Louise Rolland
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lrollandmulti.bsky.social
Louise Rolland
@lrollandmulti.bsky.social
640 followers 460 following 280 posts
Linguist.e | multilingualism & emotion, identity, social justice (esp. mental health, education) | researching multilingually | academic writing | Own views | #wiasn
#OpenToWork
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9814-2685
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lrollandmulti.bsky.social
RePatriation, by Ihotu Oglegba, features Nsibidi, an indigenous symbol system from southeastern Nigeria. From the recent Translation issues? exhibition by Royal College of Art Africa Society at the Africa centre, London
#Nsibidi #Writing #Nigeria #Art
www.africacentre.org.uk/Event/a-roya...
RePatriation: wooden sculpture artwork by Ihotu Oglegba, featuring Nsibidi symbols in the centre (an indigenous writing system from Nigeria) with animal and human figure carvings on either side. Key to some of the Nsibidi pictograms depicted on the artwork, Repatriation
July 18, 2026 at 5:48 PM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
Adventures in Swahili: If you're supporting Kenyan runners in the London marathon today, give them a boost in Swahili: Endelea ! Naweza! (Go for it! You can do it!) #Swahili #LondonMarathon26 #Motivation #Langsky #London #Kenya #Runners
April 26, 2026 at 8:17 AM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
Multilingual tiles on the beautiful "Head, Heart, Hands" mural of Cockpit studios, Deptford. Public art les by local artist Amber Khokhar. A celebration of community and history ❤️
cockpitstudios.org/head-heart-h...
#London #Langsky #Multilingualism #Art #Craft #Diversity #Lewisham #Community
Part of a mural made with triangular tiles, featuring community languages, illustrations and poetic inscriptions. Cockpit studios, Creekside, Deptford, London. The central tile depicts four heads in profile, alongside the inscription "Facing down fascism in the Battle of Lewisham". Part of a mural made with triangular tiles, featuring community languages, illustrations and poetic inscriptions. Cockpit studios, Creekside, Deptford, London.
April 9, 2026 at 10:03 AM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
Evolution of the Phoenician alphabet - the first widespread phonetic alphabet, which inspired the Greek alphabet - explained at the excellent Byblos exhibition, Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris. Writing became more democratic as a result!
#lingsky #alphabet #Byblos #ima #musee #Paris #Lebanon #writing
Explanations about the evolution of the alphabet, on a wall in the Byblos exhibition at the Institut du Monde Arabe (April 2026). The left hand column shows the Proto-canaanian pictographs, next the corresponding Phoenician symbol, next the meaning (eg 'aleph is boeuf or ox) and the letter as it evolved in the Latin alphabet. An explanation of the evolution of alphabetic writing, on the wall of the Byblos exhibition, Institut du Monde Arabe, paris.
April 9, 2026 at 9:46 AM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
Workshop in Abuja on literary translation: "literature penned in the indigenous language is nearly non-existent. Traditional publishers won’t touch literature written in indigenous languages, nor will they publish translations of popular Nigerian English literature"
leadership.ng/nigeria-uk-t...
leadership.ng
March 27, 2026 at 12:30 PM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
🗓️ On 14 May 2026, I will be giving an in-person talk making the case for linguistic reflexivity in research (Birkbeck, University of London). All welcome! Free tickets: www.bbk.ac.uk/events/event...
#research #langsky #ResearchMethods #reflexivity #LinguisticReflexivity #ResearchingMultilingually
Louise Rolland: Building inclusive language practices into the research process: examples of linguistic reflexivity
Public lecture
www.bbk.ac.uk
March 26, 2026 at 10:24 AM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
Incredible multilingual polyphonic music from Suzume no Tears (sparrow's tears) at SOAS tonight, blending Japanese and Bulgarian folk music (& more)! UK tour: in #Birmingham on Saturday 28 March.
Surge Forward meets Club Integral Midlands Branch share.google/FXZHk3KlXgbm...
#Gigalert #民謡 #UK
Surge Forward meets Club Integral Midlands Branch
Club Integral Midlands Branch returns to The Edge - our wonderfully refurbished stomping ground - for a night of live music in collaboration with Surge Forward. An evening featuring three duos: Suzume...
share.google
March 25, 2026 at 11:09 PM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
Beautiful multilingual poetry collection by the Congolese community of Liverpool! A creative response to the Nkisi, spiritual objects from the Kongo region. In Lingala, English, French etc. www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/stories/if-o...
#poetry #multilingualism #history #Congo #Liverpool #Lingala
If Objects Could Speak | Poetry by Congolese Association Merseyside
A collection of poetry written by members of the Congolese community of Liverpool
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
March 25, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Reposted by Louise Rolland
profsunnysingh.bsky.social
My proudest achievement is building a book family that powers this prize

