ML Vercellotti
@mlvercellotti.bsky.social
professor of linguistics and TESOL, research on L2 speech (she/her)
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
#WesternU celebrated the start of a major in Black Studies, one of the first in Canada. Professor Erika Lawson, who contributed to its creation, highlighted its offerings including education in Black history, culture & heritage, politics and sociology etc.
Meet the people launching one of Canada's first Black Studies majors | CBC News
Western University celebrated the launch of what one of the first Black Studies major programs in Canada this week, with students, staff and faculty attending a launch event to mark the milestone.
buff.ly
November 28, 2025 at 3:34 PM
#WesternU celebrated the start of a major in Black Studies, one of the first in Canada. Professor Erika Lawson, who contributed to its creation, highlighted its offerings including education in Black history, culture & heritage, politics and sociology etc.
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
Not wanting to disappoint you so much that it lies is the last quality I want in a computer.
November 28, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Not wanting to disappoint you so much that it lies is the last quality I want in a computer.
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
“Jails in Arizona have emerged as the largest behavioral health facilities, with an estimated 70% of individuals involved in the criminal justice system having a behavioral health disorder,” the report stated.
Nearly 1400 people have been ordered into Pima County’s Restoration to Competency program to see if they can stand trial
That can mean more than a year in jail, waiting. My colleague @jwashing.bsky.social writes about when jail becomes a mental health facility
azluminaria.org/2025/11/24/w...
That can mean more than a year in jail, waiting. My colleague @jwashing.bsky.social writes about when jail becomes a mental health facility
azluminaria.org/2025/11/24/w...
When jail becomes the mental health treatment plan - AZ Luminaria
Arizona’s competency restoration system pushes people with mental illness into jail. Stacey Brooks’ case shows the dangerous consequences.
azluminaria.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:30 AM
“Jails in Arizona have emerged as the largest behavioral health facilities, with an estimated 70% of individuals involved in the criminal justice system having a behavioral health disorder,” the report stated.
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
Happy World Linguistics Day 🎉
Not Saussure how to celebrate? Episodes 12 and 13 of our podcast will give your plans some structure...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/02/01/p...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/03/01/p...
#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx #WorldLinguisticsDay
Not Saussure how to celebrate? Episodes 12 and 13 of our podcast will give your plans some structure...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/02/01/p...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/03/01/p...
#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx #WorldLinguisticsDay
!["Dans la langue, il n'y a que des différences sans termes positifs [=In a language, there are only differences and no positive terms.]" (Ferdinand de Saussure: Cours de linnguistique générale, p. 166)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:r6wjosgpmompi6hot3pbmyj2/bafkreicxbh6gr7vxtgn63slt6va5sdqvishbb7byqxx5ya2ykb7sa3ctdm@jpeg)
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Happy World Linguistics Day 🎉
Not Saussure how to celebrate? Episodes 12 and 13 of our podcast will give your plans some structure...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/02/01/p...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/03/01/p...
#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx #WorldLinguisticsDay
Not Saussure how to celebrate? Episodes 12 and 13 of our podcast will give your plans some structure...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/02/01/p...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/03/01/p...
#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx #WorldLinguisticsDay
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
"My mentor always tells me, 'Kim, dogs don’t bark at parked cars." They’re coming after critical race theory, 1619, intersectionality because these ideas mobilized people. They gave them the language to actually articulate what they were seeing with their own eyes," says Kimberlé Crenshaw.
November 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
"My mentor always tells me, 'Kim, dogs don’t bark at parked cars." They’re coming after critical race theory, 1619, intersectionality because these ideas mobilized people. They gave them the language to actually articulate what they were seeing with their own eyes," says Kimberlé Crenshaw.
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
BINGO. This is why I’m not in the business of teaching “AI literacy”.
“How do I assign students an AI-generated essay for assessment if they don’t have the basic knowledge to parse said essay? I can’t and I won’t.”
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/set-tr...
“How do I assign students an AI-generated essay for assessment if they don’t have the basic knowledge to parse said essay? I can’t and I won’t.”
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/set-tr...
I Set A Trap To Catch Students Cheating With AI. The Result Was Deflating
"I am no stranger to students trying to cut corners by copying and pasting from Wikipedia, but the introduction of generative AI has enabled them to cheat in startling new ways."
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 6:51 PM
BINGO. This is why I’m not in the business of teaching “AI literacy”.
“How do I assign students an AI-generated essay for assessment if they don’t have the basic knowledge to parse said essay? I can’t and I won’t.”
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/set-tr...
