Claire
@chirila.bsky.social
Prof of linguistics. 🇦🇺/🇺🇸; Australian languages, historical linguistics, Voynich Manuscript
This was so much fun to do!
I had such a great conversation with @chirila.bsky.social about what real things we can know about a still-mysterious manuscript
A book containing puzzling drawings and a strange writing system has intrigued cryptographers, historians, linguists, and more for centuries...
In our latest bonus episode we get enthusiastic about the mysterious Voynich Manuscript with @chirila.bsky.social!
In our latest bonus episode we get enthusiastic about the mysterious Voynich Manuscript with @chirila.bsky.social!
December 6, 2025 at 7:08 PM
This was so much fun to do!
Reposted by Claire
A book containing puzzling drawings and a strange writing system has intrigued cryptographers, historians, linguists, and more for centuries...
In our latest bonus episode we get enthusiastic about the mysterious Voynich Manuscript with @chirila.bsky.social!
In our latest bonus episode we get enthusiastic about the mysterious Voynich Manuscript with @chirila.bsky.social!
Bonus 106: The Mysterious Voynich Manuscript - Interview with Claire Bowern | Lingthusiasm
Get more from Lingthusiasm on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:56 PM
A book containing puzzling drawings and a strange writing system has intrigued cryptographers, historians, linguists, and more for centuries...
In our latest bonus episode we get enthusiastic about the mysterious Voynich Manuscript with @chirila.bsky.social!
In our latest bonus episode we get enthusiastic about the mysterious Voynich Manuscript with @chirila.bsky.social!
Reposted by Claire
Check out the Voynich manuscript scans here, they're weird and interesting!
For people who just like to look at weird books, Yale's library has it all online.
collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/2002...
collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/2002...
Cipher manuscript
Voynich manuscript
collections.library.yale.edu
December 5, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Check out the Voynich manuscript scans here, they're weird and interesting!
Reposted by Claire
This was a really good episode! I never knew the Voynich manuscript was so old and interesting, and that there’s stuff linguists HAVE figured out about it
People are being significantly more excited about this Voynich manuscript episode than a typical bonus episode and it's just really fun to see!
If you've been on the fence about subscribing to the Lingthusiasm Patreon maybe this is your sign to go for it 👀
If you've been on the fence about subscribing to the Lingthusiasm Patreon maybe this is your sign to go for it 👀
A book containing puzzling drawings and a strange writing system has intrigued cryptographers, historians, linguists, and more for centuries...
In our latest bonus episode we get enthusiastic about the mysterious Voynich Manuscript with @chirila.bsky.social!
In our latest bonus episode we get enthusiastic about the mysterious Voynich Manuscript with @chirila.bsky.social!
December 6, 2025 at 5:18 AM
This was a really good episode! I never knew the Voynich manuscript was so old and interesting, and that there’s stuff linguists HAVE figured out about it
Reposted by Claire
Diachronica will be at the LSA in New Orleans! Probably won't have "official" office hours but do come and find any of the editorial team if you have questions about submitting to us!
December 3, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Diachronica will be at the LSA in New Orleans! Probably won't have "official" office hours but do come and find any of the editorial team if you have questions about submitting to us!
Reposted by Claire
Day 1 of #BooksAreMyJam!
Blueberry Maple jam, with Linguaphile: A life of language love by Julie Sedivy.
A classic Canadian flavour duo + this book about @juliesedivy.bsky.social's relationship with language through her childhood in Montreal, later research as a linguist, and more
Blueberry Maple jam, with Linguaphile: A life of language love by Julie Sedivy.
A classic Canadian flavour duo + this book about @juliesedivy.bsky.social's relationship with language through her childhood in Montreal, later research as a linguist, and more
December 1, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Day 1 of #BooksAreMyJam!
Blueberry Maple jam, with Linguaphile: A life of language love by Julie Sedivy.
A classic Canadian flavour duo + this book about @juliesedivy.bsky.social's relationship with language through her childhood in Montreal, later research as a linguist, and more
Blueberry Maple jam, with Linguaphile: A life of language love by Julie Sedivy.
A classic Canadian flavour duo + this book about @juliesedivy.bsky.social's relationship with language through her childhood in Montreal, later research as a linguist, and more
Reposted by Claire
This paper was a labor of love, scraped together from scraps of spare time over the past year. I have lots of people to thank. Of the folks I know are on Bluesky, a huge thank-you to @lisafdavis.bsky.social @chirila.bsky.social and @spinfocl.bsky.social!
November 27, 2025 at 3:42 PM
This paper was a labor of love, scraped together from scraps of spare time over the past year. I have lots of people to thank. Of the folks I know are on Bluesky, a huge thank-you to @lisafdavis.bsky.social @chirila.bsky.social and @spinfocl.bsky.social!
Reposted by Claire
In honour of our recent crossover episode with @dannybate.bsky.social of the A Language I Love Is.. podcast, tell us about a language that you love!
(Or several languages you love, I know it's hard to pick!)
(Or several languages you love, I know it's hard to pick!)
