David Adger
@davidadger.bsky.social
syntax and other stuff, mainly more linguistics and cogsci but occasional queerness, poetry, cats and @ans.bsky.social 🏳️🌈
Reposted by David Adger
‘More than ever before, we need British diplomats, spies and soldiers to speak the language of our adversaries.’
Stark piece from a former diplomat on how loss of language learning hits our defence & geopolitical capabilities
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/proc... @timeshighered.bsky.social
Stark piece from a former diplomat on how loss of language learning hits our defence & geopolitical capabilities
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/proc... @timeshighered.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 8:54 AM
‘More than ever before, we need British diplomats, spies and soldiers to speak the language of our adversaries.’
Stark piece from a former diplomat on how loss of language learning hits our defence & geopolitical capabilities
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/proc... @timeshighered.bsky.social
Stark piece from a former diplomat on how loss of language learning hits our defence & geopolitical capabilities
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/proc... @timeshighered.bsky.social
Reposted by David Adger
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Please sign and share EVERYWHERE 🙏
Please sign and share EVERYWHERE 🙏
November 24, 2025 at 1:45 PM
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Please sign and share EVERYWHERE 🙏
Please sign and share EVERYWHERE 🙏
Reposted by David Adger
Net migration fell sharply agaim to 204,000 in the year to June 2025, having been 344k in 2024 and 848k in 2023. But falling immigration has been the biggest secret - and it is time for the media and political debate to catch up with this change
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...
UK net migration fell to 204,000 in year to June - live updates
Net migration, the difference between those entering and leaving the country, was 345,000 in 2024 according to revised figures.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Net migration fell sharply agaim to 204,000 in the year to June 2025, having been 344k in 2024 and 848k in 2023. But falling immigration has been the biggest secret - and it is time for the media and political debate to catch up with this change
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...
I'm not usually a fan of THES, but this piece is spot on. @britishacademy.bsky.social has been making this argument for a long time, but the government seems uninterested in the loss of languages in UKHE www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/proc...
The procession of university language closures will trip up UK diplomacy
The government needs to signal its demand for elite foreign language skills before more universities leave provision to inferior alternatives, says Ian Proud
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:46 AM
I'm not usually a fan of THES, but this piece is spot on. @britishacademy.bsky.social has been making this argument for a long time, but the government seems uninterested in the loss of languages in UKHE www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/proc...
@ans.bsky.social's running the Spine (268 miles up the Pennine Way in January!) and raising money for Oracle Head and Neck Cancer. If you can chuck in a bob or two to support, that would be marvelous! www.justgiving.com/page/anson-m...
Anson's fundraiser for Oracle Head and Neck Cancer UK
Help Anson Mackay raise money to support Oracle Head and Neck Cancer
www.justgiving.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:46 AM
@ans.bsky.social's running the Spine (268 miles up the Pennine Way in January!) and raising money for Oracle Head and Neck Cancer. If you can chuck in a bob or two to support, that would be marvelous! www.justgiving.com/page/anson-m...
Reposted by David Adger
Happy World Linguistics Day! Celebratory days take off when groups of people decide to make them happen so... let's see how many different locations we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!
November 26, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Happy World Linguistics Day! Celebratory days take off when groups of people decide to make them happen so... let's see how many different locations we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!
Reposted by David Adger
‘Get someone from Linguistics down here!’
Happy World Linguistics Day!
Happy World Linguistics Day!
November 26, 2025 at 7:33 AM
‘Get someone from Linguistics down here!’
Happy World Linguistics Day!
Happy World Linguistics Day!
Reposted by David Adger
At last! Open Access version of the book on MIT's site. One for the syntax nerds. I argue we need to replace Merge, that there are no Phases, and that we need to rethink the basic theoretical typology of Islands. Feel free to download with abandon! 🐦🐦 #syntax direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...
Mereological Syntax: Phrase Structure, Cyclicity, and Islands
An argument for replacing Chomsky’s set-theoretic Merge view of syntax with a theory of syntax based on mereological objects.Mereology is the study of part
direct.mit.edu
November 23, 2025 at 1:51 PM
At last! Open Access version of the book on MIT's site. One for the syntax nerds. I argue we need to replace Merge, that there are no Phases, and that we need to rethink the basic theoretical typology of Islands. Feel free to download with abandon! 🐦🐦 #syntax direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...
Reposted by David Adger
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Just complained to the BBC about their censoring of @rutgerbregman.com's Reith Lecture, where they removed a line about Trump being the most openly corrupt president in US history. I know they are in a difficult spot, but this is pure cowardice. www.bbc.co.uk/contact/comp...
Complaints | Contact the BBC
These pages have information about how to complain to the BBC, with links to the BBC’s Complaints Framework, the BBC’s regulator Ofcom and regular reports about complaints. If you would like to unders...
