Dr Danny Bate
@dannybate.bsky.social
"That etymology guy". Linguist, broadcaster (formerly on Czech Radio), writer, researcher, language fanatic. Get 'Why Q Needs U' here: https://geni.us/WhyQNeedsU. Host of ALILI podcast. Website: https://dannybate.com/. Inquiries: [email protected]
Leeds has made my day (as Leeds tends to), with twenty-two copies of 'Why Q Needs U' stocked and signed in their welcoming Waterstones – a personal record!
November 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Leeds has made my day (as Leeds tends to), with twenty-two copies of 'Why Q Needs U' stocked and signed in their welcoming Waterstones – a personal record!
My book is £9.65 on Amazon UK over the next week in a 'Black Friday Week Sale', despite Black Friday being a shopping-binge day that follows another country's national holiday
Anyway, my book is available for cheaper, it's a decent book, and you may like to own it
www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Needs-hi...
Anyway, my book is available for cheaper, it's a decent book, and you may like to own it
www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Needs-hi...
November 20, 2025 at 4:37 PM
My book is £9.65 on Amazon UK over the next week in a 'Black Friday Week Sale', despite Black Friday being a shopping-binge day that follows another country's national holiday
Anyway, my book is available for cheaper, it's a decent book, and you may like to own it
www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Needs-hi...
Anyway, my book is available for cheaper, it's a decent book, and you may like to own it
www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Needs-hi...
"cantiori hic iacit venedotis cive fuit [c]onsobrino ma[g]li magistrati"
('Cantiori here lies, of Gwynedd a citizen he was, a cousin of Maglus the magistrate')
Still fascinated by the 6th-cent. Cantiorix Inscription, from sub-Roman north Wales, bearing the first mention of the Kingdom of Gwynedd.
('Cantiori here lies, of Gwynedd a citizen he was, a cousin of Maglus the magistrate')
Still fascinated by the 6th-cent. Cantiorix Inscription, from sub-Roman north Wales, bearing the first mention of the Kingdom of Gwynedd.
November 18, 2025 at 8:28 PM
"cantiori hic iacit venedotis cive fuit [c]onsobrino ma[g]li magistrati"
('Cantiori here lies, of Gwynedd a citizen he was, a cousin of Maglus the magistrate')
Still fascinated by the 6th-cent. Cantiorix Inscription, from sub-Roman north Wales, bearing the first mention of the Kingdom of Gwynedd.
('Cantiori here lies, of Gwynedd a citizen he was, a cousin of Maglus the magistrate')
Still fascinated by the 6th-cent. Cantiorix Inscription, from sub-Roman north Wales, bearing the first mention of the Kingdom of Gwynedd.
Since today is Saint Martin's Day, here's a humble image of the popular saint that I recently encountered on Veliki Brijun, Croatia. Carved for a church in Senj c. 1330, it has "Sveti Marъtinъ" written in Glagolitic letters around the saint's head – part of Croatia's long tradition of Glagolitic.
November 11, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Since today is Saint Martin's Day, here's a humble image of the popular saint that I recently encountered on Veliki Brijun, Croatia. Carved for a church in Senj c. 1330, it has "Sveti Marъtinъ" written in Glagolitic letters around the saint's head – part of Croatia's long tradition of Glagolitic.
Apparently the book's headed even further south than the main research station, to the Sky Blu forward operating station. Wikipedia says it has a population of "up to 6".
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Blu...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Blu...
November 10, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Apparently the book's headed even further south than the main research station, to the Sky Blu forward operating station. Wikipedia says it has a population of "up to 6".
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Blu...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Blu...
It's not unusual in our modern world for a book to be found on more than one continent. Mine has joined a more exclusive intercontinental club, though, now that there's a copy in the library of the UK Research Station in Antarctica!
November 10, 2025 at 11:06 AM
It's not unusual in our modern world for a book to be found on more than one continent. Mine has joined a more exclusive intercontinental club, though, now that there's a copy in the library of the UK Research Station in Antarctica!
November 5, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Remember today that some ghosts may just be trying to speak to you in Latin.
October 31, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Remember today that some ghosts may just be trying to speak to you in Latin.