November 22, 2025 at 4:55 PM
In honour of our recent crossover episode with @dannybate.bsky.social of the A Language I Love Is.. podcast, tell us about a language that you love!
(Or several languages you love, I know it's hard to pick!)
(Or several languages you love, I know it's hard to pick!)
Reposted by Claire
I am by no means a prominent public intellectual, but my inbox is increasingly filled with messages from people who have been convinced by sycophantic chatbots that they have discovered revolutionary theories that entirely upend our scientific understanding of the universe.
November 21, 2025 at 2:49 AM
I am by no means a prominent public intellectual, but my inbox is increasingly filled with messages from people who have been convinced by sycophantic chatbots that they have discovered revolutionary theories that entirely upend our scientific understanding of the universe.
Reposted by Claire
The guest on the latest episode of Lingthusiasm is talking about all these topics I really like, and he seems to know what he's talking about
How are we still making discoveries about the 5000-year-old ancestor to English, Latin, Czech, Hindi and many other languages?
In our latest episode we get enthusiastic about figuring out Proto-Indo-European with @dannybate.bsky.social!
In our latest episode we get enthusiastic about figuring out Proto-Indo-European with @dannybate.bsky.social!
110: The history of the history of Indo-European - Interview with Danny Bate
Before there was English, or Latin, or Czech, or Hindi, there was a language that they all have in common, which we call Proto-Indo-European. Linguists have long been fascinated by the quest to get a
soundcloud.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:06 AM
The guest on the latest episode of Lingthusiasm is talking about all these topics I really like, and he seems to know what he's talking about
My wonderful friend Ruth has restarted her blog! Highly recommended
Hello again!
Re-starting this blog after nearly three years! Looking forward to talking about children's books again!
Re-starting this blog after nearly three years! Looking forward to talking about children's books again!
Stopping. Re-starting.
I last posted on this blog nearly 3 years ago, which is a long time by most considerations. Many things combined to make me stop, or prevent me from restarting in the last 3 years, but I’ve kept this blog at the back of my mind and wanted to come back to it. It was never intended to be a place to go for the latest releases in children’s literature.
booksforourchildren.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:21 PM
My wonderful friend Ruth has restarted her blog! Highly recommended
Reposted by Claire
Hello again!
Re-starting this blog after nearly three years! Looking forward to talking about children's books again!
Re-starting this blog after nearly three years! Looking forward to talking about children's books again!
Stopping. Re-starting.
I last posted on this blog nearly 3 years ago, which is a long time by most considerations. Many things combined to make me stop, or prevent me from restarting in the last 3 years, but I’ve kept this blog at the back of my mind and wanted to come back to it. It was never intended to be a place to go for the latest releases in children’s literature.
booksforourchildren.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Hello again!
Re-starting this blog after nearly three years! Looking forward to talking about children's books again!
Re-starting this blog after nearly three years! Looking forward to talking about children's books again!
Reposted by Claire
We're accepting applications for a wide range of funding opportunities, including our new two-year Archives Training Fellowship for MLIS or doctoral graduates!!
Please share with your networks, and consider applying.
www.amphilsoc.org/cnair-fundin...
Please share with your networks, and consider applying.
www.amphilsoc.org/cnair-fundin...
November 12, 2025 at 8:14 PM
We're accepting applications for a wide range of funding opportunities, including our new two-year Archives Training Fellowship for MLIS or doctoral graduates!!
Please share with your networks, and consider applying.
www.amphilsoc.org/cnair-fundin...
Please share with your networks, and consider applying.
www.amphilsoc.org/cnair-fundin...
Reposted by Claire
✨ Last Thursday's Linguistics Colloquium ✨
Thank you to Claire Bowern (Yale University) for presenting "When sound change does (and doesn't) happen". Stay tuned for the next event in our Fall series!
Next up: Athulya Aravind (Yale University), Oct 16. Don’t miss it!
Thank you to Claire Bowern (Yale University) for presenting "When sound change does (and doesn't) happen". Stay tuned for the next event in our Fall series!
Next up: Athulya Aravind (Yale University), Oct 16. Don’t miss it!
September 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
✨ Last Thursday's Linguistics Colloquium ✨
Thank you to Claire Bowern (Yale University) for presenting "When sound change does (and doesn't) happen". Stay tuned for the next event in our Fall series!
Next up: Athulya Aravind (Yale University), Oct 16. Don’t miss it!
Thank you to Claire Bowern (Yale University) for presenting "When sound change does (and doesn't) happen". Stay tuned for the next event in our Fall series!
Next up: Athulya Aravind (Yale University), Oct 16. Don’t miss it!
Reposted by Claire
New video on language learning and how to increase language exposure! Fourth in a series by the Fieldwork Group at Yale about how linguistics could support community-based language projects. Please share with anyone who might be interested.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkwm...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkwm...
Increasing language exposure: working with a linguist
How language exposure helps children and adults learn languages. Includes examples of how to increase language exposure inside and outside of the classroom t...
www.youtube.com
July 20, 2024 at 6:02 PM
New video on language learning and how to increase language exposure! Fourth in a series by the Fieldwork Group at Yale about how linguistics could support community-based language projects. Please share with anyone who might be interested.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkwm...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkwm...
