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Speaking Tongues Podcast: Celebrating Voices, Stories, and Flavors From Around the Globe
Speaking Tongues Podcast: Celebrating Voices, Stories, and Flavors From Around the Globe
Speaking Tongues is a podcast celebrating language, culture, and identity through in-depth conversations with multilingual guests from around the world. From endangered and Indigenous languages to Creoles and diaspora stories, each episode explores how language connects us to memory, history, community, migration, and meaning. Host Elle Charisse talks with artists, educators, and storytellers working to preserve cultural heritage through words, food, music, research, and lived experience.
Episodes
What Jamaican Patois and Haitian Creole Reveal About Caribbean Identity
This episode was originally published on Feb 5, 2024 as Speaking Haitian Creole and Jamaican Patois___Hello Language Lovers! Today we are speaking with Maggie, a content creator based in Toronto about her languages of Haitian Creole and Jamaican PatoisMaggie is a perfect person to have this conversation with as she is so well versed on creole languages spoken not just in the Caribbean but all over
How One Chef Is Reconnecting Puerto Rican Food to Its Indigenous Roots
This episode was originally published on August 19, 2024Hello Language Lovers! Welcome back to a new episode of Speaking Tongues. This week, we're thrilled to chat with Chef Alexandra Strong, the executive chef for Restaurant Associates at the Mitsitam Café located at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. Chef Alex shares her rich multicultural background with roots in
Reclaiming Ktunaxa: A Journey Back to Language and Culture
This episode was originally published on Feb 26, 2024Hello Language Lovers! Thanks for tuning in to this new episode. This week we’re speaking with Aiyana @ktunaxapride about her language of Ktunaxa. Aiyana Twigg is Indigenous, belonging to two nations in Canada, the Ktunaxa Nation and Blackfoot. She grew up within the Ktunaxa Nation in Tobacco Plains and graduated from University with a passion t
Learning Welsh Is One Thing. Living Welsh Is Another.
This episode was originally published on April 26, 2023 Hello Language Lovers! Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues- the podcast in conversation with multilinguals. It’s no secret that I’ve been wanting to feature the Welsh language on this show for years, so I’m thrilled to have this conversation with Dafydd, host of the Life to the Full Podcast, about the Welsh language
Between Tahitian and French: How This Teacher Strives to Keep Her Family’s Language Alive
This episode was originally published on August 16, 2021 Hello Language Lovers! Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues- the podcast in conversation with multilinguals. My guest today is Moenau and we’re having a conversation about the Tahitian language and the culture of French Polynesia.I learned a TON in this episode and I hope that you listeners will as well. Moenau talks
Can Icelandic Stay Icelandic? Teaching a Language Without Freezing It in Time
This episode was originally published on June 3, 2024Hello Language Lovers! Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues, the podcast in conversation with multi linguals. Today, we’re talking with Óskar about Icelandic language and culture. Óskar Bragi is the Chief Icelandic Language Coach at Speak Viking. He has been teaching Icelandic for over 10 years. When not teaching, you ca
This is How Italian Immigrants Created a New Way of Speaking in America
This episode was originally published on Dec 6, 2021Hello Language Lovers! Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues- the podcast in conversation with multilinguals. This week’s episode is the last new episode of 2021 and I’m so excited to share this conversation with Luna from Collina Italiana where we talk about the language, history and culture of Italian-Americans. This con
How One Creator Stays Connected to Lingala and Her Congolese Roots in Paris
This episode was originally published on Sept 12, 2022Hello Language Lovers! Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues- the podcast in conversation with multilinguals. This week, we’re talking about the Lingala language and Congolese culture with Melissa, the founder and teacher behind Lingala Lessons. In this episode, Melissa tells us about growing up in Paris speaking both Li
What Happens When a Generation Learns Basque? Dr. Eukene Franco Landa on Language Revival
This episode was originally published on March 11, 2024 Hello Language Lovers! Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues, the podcast in conversation with multi linguals. This week, we’re talking with Dr. Eukene Franco Landa about her language of Basque. Eukene is a Ph.D. in Linguistic Studies at the University of Miami. She is an advocate of minority languages and cultures. He
Between Iran and America: Yara Elmjouie on Language, Identity and Reconnecting to Persian
This episode was originally published on May 22, 2023Hello Language Lovers! Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues- the podcast in conversation with multilinguals.This week’s episode we are talking with Yara Elmjouie who is a James Beard award winning, and Emmy winning journalist for AJ Plus about his language of Persian. I’ve been a fan of Yara’s work for a long time and I’
