#linguist — Public Fediverse posts

Y’all, I love an interesting #crossword #clue, but this one befuddles me.

“What’s everyone **soup** in arms about?”

Is this an actual #English language phrase? I’ve heard and used “up in arms” but never “soup in arms”. Is there a #linguist or #historian who might provide some context for this bizarre statement? 🥣

Fantastic 2.5 year postdoc working on 🤩emojis🤩 ! Are you a #linguist with experience in running experiments in formal semantics & pragmatics? Please come join our lab and the @vicom visual communication research cluster!
Apply by April 28 - or contact me with questions. #emojis #linguistics #job @ruhr-uni-bochum.de #academicChatter
https://jobs.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/jobposting/f5001c40d914e7ce325557bfe526aa88415f75bb0

Am I missing something obvious here? #linguist fedi, steer me right
As I understand it: orality vs literacy is about our ability to record concepts and transmit them, with relatively little proximity/relation between the person communicating and the person receiving the information. Like the golden records on Voyager and the audio we sent from Earth… that’s literacy culture! Right?? Just because it’s audio doesn’t change that!

A linguist from Alabama explains the surprising origin story of the Southern word ‘y’all’

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/a-linguist-from-alabama-explains-the-surprising-origin-story-of-the-southern-word-yall/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-linguist-from-alabama-explains-the-surprising-origin-story-of-the-southern-word-yall

There are also many AI TTS created by folks at 11 Labs and other open source implementations that support speech to text and text to speech. But I'm looking for traditional formant synthesis implementation. Do we have existing phonemizer or any sort of that that can aid Tamil TTS creation? #tamil #tts #linguist #language #formant (2/2)

#Linguist Dr. Taylor Jones gets into it. He manages to coalesce many of my thoughts on this in ways I couldn't hope to have done.

6 reasons the gender critical right and the woke left are both WRONG about pronouns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh22m1QG6i4

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

And . . . Do Those Sheep Hallucinate Bullshit?

(AI Detective FAILS for Your Consideration)

Who is running this Artificial Intelligence? This Fatuous Forensic Criminology? This Whole Worldwide Factoid News Media?

May God Allied Mastercomputer help us!

I don’t want to hear any of the crap from the tech apologists who are going to cry, “Oh, that’s not AI; that’s just glorified autocomplete!”

Your problem, not mine.

If it’s calling itself “AI” or the humans who designed it have labeled it, “AI” – as you can clearly witness from the screen captures – then I judge it as AI.

So . . .

FAIL!

. . . Next!

. . . Another killer on the loose . . .

27 English words people have a hard time enunciating properly, even native speakers

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/english-words-that-are-the-hardest-to-properly-enunciate-even-for-native-speakers-ex1

Linguist clearly demonstrates how 'thinking is walking' in English and it's just so cool

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/linguist-explains-thinking-is-walking-ex1

19 nearly-extinct 'fossil words' that only survive hidden inside these specific idioms

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/19-fossil-words-hidden-inside-idioms

Yuri Knorozov, Soviet linguist who was instrumental in decoding Mayan script, holding his co-author, Asya, 1980s?

https://piefed.social/c/historyphotos/p/1478772/yuri-knorozov-soviet-linguist-who-was-instrumental-in-decoding-mayan-script-holding-his

Hey #linguist types...

I don't know exactly how to explain this, but is there a thing where the (I don't know what it is called} the sound at the end of some consonants, especially the letter "T" is being softened or is disappearing?

For example, I hear people (somewhat more frequently in the UK, but also in the US) pronouncing a word like "cotton" more like "caugh-en." Maybe I haven't explained myself clearly, but if you have an idea and a better way to describe this and whether it is a real, new thing, I would appreciate hearing!

#linguistics #pronounciation

Linguist clearly demonstrates how 'thinking is walking' in English and it's just so cool

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/linguist-explains-thinking-is-walking

31 acronyms you use all the time—what they actually stand for

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/31-acronyms-you-use-all-the-time-what-they-actually-stand-for

Financial Times:
AI sceptic Emily Bender: ‘The emperor has no clothes’

The computational #linguist on her motivations for taking on Big #Tech, the dangers of #chatbots — and why #AI is just a ‘glorified Magic 8 Ball’

https://on.ft.com/4l2E84n

Dear Fediverse #linguist s, not just in the #Finnish part of the Wikiverse, the Finnish language is claimed to have dozens of strange "cases", partly inspired by Hungarian grammar, such as "sublative" or "temporal" – what is meant is a derivation pattern for a small number of (often mainly) pronoun-based adverbs (not acknowledged as cases in any Standard Finnish grammar I know of). This goes back to a grammar sketch published online, also in English and German, by a certain Panu Mäkinen.>>