Here is a remembrance of my colleague Steve Anderson, former LSA President, longtime Department Chair, and so much more: ling.yale.edu/posts/2025-1... #linguistics
Remembering Stephen Anderson
ling.yale.edu
November 9, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Here is a remembrance of my colleague Steve Anderson, former LSA President, longtime Department Chair, and so much more: ling.yale.edu/posts/2025-1... #linguistics
Reposted by Claire
It's irritating that they describe the effects of his racism as limited to causing controversy within science and reputational consequences for himself rather than giving an immeasurable boost, false veneer of legitimacy, and idiot-friendly prestige to modern scientific racism and eugenics.
James D. Watson died on Thursday in East Northport, N.Y., on Long Island. He was 97.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
James Watson, Who Helped Discover the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:42 PM
It's irritating that they describe the effects of his racism as limited to causing controversy within science and reputational consequences for himself rather than giving an immeasurable boost, false veneer of legitimacy, and idiot-friendly prestige to modern scientific racism and eugenics.
Reposted by Claire
Thinking only of Rosalind Franklin today, and what was stolen from her (and so many other female scientists alongside her).
Rosalind Franklin and the damage of gender harassment
Spurred by a recent report on sexual harassment in academia, our columnist revisits a historical case and reflects on what has changed—and what hasn’t
www.science.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Thinking only of Rosalind Franklin today, and what was stolen from her (and so many other female scientists alongside her).
Reposted by Claire
Rosalind Franklin died at 37 of ovarian cancer attributed to radiation exposure from the methods she & her assistant used to photograph a cross-section of the DNA double helix.
Meanwhile, Watson won a Nobel off that work & survived to the ripe old age of 97 by simply: stealing those notes!
Meanwhile, Watson won a Nobel off that work & survived to the ripe old age of 97 by simply: stealing those notes!
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
DNA scientist James Watson has a remarkably long history of sexist, racist public comments
“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty,” he said in 2003. “I think it would be great.”
www.vox.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Rosalind Franklin died at 37 of ovarian cancer attributed to radiation exposure from the methods she & her assistant used to photograph a cross-section of the DNA double helix.
Meanwhile, Watson won a Nobel off that work & survived to the ripe old age of 97 by simply: stealing those notes!
Meanwhile, Watson won a Nobel off that work & survived to the ripe old age of 97 by simply: stealing those notes!
Reposted by Claire
The deadline for Evolang 2026, the International Conference on the Evolution of Language, has been extended to November 3rd.
Do consider submitting, it's my favourite conference and will take place in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, the age-old "city of the seven hills"! #language #linguistics
Do consider submitting, it's my favourite conference and will take place in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, the age-old "city of the seven hills"! #language #linguistics
October 28, 2025 at 7:07 PM
The deadline for Evolang 2026, the International Conference on the Evolution of Language, has been extended to November 3rd.
Do consider submitting, it's my favourite conference and will take place in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, the age-old "city of the seven hills"! #language #linguistics
Do consider submitting, it's my favourite conference and will take place in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, the age-old "city of the seven hills"! #language #linguistics
Reposted by Claire
Out next month! So excited for the whole world in 🐦🐦 and language #revitalization to read what our authors have to share!
October 30, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Out next month! So excited for the whole world in 🐦🐦 and language #revitalization to read what our authors have to share!
Reposted by Claire
Stephen Anderson was an exceptionally clear thinker (who I have constantly, absolutely, and very productively disagreed with). There are few linguistics works that I have read as many times as his "A-Morphous Morphology", an absolute treasure
Thanks to our colleagues at Yale for this obituary
🐦🐦
Thanks to our colleagues at Yale for this obituary
🐦🐦
Remembering Stephen Anderson
ling.yale.edu
October 31, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Stephen Anderson was an exceptionally clear thinker (who I have constantly, absolutely, and very productively disagreed with). There are few linguistics works that I have read as many times as his "A-Morphous Morphology", an absolute treasure
Thanks to our colleagues at Yale for this obituary
🐦🐦
Thanks to our colleagues at Yale for this obituary
🐦🐦
Reposted by Claire
Happy Halloween from Count Noun! 🧛
October 31, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Happy Halloween from Count Noun! 🧛
Reposted by Claire
Learning about acoustic phonetics shows that normal conversation is actually an amazing process, as our brains quickly decode thousands of sound signals every time someone speaks to us.
https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/what-is-acoustic-phonetics
#Phonetics #Linguistics #Languages
https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/what-is-acoustic-phonetics
#Phonetics #Linguistics #Languages
What is Acoustic Phonetics?
Acoustic phonetics is a subfield of phonetics that studies the sound waves produced when we speak, analysing how vocal vibrations travel through the air.
aboutlinguistics.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Learning about acoustic phonetics shows that normal conversation is actually an amazing process, as our brains quickly decode thousands of sound signals every time someone speaks to us.
https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/what-is-acoustic-phonetics
#Phonetics #Linguistics #Languages
https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/what-is-acoustic-phonetics
#Phonetics #Linguistics #Languages