188. Speaking Computational Linguistics with Dr. Albert Ventayol
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Albert Ventayol, a computational linguist dedicated to bridging the gap between indigenous and low-resource languages and technology. With a Ph.D. from UC Santa Barbara, Albert is currently on assignment at Meta, where he is working towards achieving omnilinguality in AI-powered automatic speech recognition
187. Speaking Trinidadian Creole & Mandarin Chinese with Janine Lutchman-Nkouetang
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are excited to welcome Janine Lutchman-Nkouetang, a passionate foreign language educator and writer whose work intersects culture, identity, and heritage. As a co-editor and contributing author of the book series "Unearthing Traditions: Stories of Language and Culture," Janine shares her insights on the importance of storyte
186. Speaking Cornish with Elizabeth Ellis
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are thrilled to welcome Elizabeth Ellis, a pioneering figure in the revival of the Cornish language. As the second ever paid officer dedicated to promoting Cornish following its official recognition by the UK government in 2002, Elizabeth has played a crucial role in standardizing the language and fostering its use across various cultu
185. Speaking Sicilian with Nick Panzarella from Cademia Siciliana
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are joined by Nick Panzarella, an Italian American language activist dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Sicilian language. Based in Houston, Texas, Nick serves as the president of the American branch of Cademia Siciliana and is actively raising his son in Sicilian. Together with his wife, he is set to publish a bilingua
184. Speaking Flemish & French with Dani James
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are speaking with Dani James, a native New Yorker with a rich multilingual background, having grown up in Belgium speaking French, Flemish, and various other languages. Dani is the translator of the award-winning memoir "Return to the Place I Never Left" by Tobias Schiff, a powerful narrative that recounts the experiences of
183. Speaking Guaraní & Paraguayan Spanish with Iliana Franco Alvarenga
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are talking with Iliana Franco Alvarenga, a passionate Guaraní translator and linguistic activist. Iliana shares her journey of growing up in Paraguay, embracing her heritage language Guaraní, and the complexities of translating it in a world often dominated by hegemonic languages.We’re exploring the linguistic features of Guaraní, its
182. Speaking Multilingualism In Global Tourism with Ambra Attus of Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are speaking about the power of multilingualism in the global tourism industry with Ambra Attus, a seasoned tourism professional with over 25 years of experience. Originally from Italy and now based in the Dominican Republic, Ambra is a passionate advocate for sustainable tourism practices that foster positive change for both traveler
181. Speaking Yiddish with Mikhl Yashinsky
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are thrilled to welcome Mikhl Yashinsky, a Yiddish playwright, performer, translator, and teacher currently based in New York City. Born in Detroit, Mikhl's connection to the Yiddish language runs deep, rooted in the heritage passed down from his grandparents. Mikhl shares his experiences as a Yiddishist and how this shaped his pas
180. Speaking the Neapolitan language with Massimiliano Canzanella
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we sit down with Massimiliano Canzanella, a passionate advocate for the Neapolitan language and its speakers. Since 2001, he has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at the desegregation of Neapolitan and the recognition of its cultural significance within Italy. From proposing a bill for minority language inclusion to publishing li
179. Speaking New Zealand Sign Language & Te Reo Māori
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are joined by Grace Brown, a passionate Maori wahine and 2025 Winston Churchill Fellow, who is dedicated to bridging cultures through innovation and media. Currently situated in Aotearoa, Grace explores how New Zealand Sign Language, emerging technologies, and cultural insights can enhance communication and accessibility in her homelan
178. Speaking Lao Language & Cuisine with Saeng Douangdara
Hello Language Lovers! On this episode of Speaking Tongues, I’m thrilled to chat with Saeng Douangdara, a passionate content creator and personal chef dedicated to sharing the rich flavors and stories of Lao cuisine through his platform, Saeng's Kitchen. As a first-generation Lao American, Sang’s culinary journey is deeply intertwined with his cultural heritage, and he aims to inspire others t
177. Speaking Igbo With Tochi Precious of Igbo Wikimedians User Group
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we have the pleasure of speaking with Tochi Precious, a dedicated program manager and language advocate with a wealth of experience in the Wikimedia movement. She is the co-founder of the Igbo Wikimedians User Group and currently serves as a Wikimedian in Residence at Wikitongues, where she works at the intersection of open knowledge, ind