Not professional #linguist I wonder if there has been new #metacognition trends in languages #acquisition that has proven sound according to you, and that would go in another direction than i+1's learning easy = obvious inference + 1 complexity detail any advice by expert in #linguistics is welcome

A few years ago, a friend gave me the challenge of writing a fictional #story without adjectives or adverbs. Today, I found what I'd written at the time, and the narrative looks so strikingly similar to the world of 2025 that I thought I'd share it.

It's about a neoliberal government, forbidden words and a #linguist.

https://aurelieherbelot.net/fiction/nowhood-is-your-time/

@bouletcorp2 un travail d'enquête linguistique serait rigolo sur cette expression #linguist #linguistics

No, you're not a bad PERSON for having been rude to a disabled person or people before.
But the BEHAVIOURS can be bad.

Yes, the assumption of "knowing" someone else's intent (often negative, from experience) hurts people.

Disabled people get that a lot. Ask me how I know. Yes, disabled people do it to each other too. Almost like we're also human individuals or something. 🙀

(d/Deaf people, I'm not trying to overreach here, sorry. I'm more responding to things other hearing people have said to me when I mention how gd useful and interesting BSL is.)

https://www.teachmesign.co.uk/bsl-courses-online/

#active #ActiveListening #Communication #Comms #info #Information #Idea #Ideas #learn #learning #learningEnglish #LearningEveryday #ed #edu #EduTooter #education #EducationForAll #lang #LangDev #lang_en #language #linguist #linguistics #collocation #corpus #attention #PayAttention #focus #AmbientFocus #intent #meditation #mediation #arbitration #conflict #ConflictResolution #VeRantDa #VeRamble

No, not everyone else wants to "just learn English".

Should they have to anyway, just because it'd be easier for *you*?

Would you like to learn Portuguese, Swahili, or Hindi? Many people speak those languages too.

Except try learning when you can't hear other speakers very well, and it's tonal, and people assume you're being rude EVERY single time you make an honest mistake.

(d/Deaf people, I'm not trying to overreach here, sorry. I'm more responding to things other hearing people have said to me when I mention how gd useful and interesting BSL is.)

https://www.british-sign.co.uk/

#active #ActiveListening #Communication #Comms #info #Information #Idea #Ideas #learn #learning #learningEnglish #LearningEveryday #ed #edu #EduTooter #education #EducationForAll #lang #LangDev #lang_en #language #linguist #linguistics #collocation #corpus #attention #PayAttention #focus #AmbientFocus #intent #meditation #mediation #arbitration #conflict #ConflictResolution #VeRantDa #VeRamble

While I'm at it: learn BSL!
(Or the gestural / facial expression language, created by and for d/Deaf people in your region.
ASL can mean American Sign Language or Australian Sign Language.)

Even just enough to say "hello, my name is..., how are you?, goodbye" is a huge step, thank you!

British Sign Language is important for d/Deaf culture across the UK. It's useful in noisy or distance environments too.

Consider pubs, train stations, through windows in a car or building, or communicating near a housemate, child or pet who is sleeping.
(These are examples of 'situational disability'. Anyone can be affected by a situational disability, including otherwise abled people.)

https://rnid.org.uk/information-and-support/deaf-awareness/british-sign-language/

#active #ActiveListening #Communication #Comms #info #Information #Idea #Ideas #learn #learning #learningEnglish #LearningEveryday #ed #edu #EduTooter #education #EducationForAll #lang #LangDev #lang_en #language #linguist #linguistics #collocation #corpus #attention #PayAttention #focus #AmbientFocus #intent #meditation #mediation #arbitration #conflict #ConflictResolution #VeRantDa #VeRamble

Learn about Active Listening. It's literally just listening, tbqh.
Pay attention with intent to understand, not to form your reply.

Yes, this is a skill for d/Deaf people, people who are Hard of Hearing (HoH), people with auditory impairments or Auditory Processing Disorder, too.

(APD is like when d/Dyslexic people or other ND people struggle to understand what you say in a café or restaurant.)

