When you spend time connecting, teaching and thinking about words in different languages, this might come out.

Welcome to quick and painless pills of knowledge in the form of a newsletter you should sign up for. This is everything you have always wanted to know about multilingualism, Second Language Acquisition, and much more.

A Linguist Explains: How Social Media Is Changing the Way We Speak

Francesca Ricciardelli

Have you ever said “LOL” aloud without actually laughing? Used “hashtag” to comment on a situation? Or described a real-life conversation as “giving XYZ energy”? If so, you have experienced the influence of social media on language. Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and X do more than distribute information: they create enormous, fast-moving communities where new expressions can emerge, spread, and take on new meanings. This does not mean that social media is destroying language. From a linguistic perspective, language has always changed as people encounter new communities, technologies, and communicative needs. Social media is simply making some of those changes faster—and much more visible.

A Linguist Explains: Why We Forget Words We Know

Francesca Ricciardelli

Why do familiar words sometimes disappear just when we need them most? This post explores the fascinating science behind the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon, explaining how words are stored and retrieved in the mental lexicon. Drawing on research in linguistics, psycholinguistics, and bilingualism, it shows that these everyday lapses are not signs of failing memory but evidence of the extraordinary complexity of human language.

A Linguist Explains: What Your Accent Says... and Doesn't Say

Francesca Ricciardelli

This post explores one of the most common misconceptions about language: the accent. Drawing on insights from linguistics and sociolinguistics, it examines how accents shape our perceptions of identity, multilingualism, and communication, while challenging the notion of a single "correct" way of speaking. Rather than viewing accents as flaws to overcome, the post invites readers to see them as reflections of our linguistic journeys and the diverse experiences that shape our voices.

L’Alguer: A Living Mosaic of Languages, Music, and Dance

Francesca Ricciardelli

L’Alguer preserves its unique Alguerese Catalan through education, media, and vibrant music and dance traditions, despite declining daily use and challenges to linguistic vitality.

3 Books to Enjoy This Summer – Even Better as Audiobooks

Francesca Ricciardelli

Three audiobooks recommendations for summer listening: “Matriarch” by Tina Knowles, “The Third Gilmore Girl” by Kelly Bishop, and “Something Lost, Something Gained” by Hillary Rodham Clinton. These memoirs offer unique insights into the authors’ lives and are enhanced by their personal narration.

What happens to professors when the semester starts?

Francesca Ricciardelli

The beginning of a new semester brings a whirlwind of activity for professors, including preparing syllabi, grading assignments, and managing endless emails. While the workload is demanding, there is an opportunity to expresses gratitude.

Recipe for Multilingualism

Francesca Ricciardelli

A creative recipe blending curiosity, patience, consistency, and cultural immersion to foster multilingual learning, enriched with courage, mistakes, and humor for a flavorful journey!

My first PAMLA experience and it did not disappoint!

Francesca Ricciardelli

Attending my first conference as a doctor in sunny Palm Springs was thrilling—networking, sharing research, and reflecting on growth made it unforgettable!

Welcome to My World of Words

Francesca Ricciardelli

Welcome to my portfolio, where I share my journey in language research, teaching, and multilingualism through blog posts, articles, conference insights, and more.