Just released a special episode of ALILI, which for the first time is a solo show.
My publishers offered me a chapter of the audiobook of 'Why Q Needs U' to share, and so this episode is Chapter A (from Egypt to Greece) in its entirety. The narrator is me.
pod.link/1703401848/e...
My publishers offered me a chapter of the audiobook of 'Why Q Needs U' to share, and so this episode is Chapter A (from Egypt to Greece) in its entirety. The narrator is me.
pod.link/1703401848/e...
October 30, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Just released a special episode of ALILI, which for the first time is a solo show.
My publishers offered me a chapter of the audiobook of 'Why Q Needs U' to share, and so this episode is Chapter A (from Egypt to Greece) in its entirety. The narrator is me.
pod.link/1703401848/e...
My publishers offered me a chapter of the audiobook of 'Why Q Needs U' to share, and so this episode is Chapter A (from Egypt to Greece) in its entirety. The narrator is me.
pod.link/1703401848/e...
It's just two words, but a personal favourite find in a medieval manuscript is this signature of Anne, a princess of Kievan Rus and Queen (Regent) of France.
Written on a 1063 charter, it reads "АНА РЪИНА" ('ana rъina' ~ 'Anne Queen'). The language is Old French, but the script is Cyrillic!
Written on a 1063 charter, it reads "АНА РЪИНА" ('ana rъina' ~ 'Anne Queen'). The language is Old French, but the script is Cyrillic!
October 28, 2025 at 8:20 PM
It's just two words, but a personal favourite find in a medieval manuscript is this signature of Anne, a princess of Kievan Rus and Queen (Regent) of France.
Written on a 1063 charter, it reads "АНА РЪИНА" ('ana rъina' ~ 'Anne Queen'). The language is Old French, but the script is Cyrillic!
Written on a 1063 charter, it reads "АНА РЪИНА" ('ana rъina' ~ 'Anne Queen'). The language is Old French, but the script is Cyrillic!
Individual copies have also been transported to Brazil (pictured), Canada, Chile, Croatia (pictured), Poland and the US so far, and I'm keen to made a global map to plot the appearances
October 27, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Individual copies have also been transported to Brazil (pictured), Canada, Chile, Croatia (pictured), Poland and the US so far, and I'm keen to made a global map to plot the appearances
It's a lovely episode; Aidan speaks so nicely, and graciously fields my personal questions about how ASL syntax works. All listens and shares very much appreciated!
Here's a clip from the final segment, in which Aidan makes a profound point about sign language, deaf children and worried parents.
Here's a clip from the final segment, in which Aidan makes a profound point about sign language, deaf children and worried parents.
October 21, 2025 at 4:44 PM
It's a lovely episode; Aidan speaks so nicely, and graciously fields my personal questions about how ASL syntax works. All listens and shares very much appreciated!
Here's a clip from the final segment, in which Aidan makes a profound point about sign language, deaf children and worried parents.
Here's a clip from the final segment, in which Aidan makes a profound point about sign language, deaf children and worried parents.
Released a new ALILI episode yesterday, about the show's first sign language!
ASL is the beloved language of Aidan Elliott-McCrea (the linguist behind @wordfamilyfriday.bsky.social), and he gave me both a great intro to ASL and heartfelt social messages too. Listen here:
pod.link/1703401848/e...
ASL is the beloved language of Aidan Elliott-McCrea (the linguist behind @wordfamilyfriday.bsky.social), and he gave me both a great intro to ASL and heartfelt social messages too. Listen here:
pod.link/1703401848/e...
October 21, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Released a new ALILI episode yesterday, about the show's first sign language!
ASL is the beloved language of Aidan Elliott-McCrea (the linguist behind @wordfamilyfriday.bsky.social), and he gave me both a great intro to ASL and heartfelt social messages too. Listen here:
pod.link/1703401848/e...
ASL is the beloved language of Aidan Elliott-McCrea (the linguist behind @wordfamilyfriday.bsky.social), and he gave me both a great intro to ASL and heartfelt social messages too. Listen here:
pod.link/1703401848/e...