In 10 years, Jhalak Prize has grown from a single prize to a portfolio of 3 awards:
1. Jhalak Children’s & Young Adult Prize,
2. Jhalak Poetry Prize
3. Jhalak Prose Prize
BEHOLD THIS EXCELLENCE!

#jhalakprizeat10
Graphic with logo on top with text in white and book jackets for longlisted books for the three awards below
March 17, 2026 at 9:28 AM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
Letter to the University of Essex VC - please sign to save Languages and Linguistics from cuts to all but French & Spanish, and merger w/ another department tinyurl.com/SaveLingLang...
#Langsky #Lingsky #HE #StopTheCuts #Essex #ModernLanguages #BSL
Save Languages and Linguistics at Essex
To add your signature to this letter, please complete this form: Save Languages and Linguistics at Essex (Google Form) Dear Prof Bowen and members of the Executive Committee, We, the undersigned, ...
tinyurl.com
March 13, 2026 at 8:41 PM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
Highly recommended art exhibition!Of interest to linguists as many Igbo & Yoruba terms are explained, and indigenous graphic languages uli & nbidisi are showcased ❤️ Nigerian Modernism | Tate Modern share.google/LAdOHsGigPh6...
#Nigeria #Igbo #Yoruba #art #Langsky #Lingsky #uli #nbidisi #London
Nigerian Modernism | Tate Modern
Watch, listen and read
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March 13, 2026 at 8:37 PM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
Free talk and performances about multilingualism on 21 April (British Academy) - showcasing British Sign Language, Welsh and "an English shaped by isiZulu, isiXhosa, and German": How languages make us: www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/the-a...
#London #multilingualism #lingsky #identity
How languages make us
How do languages shape our sense of self and our communities? Uncover the connections between language, identity, and society with a vibrant evening of talks, poetry, and songs performed in multiple l...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
March 10, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Reposted by Louise Rolland
mccrafrica-essex.bsky.social
Save the date! On Tuesday 24 March at 2pm UK time, Dr Paul Clist from University of East Anglia will present "Bilinguals in the Lab: Why Does Randomising Language Affect Cooperation?" It draws on experimental work in Uganda. Join us! Register here: forms.cloud.microsoft/e/k16YaHVH1U
March 3, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Louise Rolland
hetanshah.bsky.social
‘The world’s top AI models can be prompted to generate near-verbatim copies of bestselling novels, raising fresh questions about the industry’s claim that its systems do not store copyrighted works.’
www.ft.com/content/e4b7...
AI’s ‘memorisation’ problem: the novels it can’t forget
Research that shows LLMs memorise more training data than previously thought raises questions about copyright infringement
www.ft.com
March 1, 2026 at 12:42 AM
Reposted by Louise Rolland
uclssees.bsky.social
We are pleased to invite you to an evening talk with bestselling author and EU Prize for Literature winner Tatiana Țîbuleac, who will discuss how #Moldovan, #Romanian and diasporic history and identities reflect throughout her writing.