To listen can mean "to intake sensory input or search for information" as well as "to hear sound or speech".

https://www.mindtools.com/az4wxv7/active-listening
https://positivepsychology.com/active-listening-techniques/
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/wellbeing/how-to-talk-about-health-problems/active-listening

https://www.coursera.org/articles/active-listening
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_listening
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK442015/

#active #ActiveListening #Communication #Comms #info #Information #Idea #Ideas #learn #learning #learningEnglish #LearningEveryday #ed #edu #EduTooter #education #EducationForAll #lang #LangDev #lang_en #language #linguist #linguistics #collocation #corpus #attention #PayAttention #focus #AmbientFocus #intent #meditation #mediation #arbitration #conflict #ConflictResolution #VeRantDa #VeRamble

Mutual Aid? It means "to help other people".

Mutual means something is shared, 'held in common' or by 'multiple parties, toward each other'. To aid someone means to help, support, or assist them.

You do not need to enjoy or 'agree' with other people to want them to not feel pain or discomfort.
You do not need to solve everyone's problems. You do not need to solve anyone's problems.

You're not their therapist, social worker, parent or carer, supervisor, auditor, personal assistant, or authority figure.
You are not responsible for their actions after you offer / give help.
Free yourself from that responsibility.
Be kind; then return to your own life.

https://www.mutualaid.coop/what-is-mutual-aid/
https://www.mutual-aid.co.uk/
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_aid

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/769258/Mutual-aid-framework.pdf
https://www.fool.co.uk/personal-finance/your-life/guides/what-is-mutual-aid-and-how-is-it-different-from-charity/
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/669047/Mutual-aid-briefing.pdf

#active #ActiveListening #Communication #Comms #info #Information #Idea #Ideas #learn #learning #learningEnglish #LearningEveryday #ed #edu #EduTooter #education #EducationForAll #lang #LangDev #lang_en #language #linguist #linguistics #collocation #corpus #attention #PayAttention #focus #AmbientFocus #intent #meditation #mediation #arbitration #conflict #ConflictResolution #VeRantDa #VeRamble

Got money?
(e.g. your income or livelihood is stable enough not to affect covering next month's needs, plus some fun for a life worth living)

Now may be good to invest in local organisations.
Time, energy, money, equipment, networking, social media, cleaning, babysitting, etc.

My opinion? Focus on: youth groups, public health education, adult retraining, intercommunity outreach, and mutual aid.

Plus any fallible online orgs you believe in, e.g.
Internet Archive, Wikipedia, Posteo.de, Ecosia, PillowFort, Signal, SonarPen, specific indie devs and artists, Nebula, MakerTube.net, LiberaPay, Artisans Coop, etc.

LINK YOUR FAVES too! 📝 🫵📑

Repeated small support is more reliable than big irregular donations, but 'better is always better'.

https://80000hours.org/

(also hi If you like how I phrase things and try to help people,
throw me $2 USD, £2 GBP, etc. Very thank. Much many.

https://ko-fi.com/mxverda or https://patreon.com/MxVerdaArt or https://mxverda.itch.io/ or https://liberapay.com/MxVerda/ or https://subscribestar.adult/mxverde or https://artistree.io/mxverda or https://twitch.tv/mxverda or https://paypal.me/mxverda
)

#active #ActiveListening #Communication #Comms #info #Information #Idea #Ideas #learn #learning #learningEnglish #LearningEveryday #ed #edu #EduTooter #education #EducationForAll #lang #LangDev #lang_en #language #linguist #linguistics #collocation #corpus #attention #PayAttention #focus #AmbientFocus #intent #meditation #mediation #arbitration #conflict #ConflictResolution #VeRantDa #VeRamble

Staying alive, you can learn or run. You can help others, even when you don't know wtf you're "meant" to be doing.

If you need to recover in the closet to be who you are later, there's nothing wrong with you.
If you need to kick the door down to breathe, I'll kick with you. ("Together, we have great strength of feet!")

This is so fucking stupid, but fuck it. It's where we're at.

Whatever your journey of processing this and surviving it looks like, you are not weak.
Even fellow chronically ill people: your bodies are not weak.

We are surviving the utmost fuckery -- despite Seymour's directions -- while the arc of history bends to conviviality.

https://www.transtexas.org/get-involved

#active #ActiveListening #Communication #Comms #info #Information #Idea #Ideas #learn #learning #learningEnglish #LearningEveryday #ed #edu #EduTooter #education #EducationForAll #lang #LangDev #lang_en #language #linguist #linguistics #collocation #corpus #attention #PayAttention #focus #AmbientFocus #intent #meditation #mediation #arbitration #conflict #ConflictResolution

You may need to question dangerous situations for your own sake. (Ideally BEFORE you get near them, but please: it's not your fault if you don't realise until later.)

