)
Day 6 fun fact is that we develop sensitivity to sound even before we’re born — we begin to develop sensitivity to rhythm (what linguists call “prosodic patterns”) in utero!
Day 6 fun fact is that we develop sensitivity to sound even before we’re born — we begin to develop sensitivity to rhythm (what linguists call “prosodic patterns”) in utero!
Reposted by Dr. Grace — Science Communication
For another example, if we speak a Romance language like Spanish or French, if we hear the article “la” we’re unconsciously predicting that a “feminine” noun will come next! (3/3 🧵)
February 6, 2026 at 3:47 AM
For another example, if we speak a Romance language like Spanish or French, if we hear the article “la” we’re unconsciously predicting that a “feminine” noun will come next! (3/3 🧵)
For example, for English speakers, if we hear a sentence like “I love dogs”, as soon as we hear the word “love” we’re unconsciously predicting that a noun will come next (the object of “love”, or what we love), based on what we know about English grammar! (2/3 🧵)
February 6, 2026 at 3:46 AM
For example, for English speakers, if we hear a sentence like “I love dogs”, as soon as we hear the word “love” we’re unconsciously predicting that a noun will come next (the object of “love”, or what we love), based on what we know about English grammar! (2/3 🧵)
Day 5! Give it up for day five!
Keeping on with the theme of the past few days, while we’re processing language, we’re also generating predictions about what comes next! (1/3 🧵)
Keeping on with the theme of the past few days, while we’re processing language, we’re also generating predictions about what comes next! (1/3 🧵)
February 6, 2026 at 3:45 AM
Day 5! Give it up for day five!
Keeping on with the theme of the past few days, while we’re processing language, we’re also generating predictions about what comes next! (1/3 🧵)
Keeping on with the theme of the past few days, while we’re processing language, we’re also generating predictions about what comes next! (1/3 🧵)
In the sentence “I like dancing” we’re taking in everything while we’re processing that sentence, from the “l” sound in the word “like”, all the way up the word’s meanings, and the grammar or “syntax” of the sentence! (2/2 🧵)
February 5, 2026 at 4:51 AM
In the sentence “I like dancing” we’re taking in everything while we’re processing that sentence, from the “l” sound in the word “like”, all the way up the word’s meanings, and the grammar or “syntax” of the sentence! (2/2 🧵)
Day 4!
Continuing on in the theme of yesterday’s fun fact, when we process language, we process it “incrementally” ! Take the sentence “I like dancing.” (1/2 🧵)
Continuing on in the theme of yesterday’s fun fact, when we process language, we process it “incrementally” ! Take the sentence “I like dancing.” (1/2 🧵)
February 5, 2026 at 4:49 AM
Day 4!
Continuing on in the theme of yesterday’s fun fact, when we process language, we process it “incrementally” ! Take the sentence “I like dancing.” (1/2 🧵)
Continuing on in the theme of yesterday’s fun fact, when we process language, we process it “incrementally” ! Take the sentence “I like dancing.” (1/2 🧵)
Day 3!
Today’s fun fact is that we process language in a millisecond-by-millsecond fashion! I’m including a video to illustrate JUST how fast that is — it took me 23 milliseconds just to start and stop my stopwatch!
Today’s fun fact is that we process language in a millisecond-by-millsecond fashion! I’m including a video to illustrate JUST how fast that is — it took me 23 milliseconds just to start and stop my stopwatch!
February 4, 2026 at 1:51 AM
Day 3!
Today’s fun fact is that we process language in a millisecond-by-millsecond fashion! I’m including a video to illustrate JUST how fast that is — it took me 23 milliseconds just to start and stop my stopwatch!
Today’s fun fact is that we process language in a millisecond-by-millsecond fashion! I’m including a video to illustrate JUST how fast that is — it took me 23 milliseconds just to start and stop my stopwatch!
I went to repeat the phrase I had just said in Danish (“jeg skal afleverer telefonen” or similar), into English, and I said “I'm going to turn in my cell phone," which would more or less be the direct translation of what I had said in Danish. And, I forgot how to say “return” in English! (3/3 🧵)
February 2, 2026 at 11:21 PM
I went to repeat the phrase I had just said in Danish (“jeg skal afleverer telefonen” or similar), into English, and I said “I'm going to turn in my cell phone," which would more or less be the direct translation of what I had said in Danish. And, I forgot how to say “return” in English! (3/3 🧵)
An example: the Danish verb "to return" is "at aflevere." The direct translation however, means "to turn in” or “deliver”. One day, after about a year of living in Denmark and speaking Danish every day, I was returning a cellphone I had been borrowing for a while. (2/3 🧵)
February 2, 2026 at 11:16 PM
An example: the Danish verb "to return" is "at aflevere." The direct translation however, means "to turn in” or “deliver”. One day, after about a year of living in Denmark and speaking Danish every day, I was returning a cellphone I had been borrowing for a while. (2/3 🧵)
It’s Day 2!