“How do I assign students an AI-generated essay for assessment if they don’t have the basic knowledge to parse said essay? I can’t and I won’t.”
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/set-tr...
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
Congratulations to our sociolinguistics PhD students, Abby Killam and Michael Guarino, whose research was featured in the Top Papers panel of the Language and Social Interaction division at this year’s National Communication Association convention in Denver, CO!
November 25, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Congratulations to our sociolinguistics PhD students, Abby Killam and Michael Guarino, whose research was featured in the Top Papers panel of the Language and Social Interaction division at this year’s National Communication Association convention in Denver, CO!
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
The docs also reveal the number of hours the FBI devoted to the project, which required some agents to work nights and weekends. The FBI paid personnel $851,344 in overtime for working on the Epstein files between March 17 and March 22.
November 25, 2025 at 9:44 PM
The docs also reveal the number of hours the FBI devoted to the project, which required some agents to work nights and weekends. The FBI paid personnel $851,344 in overtime for working on the Epstein files between March 17 and March 22.
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
People’s mental health.
11. What did the pandemic ruin more than we realized?
January 17, 2025 at 5:58 PM
People’s mental health.
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
Senator Kelly’s remarks in the video are “a 100% accurate representation of what the law says."
“No American citizen should have to deal with this type of preposterous investigation.”
- Professor Eugene Fidell, leading military justice expert in Wall Street Journal
www.wsj.com/politics/mar...
“No American citizen should have to deal with this type of preposterous investigation.”
- Professor Eugene Fidell, leading military justice expert in Wall Street Journal
www.wsj.com/politics/mar...
Pentagon Investigates Misconduct Allegations Against Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly
The review comes after Kelly, a retired Navy captain, appeared in a video with other lawmakers telling military members not to obey unlawful orders.
www.wsj.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Senator Kelly’s remarks in the video are “a 100% accurate representation of what the law says."
“No American citizen should have to deal with this type of preposterous investigation.”
- Professor Eugene Fidell, leading military justice expert in Wall Street Journal
www.wsj.com/politics/mar...
“No American citizen should have to deal with this type of preposterous investigation.”
- Professor Eugene Fidell, leading military justice expert in Wall Street Journal
www.wsj.com/politics/mar...
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
No matter what you eat for the holidays, please never:
- comment on how much someone is eating
- comment on how little someone is eating
- comment on someone eating
This can be a major trigger for people with eating disorders. Plus it’s none of your business. Thanks!
- comment on how much someone is eating
- comment on how little someone is eating
- comment on someone eating
This can be a major trigger for people with eating disorders. Plus it’s none of your business. Thanks!
November 25, 2025 at 2:14 AM
No matter what you eat for the holidays, please never:
- comment on how much someone is eating
- comment on how little someone is eating
- comment on someone eating
This can be a major trigger for people with eating disorders. Plus it’s none of your business. Thanks!
- comment on how much someone is eating
- comment on how little someone is eating
- comment on someone eating
This can be a major trigger for people with eating disorders. Plus it’s none of your business. Thanks!
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
1. A landmark study was just published in The Journal of Pediatrics.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
Study In The Journal Of Pediatrics Finds Trans Youth Care Lowers Suicidality, Few Detransition
The groundbreaking study found that suicidality dropped for transgender youth receiving hormone therapy by nearly 70%, with only 7 patients of 432 discontinuing treatment.
www.erininthemorning.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:01 PM
1. A landmark study was just published in The Journal of Pediatrics.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
ICE kidnapped a 17-year-old U.S. citizen named Christian Jimenez. Jimenez, a high school senior born in Newberg, Oregon, was driving on his school’s lunch break when ICE/CBP agents stopped his car, smashed his window, and abducted him on November 21, 2025.
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
November 24, 2025 at 11:36 AM
ICE kidnapped a 17-year-old U.S. citizen named Christian Jimenez. Jimenez, a high school senior born in Newberg, Oregon, was driving on his school’s lunch break when ICE/CBP agents stopped his car, smashed his window, and abducted him on November 21, 2025.
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
Today, after months of requests, I toured the Broadview ICE Processing Facility. I want to share what I saw.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
November 25, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Today, after months of requests, I toured the Broadview ICE Processing Facility. I want to share what I saw.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
ACADEMIC WORD OF THE DAY
Today's word (25/11/2025) is REJECTION: the act of being rejected; the refusal to accept something or someone. More at www.writing.support/academic-wor...