If no one else and no other organisation, Samaritans is probably your best bet. Otherwise, you can search online but PLEASE. Fuck, there is no general advice I can even give here.

You want "near you" / local, and f2f / in-person where you can. Unfortunately, people of same demographics are most likely to care, but this is NO guarantee, nor should it be.

If you know tech shit:
VPN is probably helpful, depending where you live and what you need to know.

If you don't know tech shit:
only ask people certain questions face to face / in person. Turn your devices off, batteries out, and in another room.
Make it a game! Like training to be a spy, yeah?

https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

#active #ActiveListening #Communication #Comms #info #Information #Idea #Ideas #learn #learning #learningEnglish #LearningEveryday #ed #edu #EduTooter #education #EducationForAll #lang #LangDev #lang_en #language #linguist #linguistics #collocation #corpus #attention #PayAttention #focus #AmbientFocus #intent #meditation #mediation #arbitration #conflict #ConflictResolution

Seek community with people who feel safe:
actually warm, stable, secure, NOT upsetting, worrying, or 'wrong'. ("Oh, I want to trust them, but..." then DON'T. "But what about--" NO.
If you *need* something from them to survive or help someone else, take the risks you think you can survive the worst outcomes of sustainably. But otherwise, please value yourself and your wellbeing. If not, please value yourself because I do.)

TRUST YOUR GUT.
Yes, your gut *can* be wrong. Your gut can be racist, sexist, or otherwise shitty. It can keep you from connecting with people who mean well but can't match your expectations while trying to help.
But it's among the best advice I can give.

It's not easy to tell who is safe(r) or not; I'm sorry. I wish it were easy.

It's not your fault if you get it wrong! That's the point of being young and inexperienced: you haven't been alive long enough to experience what you need to know to stay alive and healthy(ish) yet.

You should never have to figure this out alone.

http://mermaidsuk.org.uk/

#active #ActiveListening #Communication #Comms #info #Information #Idea #Ideas #learn #learning #learningEnglish #LearningEveryday #ed #edu #EduTooter #education #EducationForAll #lang #LangDev #lang_en #language #linguist #linguistics #collocation #corpus #attention #PayAttention #focus #AmbientFocus #intent #meditation #mediation #arbitration #conflict #ConflictResolution

Baby queers, questioning people, and anyone else, we got you.

This sucks: it's terrifying and unnecessary suffering. This was avoidable, but for powerful people making their selfish fear into our problem.

It's not your fault, never was, and never will be. Your feelings matter, your experiences matter, and even unmet, your needs matter.

You might even say, perhaps -- bizarrely?! -- that b/Black and b/Brown (wait, does that one get the double case slash or) peoples' lives matter.

https://naacp.org/take-action

#active #ActiveListening #Communication #Comms #info #Information #Idea #Ideas #learn #learning #learningEnglish #LearningEveryday #ed #edu #EduTooter #education #EducationForAll #lang #LangDev #lang_en #language #linguist #linguistics #collocation #corpus #attention #PayAttention #focus #AmbientFocus #intent #meditation #mediation #arbitration #conflict #ConflictResolution

Much like b/Black people, disabled people, queer people, and other groups pushed out of everyday life all keep saying in various words and intensities over the years:
shit has hit the fan, will continue to hit the fan, and yes, this is going to be tedious and deadly to fix.

But we do, in fact, need to turn off the fan, remove the faeces, sterilise all surfaces and objects in the room, and LEARN what went wrong.

The time will pass either way. We need to accept our current situation to plan how to fix it.

https://zeppelin.flights/@Shelly/113874819486684236

#active #ActiveListening #Communication #Comms #info #Information #Idea #Ideas #learn #learning #learningEnglish #LearningEveryday #ed #edu #EduTooter #education #EducationForAll #lang #LangDev #lang_en #language #linguist #linguistics #collocation #corpus #attention #PayAttention #focus #AmbientFocus #intent #meditation #mediation #arbitration #conflict #ConflictResolution

ALL information is biased, as are conclusions and instructions.