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Just complained to the BBC about their censoring of @rutgerbregman.com's Reith Lecture, where they removed a line about Trump being the most openly corrupt president in US history. I know they are in a difficult spot, but this is pure cowardice. www.bbc.co.uk/contact/comp...
Reposted by David Adger
@davidadger.bsky.social's "Mereological Syntax" presents an argument for replacing Chomsky’s set-theoretic Merge view of syntax with a theory of syntax based on mereological objects. Available #OpenAccess: mitpress.mit.edu/978026255327...
November 18, 2025 at 2:16 PM
@davidadger.bsky.social's "Mereological Syntax" presents an argument for replacing Chomsky’s set-theoretic Merge view of syntax with a theory of syntax based on mereological objects. Available #OpenAccess: mitpress.mit.edu/978026255327...
Reposted by David Adger
Did you ever racially abuse fellow pupils?
It was years ago.
Did you ever racially abuse fellow pupils?
Not in a hurtful way.
Did you ever racially abuse fellow pupils?
Not with intent.
Did you ever racially abuse fellow pupils?
Not genuine abuse.
😮🫣😬😱 ~AA
It was years ago.
Did you ever racially abuse fellow pupils?
Not in a hurtful way.
Did you ever racially abuse fellow pupils?
Not with intent.
Did you ever racially abuse fellow pupils?
Not genuine abuse.
😮🫣😬😱 ~AA
November 24, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Did you ever racially abuse fellow pupils?
It was years ago.
Did you ever racially abuse fellow pupils?
Not in a hurtful way.
Did you ever racially abuse fellow pupils?
Not with intent.
Did you ever racially abuse fellow pupils?
Not genuine abuse.
😮🫣😬😱 ~AA
It was years ago.
Did you ever racially abuse fellow pupils?
Not in a hurtful way.
Did you ever racially abuse fellow pupils?
Not with intent.
Did you ever racially abuse fellow pupils?
Not genuine abuse.
😮🫣😬😱 ~AA
Reposted by David Adger
'Ahead of the autumn budget on 26 November, Universities UK (UUK) has calculated that funding per student for teaching in 2025-26 is at 64 per cent of the level it was in 2015-16.' 1/3
University teaching income ‘£6.4 billon less’ than 10 years ago
UUK says shortfall in teaching money is ‘baked in’ to higher education funding system as institutions brace for new tax in upcoming budget
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:45 AM
'Ahead of the autumn budget on 26 November, Universities UK (UUK) has calculated that funding per student for teaching in 2025-26 is at 64 per cent of the level it was in 2015-16.' 1/3
really interesting and novel point by @ryannefdt.bsky.social and Emmanuel Chemla: current LLMs have been specialized via evaluation and selection, so are by no means 'off the shelf' learners: their biases have been specifically tailored for language processing. arxiv.org/pdf/2408.09544
arxiv.org
November 24, 2025 at 7:34 AM
really interesting and novel point by @ryannefdt.bsky.social and Emmanuel Chemla: current LLMs have been specialized via evaluation and selection, so are by no means 'off the shelf' learners: their biases have been specifically tailored for language processing. arxiv.org/pdf/2408.09544
Reposted by David Adger
At last! Open Access version of the book on MIT's site. One for the syntax nerds. I argue we need to replace Merge, that there are no Phases, and that we need to rethink the basic theoretical typology of Islands. Feel free to download with abandon! 🐦🐦 #syntax direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...
Mereological Syntax: Phrase Structure, Cyclicity, and Islands
An argument for replacing Chomsky’s set-theoretic Merge view of syntax with a theory of syntax based on mereological objects.Mereology is the study of part
direct.mit.edu
November 23, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Reposted by David Adger
Banksy social commentary brought to you by conditional (counterfactual!) strengthening
November 23, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Banksy social commentary brought to you by conditional (counterfactual!) strengthening
Reposted by David Adger
Oops. Ooooooooooooops.
I do hope that nobody has been given or denied a job/promotion based on their SpringerNature citation counts in the past 15 years.
arxiv.org/pdf/2511.01675
h/t @nathlarigaldie.bsky.social
I do hope that nobody has been given or denied a job/promotion based on their SpringerNature citation counts in the past 15 years.
arxiv.org/pdf/2511.01675
h/t @nathlarigaldie.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Oops. Ooooooooooooops.
I do hope that nobody has been given or denied a job/promotion based on their SpringerNature citation counts in the past 15 years.
arxiv.org/pdf/2511.01675
h/t @nathlarigaldie.bsky.social
I do hope that nobody has been given or denied a job/promotion based on their SpringerNature citation counts in the past 15 years.
arxiv.org/pdf/2511.01675
h/t @nathlarigaldie.bsky.social
At last! Open Access version of the book on MIT's site. One for the syntax nerds. I argue we need to replace Merge, that there are no Phases, and that we need to rethink the basic theoretical typology of Islands. Feel free to download with abandon! 🐦🐦 #syntax direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...