Did you know that you can technically “lose” or forget parts of your first language? Well, it’s a bit more complicated than that. For example, if you spend a lot of time speaking your second language, you might become more proficient in your second language than your first! (1/3 🧵)
Did you know that you can technically “lose” or forget parts of your first language? Well, it’s a bit more complicated than that. For example, if you spend a lot of time speaking your second language, you might become more proficient in your second language than your first! (1/3 🧵)
February 2, 2026 at 11:13 PM
It’s Day 2!
Did you know that you can technically “lose” or forget parts of your first language? Well, it’s a bit more complicated than that. For example, if you spend a lot of time speaking your second language, you might become more proficient in your second language than your first! (1/3 🧵)
Did you know that you can technically “lose” or forget parts of your first language? Well, it’s a bit more complicated than that. For example, if you spend a lot of time speaking your second language, you might become more proficient in your second language than your first! (1/3 🧵)
To some this might sound obvious, but there is an entire (sub)field of study that is dedicated to studying how people learn and process second or more languages, called Second Language Acquisition. This would have blown my mind ten years ago! (2/2 🧵)
February 2, 2026 at 3:30 AM
To some this might sound obvious, but there is an entire (sub)field of study that is dedicated to studying how people learn and process second or more languages, called Second Language Acquisition. This would have blown my mind ten years ago! (2/2 🧵)
It’s February 1st, which means it’s Fun Fact February! Every day this month, I’m sharing a new fun fact about second language acquisition/language processing.
Today’s fun fact… (1/2 🧵)
Today’s fun fact… (1/2 🧵)
February 2, 2026 at 3:29 AM
It’s February 1st, which means it’s Fun Fact February! Every day this month, I’m sharing a new fun fact about second language acquisition/language processing.
Today’s fun fact… (1/2 🧵)
Today’s fun fact… (1/2 🧵)
Check out my new Substack post, breaking down the difference between our mind and our brain! open.substack.com/pub/gracetal...
The mind vs. the brain 🧠
Is there a difference?
open.substack.com
August 8, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Check out my new Substack post, breaking down the difference between our mind and our brain! open.substack.com/pub/gracetal...
How does bilingualism impact our mind and our brain? Check out my new Substack post!
In short, when we speak multiple languages, they’re all “active” at the same time. Our brain performs a constant “juggling act” when we speak multiple languages!
substack.com/@gracetalksl...
In short, when we speak multiple languages, they’re all “active” at the same time. Our brain performs a constant “juggling act” when we speak multiple languages!
substack.com/@gracetalksl...
How does bilingualism impact the mind and brain?
In my last post, I wrote about how difficult it can be to define bilingualism – there are many, many factors that affect the bilingual experience (aptly named, as even more to point, no one person exp...
substack.com
June 27, 2025 at 7:13 PM
How does bilingualism impact our mind and our brain? Check out my new Substack post!
In short, when we speak multiple languages, they’re all “active” at the same time. Our brain performs a constant “juggling act” when we speak multiple languages!
substack.com/@gracetalksl...
In short, when we speak multiple languages, they’re all “active” at the same time. Our brain performs a constant “juggling act” when we speak multiple languages!
substack.com/@gracetalksl...
How do you define bilingualism — or can we define it? After struggling a bit to figure out how I want my SciComm endeavors to take shape after IG, I’ve taken to Substack. Check out my two most recent posts and share widely to non-linguists!
substack.com/@gracetalksl...
substack.com/@gracetalksl...
Defining bilingualism (?)
One summer when I taught a Second Language Acquisition class, I asked my students if they considered themselves to be bilingual.
substack.com
June 10, 2025 at 11:13 PM
How do you define bilingualism — or can we define it? After struggling a bit to figure out how I want my SciComm endeavors to take shape after IG, I’ve taken to Substack. Check out my two most recent posts and share widely to non-linguists!
substack.com/@gracetalksl...
substack.com/@gracetalksl...
On IG I relied a lot on Canva and photo carousels, but with BlueSky’s four photo limit, I might need to adjust some things. But here are some remnants I still have from my IG account.
March 19, 2025 at 7:09 PM
On IG I relied a lot on Canva and photo carousels, but with BlueSky’s four photo limit, I might need to adjust some things. But here are some remnants I still have from my IG account.