The 'trick' is prioritising your ideal outcomes, revieiwing sources' validity at each step, and maintaining integrity in your recommendations.

https://mastodon.online/@Pkbwood/113874185412424886

#active #ActiveListening #Communication #Comms #info #Information #Idea #Ideas #learn #learning #learningEnglish #LearningEveryday #ed #edu #EduTooter #education #EducationForAll #lang #LangDev #lang_en #language #linguist #linguistics #collocation #corpus #attention #PayAttention #focus #AmbientFocus #intent #meditation #mediation #arbitration #conflict #ConflictResolution

Bed and Bread.

Everyone deserves Bed and Bread.

There we go. Brexit means break shit?

Give mad lads bed and bread.

#BedAndBread #uk #UK_politics #UKpol #UnitedKingdom #UnitedNations #WHO #UN #world #global #GlobalGoals #human #humans #humanity #people #person #politic #politics #policy #politicians #political #EU #active #ActiveListening #Communication #Comms #info #Information #Idea #Ideas #learn #learning #learningEnglish #LearningEveryday #ed #edu #EduTooter #education #EducationForAll #lang #LangDev #lang_en #language #linguist #linguistics #collocation #corpus #attention #PayAttention #focus #AmbientFocus #intent #meditation #mediation #arbitration #conflict #ConflictResolution

Also, Sapphic from Sappho, right?

So Wildeic / Wiledic from Oscar Wilde, for androphilic. andric?

Ah whatever. mlem.

#gay #homosexual #queer #MLM #bisexual #bi #boy #boi #masc #transmasc #dudeLove #yaoi #ShounenAi #BL #boysLove #LGBT #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #LGBTQIA2S #language #linguist #linguistics #phrase #phrasing #term #word #description #describe #name #slang #adjective

Also, Sapphic from Sappho, right?

So Wildeic / Wiledic from Oscar Wilde, for androphilic. andric?

Ah whatever. mlem.

#gay #homosexual #queer #MLM #bisexual #bi #boy #boi #masc #transmasc #dudeLove #yaoi #ShounenAi #BL #boysLove #LGBT #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #LGBTQIA2S #language #linguist #linguistics #phrase #phrasing #term #word #description #describe #name #slang #adjective

Also, Sapphic from Sappho, right?

So Wildeic / Wiledic from Oscar Wilde, for androphilic. andric?

Ah whatever. mlem.

#gay #homosexual #queer #MLM #bisexual #bi #boy #boi #masc #transmasc #dudeLove #yaoi #ShounenAi #BL #boysLove #LGBT #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #LGBTQIA2S #language #linguist #linguistics #phrase #phrasing #term #word #description #describe #name #slang #adjective

Also, Sapphic from Sappho, right?

So Wildeic / Wiledic from Oscar Wilde, for androphilic. andric?

Ah whatever. mlem.

#gay #homosexual #queer #MLM #bisexual #bi #boy #boi #masc #transmasc #dudeLove #yaoi #ShounenAi #BL #boysLove #LGBT #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #LGBTQIA2S #language #linguist #linguistics #phrase #phrasing #term #word #description #describe #name #slang #adjective

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jonathan-wonderlang/wonder-language-the-quest-for-language-mastery/posts/4259093

#lang #language #learn #learning #linguist #linguistic #linguistics #duolingo #translate #translation #interpret #interpretation #comms #communication #game #gaming #gamer #videoGame #videoGames #SapirWhorf

#CMOS18 (18th edition of the #ChicagoManualOfStyle) is coming soon to #PerfectIt. Meanwhile, here's a blog post by #analytical #linguist Chris Ryder on how that works behind the scenes & what PerfectIt will now be able to find that is based on CMOS18. https://tinyurl.com/34har34c #AmEditing

Hey, 日本語の勉強人:

https://www.lingq.com/en/grammar-resource/japanese/nouns/

#JP #language #learners #students #polyglots #linguist

#BOTD (for real this time): Lufei Kui 陸費逵 (1886–1941), #Chinese #linguist, reformer, educator, and founder of Zhonghua (Chung Hwa) Book Company #中華書局. #ModernChina #ChineseLinguistics #Publishers

#BOTD: Qian Xuantong 錢玄同 (1887–1939), Chinese writer and linguist, one of the leaders of the May Fourth and New Culture Movement #五四運動 #新文化運動; a promoter of #Esperanto, he wanted to abolish Written Chinese. #MayThe4thBeWithYou #白話文 #文言文 #新青年 #疑古派 #學衡 #linguist #ModernChina #Linguistics