Mereological Syntax: Phrase Structure, Cyclicity, and Islands
An argument for replacing Chomsky’s set-theoretic Merge view of syntax with a theory of syntax based on mereological objects.Mereology is the study of part
direct.mit.edu
November 23, 2025 at 1:51 PM
At last! Open Access version of the book on MIT's site. One for the syntax nerds. I argue we need to replace Merge, that there are no Phases, and that we need to rethink the basic theoretical typology of Islands. Feel free to download with abandon! 🐦🐦 #syntax direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...
Reposted by David Adger
NEW: If you have *any* interest in the Nathan Gill story, you need to look at this.
We’ve put all the dates into a timeline & it’s incredibly revealing.
1/
www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...
We’ve put all the dates into a timeline & it’s incredibly revealing.
1/
www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...
Reform UK and Russian bribes: a Nathan Gill timeline
As Reform’s former leader in Wales is sentenced to ten and a half years for taking bribes from a pro-Russian actor, here's a chronology of his actions and the wider context of Putin, Ukraine and Brexi...
www.thenerve.news
November 22, 2025 at 1:55 PM
NEW: If you have *any* interest in the Nathan Gill story, you need to look at this.
We’ve put all the dates into a timeline & it’s incredibly revealing.
1/
www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...
We’ve put all the dates into a timeline & it’s incredibly revealing.
1/
www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...
“If you went back a million minutes, you would be back to January 2024. If you go back a billion minutes, you are in the Roman empire. That’s the difference between a million and a billion.”
"You can agree or disagree with him, but Polanski does not pretend to be something he is not.
He is unusually willing for a politician to give a straight answer to questions.
Does he want to rejoin the EU? “Yes."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
He is unusually willing for a politician to give a straight answer to questions.
Does he want to rejoin the EU? “Yes."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Zack Polanski: ‘People will have to find some other way to hurt me’ | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 4:21 PM
“If you went back a million minutes, you would be back to January 2024. If you go back a billion minutes, you are in the Roman empire. That’s the difference between a million and a billion.”
Reposted by David Adger
I don't use the word lightly, but this is really just evil isn't it. "Your identity makes us uncomfortable so be gone from public spaces." Fuck off.
I mean come on: we'll ask but reserve right to exclude you on the basis of how you look. Oh, and if you try to use your birth sex specific facilities we'll kick you out of those as well.
Get fucked.
Get fucked.
November 20, 2025 at 12:08 AM
I don't use the word lightly, but this is really just evil isn't it. "Your identity makes us uncomfortable so be gone from public spaces." Fuck off.
Reposted by David Adger
Advances in genomics are giving exciting new perspectives on biology of speech, language & reading. My latest peer-reviewed paper is a tutorial, guiding readers from different backgrounds through the history of the field, current state-of-the-art, & where we’re heading. A taster in this thread.🧪
1/n
1/n
Genomic Investigations of Spoken and Written Language Abilities: A Guide to Advances in Approaches, Technologies, and Discovery
Purpose: The aim of this tutorial is to show how the rise of molecular technologies
and analytical methods in human genetics yields exciting new ...
pubs.asha.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Advances in genomics are giving exciting new perspectives on biology of speech, language & reading. My latest peer-reviewed paper is a tutorial, guiding readers from different backgrounds through the history of the field, current state-of-the-art, & where we’re heading. A taster in this thread.🧪
1/n
1/n
Reposted by David Adger
Referring the Home Office to Prevent as it's clearly a radicalising group with an extremist far-right agenda.
Mahmood understandably attracting flak for hypocrisy, I think it also demonstrates the toxic culture of the Home Office. Minister after Minister goes into that job and in short order becomes radicalised. They are clearly quickly infected by HO anti-immigrant groupthink. Dismantle the Home Office.
"... it goes after those of us who look like we could be immigrants. We have talked a lot about illegal immigration sitting at the heart of this debate, but what we are not talking about so much is race"
Shabana Mahmood condemning the hostile environment back in 2018
Shabana Mahmood condemning the hostile environment back in 2018
November 18, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Referring the Home Office to Prevent as it's clearly a radicalising group with an extremist far-right agenda.
Reposted by David Adger
Coverage of the refugee proposals demonstrates why we have such a broken political system. Endless focus on left-wing anger and right-wing support. Basically nothing on whether the reforms will work. They will not, which is why we'll still be here having the same debate in three years.
November 18, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Coverage of the refugee proposals demonstrates why we have such a broken political system. Endless focus on left-wing anger and right-wing support. Basically nothing on whether the reforms will work. They will not, which is why we'll still be here having the same debate in three years.
This is a spot on analysis of the government's increasingly crazed approach to comms
Anti-imm right will share the Guardian article and decide Labour have a woke open borders policy; progressive left will share the Sun article and conclude Labour are thugs snatching jewelry from the desperate. Instead of persuading both sides the risk is you anger both and persuade no one.
November 17, 2025 at 8:48 AM
This is a spot on analysis of the government's increasingly crazed approach to comms