🗓️ 13 March at 5pm
➡️ www.ucl.ac.uk/arts-humanit...
Event poster for 'Literature and identities in Moldova, Romania and the diaspora with Tatiana Țîbuleac' with images of book covers by Tatiana Țîbuleac. In-person and online.
February 24, 2026 at 2:53 PM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
Great blog by Denise Amankwah, highlighting how to involve young people in planning initiatives that explore and celebrate multilingualism: naldic.org.uk/internationa...
#NALDIC #Multilingualism #RepresentationMatters #YouthVoices #Collaboration #Languages #Lingsky #Langsky
International Mother Language Day: Youth Voices - NALDIC
On International Mother Language Day (IMLD), many of us working in multilingual education celebrate the day by developing, refreshing or sharing our resources
naldic.org.uk
February 24, 2026 at 10:23 AM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
The daily barrage of misogyny, as encountered by a 15 year old on social media.
#Misogyny #YesAllWomen #HateSpeech #StopHatingWomen #SocialMedia #VAWG #Discourse #UK
The Guardian
I am a 15-year-old girl. Let me show you the vile misogyny that confronts me on social media every day | Anonymous
Objectification, hate, rape threats: the politicians debating online abuse mean well, but to truly understand, they need to see what I see
www.theguardian.com
February 24, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Reposted by Louise Rolland
ucu.org.uk
400 jobs at risk. A campus set to close.

This film explains what’s happening at the University of Essex and why staff, students and the local community are organising to stop it.

📍 Southend rally | 5 February
January 26, 2026 at 3:13 PM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
Excellent article about how language acquisition is positioned as a test of one's commitment to citizenship, disregarding the reality of language learning - and facilitating discrimination/abuse on linguistic grounds: theconversation.com/english-less...
#lingsky #immigration #English #policy #ESOL
English lessons shouldn’t be an immigration test – why the UK’s new policy risks deepening exclusion
The UK government says tougher English rules will aid integration. Esol experts warn they risk turning language learning into a tool of exclusion.
theconversation.com
January 20, 2026 at 5:18 PM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
Job opportunity for translator specialising in translating from an endangered language into English, in any genre. The endangered language can belong to oral or semi-oral traditions, collaborative or community-based practices, and non-standardised forms.
www.wasafiri.org/news-and-eve...
#langsky
Call for Applications: Wasafiri Translator in Residence – Endangered Languages
We are excited to open applications for a UK-based Translator in Residence working with/in Endangered Languages — and invite proposals from translators…
www.wasafiri.org
January 20, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Reposted by Louise Rolland
gabino.bsky.social
It’s Sunday and the world is burning, but you can’t fight if you’re burned out, so take care of yourself. Read. Create. Check on your friends and family. Spend time with your pet. Go for a walk. Watch a movie. Eat tacos. Hope you have a good one.
January 18, 2026 at 3:58 PM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
Abhorrent islamophobia from Reform UK, and as usual linguistic diversity is painted as un-British. We are all free to express ourselves in whichever language we please: shock, horror, "The signs are written in a different language"!
#hatespeech #lingsky #multilingual
share.google/9zKXeZTVQoaq...
Reform UK’s London mayor candidate condemned for burqa stop and search remarks
Laila Cunningham accused of endangering Muslims after saying it ‘has to be assumed’ people hiding their face for a criminal reason
share.google
January 16, 2026 at 8:58 PM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
Gĩkũyũ word of the day: "ngarĩ" (meaning leopard in English). According to the Rebel Girls book about the late Kenyan activist Dr Wangarĩ Maathai, Wa-ngarĩ means "belonging to the leopard". Gĩkũyũ is a tonal language spoken by over 4 million people in Kenya.
#Gĩkũyũ #Bantu #Kenya #langsky
January 10, 2026 at 2:36 PM
lrollandmulti.bsky.social
! Murcia Today - Spain Decides Spanish Is Too Hard, Makes English Official Language share.google/WXmXiThI8EXj...
#Langsky #España
Spain decides Spanish is too hard, makes English official language
share.google
December 29, 2025 at 10:23 AM