#BOTD: Qian Xuantong 錢玄同 (1887–1939), Chinese writer and linguist, one of the leaders of the May Fourth and New Culture Movement #五四運動 #新文化運動; a promoter of #Esperanto, he wanted to abolish Written Chinese. #MayThe4thBeWithYou #白話文 #文言文 #新青年 #疑古派 #學衡 #linguist #ModernChina #Linguistics

#BOTD: Qian Xuantong 錢玄同 (1887–1939), Chinese writer and linguist, one of the leaders of the May Fourth and New Culture Movement #五四運動 #新文化運動; a promoter of #Esperanto, he wanted to abolish Written Chinese. #MayThe4thBeWithYou #白話文 #文言文 #新青年 #疑古派 #學衡 #linguist #ModernChina #Linguistics

#BOTD: Qian Xuantong 錢玄同 (1887–1939), Chinese writer and linguist, one of the leaders of the May Fourth and New Culture Movement #五四運動 #新文化運動; a promoter of #Esperanto, he wanted to abolish Written Chinese. #MayThe4thBeWithYou #白話文 #文言文 #新青年 #疑古派 #學衡 #linguist #ModernChina #Linguistics

#BOTD: Qian Xuantong 錢玄同 (1887–1939), Chinese writer and linguist, one of the leaders of the May Fourth and New Culture Movement #五四運動 #新文化運動; a promoter of #Esperanto, he wanted to abolish Written Chinese. #MayThe4thBeWithYou #白話文 #文言文 #新青年 #疑古派 #學衡 #linguist #ModernChina #Linguistics

Random call in the intertubes: I'm looking for books on how people talk over the phones especially and how it differs from chat conversations.

#speech #linguist #conversation #ConversationDesign

Hey, #Glasgow residents, help out a #linguist and earn some money for science! (Boosts appreciated!).

Scottish-English speakers are needed for an in-person experiment using eye-tracking.

(If you're from elsewhere in Scotland but just in town for the day, that's ok too!)

-£20 for 1-1.5 hour experiment
-on Glasgow University campus

Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/46AtS0ikaj

#Scotland #Glaswegian #GlasgowUni #Scottish

"Good luck, Viv, I know that guy's a total douche."

"Thanks Tay. Have you got the multi-wake word model training?"

"Yeah. Are you're sure he'll pick that #WakeWord though?"

"I'm pretty sure. He won't outright use the phrase "dole bludger" but it's pretty close."

---

A sardonic smile crept over the Prime Minister's face, the hot summer sun reflecting off his near-bald temples.

"So, by choosing a Wake Word that has difficult to pronounce sounds in it, it means that it won't work well for people who speak with an accent?"

"Yes, Prime Minister, precisely".

"Like the 'th' sound in them, there that?"

"Yes, or words that start or end with hard consonants are also difficult for some accents".

"Do we know which Wake Word would be the hardest for immigrants? Indigenous people?".

Pained, the #linguist had feared this question. She knew exactly what he was trying to do.

The long call centre queues hadn't done the trick - people had added screeners to their phones so that after being on hold for 7 hours, the phone would alert them to a picked up call.

The Assistant was supposed to be the replacement for the call centre. Just load the app on your phone, and ask it a question! So simple! No queuing! The government actually wanted to help people!

You just needed to use the Wake Word to "wake up" the assistant first.

"Well ---", she hesitated.

"I don't have all day Doctor!"

"Our research shows that a Wake Word like `This Starts With Me` has lots of hard to pronounce phonemes - sounds".

"Excellent. And I like the overtone of personal responsibility."

Of course the fucker did.

"Very well Prime Minister, we will implement that Wake Word".

He trotted off, probably to kill some babies or kittens, she thought.

---

Tay was configuring the #DataAugmentation for the #ML training run for the #WakeWord model.

They had just finished downloading every instance of the words "this", "starts" "with" "me" in every accent of English, from Common Voice.

By augmenting the Wake Word model with accent data, they could make it recognise more accents, more accurately.

Resistance came in many forms.

---
https://arxiv.org/abs/2104.01454
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3617694.3623258
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#Tootfic #Microfiction

I wish #McGillUniversity had reached out to me … I wish more people would reach out to professional #linguist #translator #reviser #editor #proofreader Living in #MTL, a city where many say they are #bilingual leads, too often, to bypassing #language professionals.