My interview with @grammargirl.bsky.social was released yesterday, and I'm pretty chuffed that they created some snippets to share. Here's me retelling how the whole alphabet got started – in book terms, the first part of the first chapter (Chapter A) of 'Why Q Needs U'!
pod.link/grammargirl/...
pod.link/grammargirl/...
October 17, 2025 at 10:56 AM
My interview with @grammargirl.bsky.social was released yesterday, and I'm pretty chuffed that they created some snippets to share. Here's me retelling how the whole alphabet got started – in book terms, the first part of the first chapter (Chapter A) of 'Why Q Needs U'!
pod.link/grammargirl/...
pod.link/grammargirl/...
My friends are unfailing sources of support for me.
October 12, 2025 at 5:20 PM
My friends are unfailing sources of support for me.
I gave my book a little christening in London yesterday, in the presence of an assortment of friends, nearly all strangers to one another, yet united in loveliness and generosity. I can safely say I derived more joy in being the nexus for their conversations than in the whole book thing.
October 9, 2025 at 8:38 AM
I gave my book a little christening in London yesterday, in the presence of an assortment of friends, nearly all strangers to one another, yet united in loveliness and generosity. I can safely say I derived more joy in being the nexus for their conversations than in the whole book thing.
Just made a special trip to Cambridge Waterstones to see if their review of my book is in fact real. It is. Had I been able to identify the reviewer, I would've bought them a drink.
October 8, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Just made a special trip to Cambridge Waterstones to see if their review of my book is in fact real. It is. Had I been able to identify the reviewer, I would've bought them a drink.
20+ hours in a hot recording booth (air conditioning would get picked up by the mic) all totally worth it – my excruciatingly English reading of the 'Why Q Needs U' audiobook is now out!
October 6, 2025 at 6:07 PM
20+ hours in a hot recording booth (air conditioning would get picked up by the mic) all totally worth it – my excruciatingly English reading of the 'Why Q Needs U' audiobook is now out!
Located on two different floors of Foyles, and by the entrance and with its own table in Waterstones Piccadilly – a good central London spread for a book that isn't even out yet.
October 1, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Located on two different floors of Foyles, and by the entrance and with its own table in Waterstones Piccadilly – a good central London spread for a book that isn't even out yet.
I now believe it's real.
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
I now believe it's real.
I just met my own book. We're getting on very well.
October 1, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I just met my own book. We're getting on very well.
One day to go, and my little countdown arrives at the head of the alphabet: A. This chapter of 'Why Q Needs U' takes the reader right back to the earliest days of the alphabet and to Egypt, before setting off along the Mediterranean coastline to Greece.
geni.us/WhyQNeedsU
geni.us/WhyQNeedsU
October 1, 2025 at 2:48 PM
One day to go, and my little countdown arrives at the head of the alphabet: A. This chapter of 'Why Q Needs U' takes the reader right back to the earliest days of the alphabet and to Egypt, before setting off along the Mediterranean coastline to Greece.
geni.us/WhyQNeedsU
geni.us/WhyQNeedsU
Two days now, and that means the alphabet's second-in-command: the letter B.
Chapter B of the book sticks with the Greeks, and tackles the question of why they settled on the left-to-right direction of writing that English still uses. It may have had a psychological cause!
geni.us/WhyQNeedsU
Chapter B of the book sticks with the Greeks, and tackles the question of why they settled on the left-to-right direction of writing that English still uses. It may have had a psychological cause!
geni.us/WhyQNeedsU
September 30, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Two days now, and that means the alphabet's second-in-command: the letter B.
Chapter B of the book sticks with the Greeks, and tackles the question of why they settled on the left-to-right direction of writing that English still uses. It may have had a psychological cause!
geni.us/WhyQNeedsU
Chapter B of the book sticks with the Greeks, and tackles the question of why they settled on the left-to-right direction of writing that English still uses. It may have had a psychological cause!
geni.us/WhyQNeedsU
In the introduction, I allude to the short-lived Free Territory of Trieste (1947-54), which seems to be gone but not forgotten:
September 30, 2025 at 9:03 AM
In the introduction, I allude to the short-lived Free Territory of Trieste (1947-54), which seems to be gone but not forgotten: