Lots going on here, including accent prejudice, and the availability of places for students from the north of England to “stay local” when (northern) English Russell Group universities attract a large percentage of high-achieving students from the south. www.theguardian.com/education/20...

If you’d like to hear my musings on RP and creaky voice, you’ll enjoy this podcast! morejamtomorrow.com/episode/rp

If all goes to plan, I’ll be on Times Radio at 11:20pm GMT tonight (2 Nov) on the topic of “the increasing number of (British) children adopting American slang and accent as a result of the media they consume”.

Event: Conference Bilingualism in the Hispanic and Lusophone World. Location: University of Reading, UK. Date: 12-14 January 2026. Early bird registration ending 2 November 2025! bhlmultilingualism.wixsite.com/2026

Thrilled that The Oxford Handbook of Language and Prejudice, published barely a month ago, has won its first award: Curtin University's "Publication of the Year"! 🏆 (Co-editor Sender Dovchin works at Curtin.) 🎉 Get yours here 😉: global.oup.com/academic/pro...

I’m at that point in a writing project today when my brain seems to have suddenly turned to mush 🤪 (obviously not, or I wouldn’t be writing this). Having a cuppa often helps reset things. ☕️ And I’m getting some cat attention, which is always welcome! And maybe a little too distracting. 🐈‍⬛

Unboxing video! My copies of the Oxford Handbook of Language and Prejudice, co-edited with Sender Dovchin and Vijay Ramjattan, have finally arrived! Available at all good booksellers. 😊 global.oup.com/academic/pro...

Honoured to interview Prof David Crystal for the 60th Anniversary of Linguistics at Reading! View the entire conversation here. youtu.be/j63j2OjVgmI?...

Out now! The Oxford Handbook of Language and Prejudice, co-edited with Sender Dovchin and Vijay Ramjattan, is available here and from all good booksellers: global.oup.com/academic/pro...

Listen out for me on Times Radio at about 08.35 UK time on Wednesday morning (24 September), when I'll be talking about Taylor Swift's voice (accent and pitch).

Some musings on International Talk Like a Pirate Day. aworldofenglishes.blogspot.com/2016/09/inte...

A wonderful picture of tonight’s moon, emerging from the eclipse, taken by my partner John.

😛 @janesetter.bsky.social looks at tongue piercings & lisps... 📖 Learn all about it in our Autumn issue, available at babelzine.co.uk

Very proud to be University Orator at our degree ceremonies this year.

Thank you, Jane, for a great keynote lecture at TABU dag today! @tabudag.bsky.social @janesetter.bsky.social

🪴 What if your Bonsai just needs a good talking to? 📖 In Summer's Babel, @janesetter.bsky.social looks at the possible restorative effects of plant-voice 🏪 Buy issues & subscribe at babelzine.co.uk

Turns out the youth of today refers to fashion as “drip”. This seems to derive from describing people who wear a lot of items from top fashion houses as “dripping with it”. Every day is a school day.

Owing to this morning’s sad news, this is not going ahead.

If all goes to plan, I’ll be on @bbc5live.bsky.social at around 10:30am tomorrow (21/04/2025) contributing to a discussion about names.

Warm Easter wishes to all who celebrate it!

Another example of how the media - and a respected institution such as the BBC - perpetuates negative stereotypes about English accents. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

We’ve got a great line-up this year! See you there.

Things that don’t work in British English (sadly - I’d like one of these!).

Thank heavens for WD40 and my dad’s long nose pliers. Nuff said!

I’m quoted here - and it was a long time ago I talked to the Guardian! www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/zee-vs... #English #pronunciation

The Beatles’ “Yesterday” is actually about regret over accent shaming? Wow. Just … wow. www.theguardian.com/music/2024/f...

Not like Bill Withers, then.

No, Rishi. Your parents wanted you to speak *with* an accent associated with British elites. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

New platform, new endeavour … People often tell me my voice is soothing, so I’ve done a YouTube thing. Feedback gratefully accepted. youtu.be/-VvoSqXWj5M?...