#AcWri #AcademicWriting #TESOL #AcademicSky #EduSky
Today's word (25/11/2025) is REJECTION: the act of being rejected; the refusal to accept something or someone. More at www.writing.support/academic-wor...
#AcWri #AcademicWriting #TESOL #AcademicSky #EduSky
November 25, 2025 at 8:15 AM
ACADEMIC WORD OF THE DAY
Today's word (25/11/2025) is REJECTION: the act of being rejected; the refusal to accept something or someone. More at www.writing.support/academic-wor...
#AcWri #AcademicWriting #TESOL #AcademicSky #EduSky
Today's word (25/11/2025) is REJECTION: the act of being rejected; the refusal to accept something or someone. More at www.writing.support/academic-wor...
#AcWri #AcademicWriting #TESOL #AcademicSky #EduSky
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
Yes and at the same time the problems we are seeing with AI have their foundations in the move away from public libraries as the primary information retrieval system to a for-profit company that has monetized knowledge
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Yes and at the same time the problems we are seeing with AI have their foundations in the move away from public libraries as the primary information retrieval system to a for-profit company that has monetized knowledge
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
The procession of university language closures will trip up UK diplomacy 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 25, 2025 at 10:05 AM
The procession of university language closures will trip up UK diplomacy www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/proc...
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
On Nov. 22, Vahid Abedini, an Iranian Studies professor at University of Oklahoma, was boarding a flight to attend the Middle East Studies Assn mtg in Washington, D.C. when he was detained by ICE.
OU Prof Joshua Landis says "he has been wrongfully detained because he has a valid H-1B visa."
OU Prof Joshua Landis says "he has been wrongfully detained because he has a valid H-1B visa."
November 24, 2025 at 10:33 PM
On Nov. 22, Vahid Abedini, an Iranian Studies professor at University of Oklahoma, was boarding a flight to attend the Middle East Studies Assn mtg in Washington, D.C. when he was detained by ICE.
OU Prof Joshua Landis says "he has been wrongfully detained because he has a valid H-1B visa."
OU Prof Joshua Landis says "he has been wrongfully detained because he has a valid H-1B visa."
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
Media literacy is down, so to be clear, when the WSJ writes “Ultimately, the fact pattern Meta relies on to meet its conflicting objectives strains credibility” about your accounting practices and runs an accompanying flowchart, that is the equivalent of a 500-foot neon sign reading “FRAUD”
This feels like one of those stories you're going to look at a year from now and say to yourself, "Why didn't I move more of my portfolio into cash?" **
** (This post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or any other advice.)
🎁
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-ai...
** (This post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or any other advice.)
🎁
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-ai...
AI Meets Aggressive Accounting at Meta’s Gigantic New Data Center
Favorable treatment off the balance sheet hinges on some convenient assumptions.
www.wsj.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Media literacy is down, so to be clear, when the WSJ writes “Ultimately, the fact pattern Meta relies on to meet its conflicting objectives strains credibility” about your accounting practices and runs an accompanying flowchart, that is the equivalent of a 500-foot neon sign reading “FRAUD”
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
I’m sure I’m gonna get dragged for this, but I think AI is bad. AI has completely ruined Google search and it’s created a lot more slop that needs to be avoided on the Internet.
November 24, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I’m sure I’m gonna get dragged for this, but I think AI is bad. AI has completely ruined Google search and it’s created a lot more slop that needs to be avoided on the Internet.
Reposted by ML Vercellotti
Trump Administration bizarrely demands the University of Pennsylvania hand over "names, phone numbers and physical addresses" for anyone who "belongs to Jewish clubs or groups on campus, and anyone who works in the university’s Jewish studies program"...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
Federal Suit Seeking Names of Some Jewish Employees at Penn Sparks Backlash
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Trump Administration bizarrely demands the University of Pennsylvania hand over "names, phone numbers and physical addresses" for anyone who "belongs to Jewish clubs or groups on campus, and anyone who works in the university’s Jewish studies program"...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
Excellent addition to "Word Meaning" section of my #ForensicLinguistics course. A multi-part rule to decode, assign referents, & resolve any ambiguities (e.g., modal use, negation). Reasoning includes "if" introducing a conditional clause, meaning of the indefinite article & definition of "until."
BREAKING: Comey case dismissed without prejudice. Halligan invalidly appointed, judge rules. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 24, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Excellent addition to "Word Meaning" section of my #ForensicLinguistics course. A multi-part rule to decode, assign referents, & resolve any ambiguities (e.g., modal use, negation). Reasoning includes "if" introducing a conditional clause, meaning of the indefinite article & definition of "until."