176. Speaking Ukrainian with Katerina Manoff, founder of ENGin
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are excited to welcome Katerina Manoff, founder and CEO of ENGin, a global nonprofit dedicated to connecting Ukrainian English learners with volunteers for meaningful conversation and cultural exchange. Katerina shares her inspiring journey from her early life in Kyiv, where she grew up speaking both Russian and Ukrainian, to her curre
175. Speaking Swedish with Katrin of Slow Swedish
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, I’m thrilled to welcome Katrin, the creator behind Slow Swedish, the #1 Swedish language account on Instagram. As the host of the Learn Swedish and Slow Swedish with Katrin podcasts, she bridges the gap between traditional language learning apps and authentic spoken Swedish.Katrin shares her language journey from growing up in Sweden with
174. Speaking Khmer with Ryan Samn of All Things Cambodian🇰🇭
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues we're having a joyous and heartfelt conversation with Ryan Samn, the writer, creator, and educator behind the Instagram account All Things Cambodian. Ryan talks with us about his multicultural background,he reflects on the complexities of language and culture,and we discuss his experiences learning Khmer and the emotional connections t
173. Speaking Dominican Spanish & "The Grand Paloma Resort" with author Cleyvis Natera
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are so thrilled to welcome Cleyvis Natera, the acclaimed author of "Neruda on the Park" to talk about Dominican Spanish language and her latest novel "The Grand Paloma Resort" which is out August 12! Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City, Cleyvis shares her journey as a writer and the cultural nuances of both plac
172. Speaking Manx Gaelic with Dr. Erin McNulty
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, I’m so excited to welcome Dr. Erin McNulty, a researcher specializing in the sociolinguistics of minoritized languages at the University of Glasgow. I’m so excited that we’re finally getting a chance to talk about Manx and I hope you are too because this is a very linguistics & language revitalization focused episode. Our conversatio
171. Speaking Taino with Ra Jikotea Niaku'no of Wuru Taino Tekiro’uo
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, I am so very honored to talk with Ra Jikotea Niaku'no, a Taino Boricua artist and educator, about Taino language, culture, and heritage. Ra shares her journey, rooted in the islands of Borikén (which you also may know as Puerto Rico), as she navigates the complexities of identity and language in a post-colonial context.Throughout our
170. Speaking Syrian Arabic with Paul Nabil Matthis
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are thrilled to welcome Paul, a Syrian-American author and musician based in Philadelphia. In this episode, we’re talking about his fascinating journey navigating his cultural identity through language, music, and food. Paul shares his experiences growing up in Texas’s linguistic landscape, the challenges of maintaining his Arabic, and
169. Speaking Thai, Tigrinya, French & Portuguese with Languages Through Music
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are thrilled to welcome back the endlessly talented and effortlessly cool Desta Haile, founder and director of Languages Through Music. With a rich background in music and multicultural experiences, Desta shares how her journey through various languages has shaped her identity and teaching philosophy. This is our second chat with Desta
168. Speaking Tyap
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we’re so excited to be talking with Kambai about the Tyap language. Kambai hails from the Middle Belt (central) of Nigeria. He is a minoritized language advocate and speaks the Tyap language. Between 2007 and 2020, he developed a writing system called the Akai script for the Nenzit languages. In June 2014, he started the Tyap Language Ins
167. Speaking Korean, Latin, & Ancient Greek
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we’re so excited to welcome language enthusiast, teacher, freelancer and card game extraordinaire Tiara to talk about her language journey through Latin, Ancient Greek & Korean. For this conversation, Tiara joined us all the way from Daegu in South Korea. Tiara discusses the challenges and joys of learning multiple languages, includin
166. Speaking Parisian French, Martinican Creole & The Art of Songwriting with Mike Ibrahim
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we are SO thrilled to welcome French singer-songwriter Mike Ibrahim, a multifaceted artist whose work intertwines the intimate and the political. With a poetic lens, Mike discusses his upcoming LP, La Ballade de Salvatore Lupo, which explores themes of memory, belonging, and the coexistence of life and death through his unique experiences
165. Speaking Ecuadorian Spanish, "Wonderland", & The Art of Writing and Translation
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we dive into the intricate world of bilingualism and translation with Melanie Marquez Adams and Emily Hunsberger, author and translator respectively of Wonderland, a collection of crónicas, essays, and experimental texts.Melanie Márquez Adams is an Ecuadorian American writer. She is the author of two collections of short stories and two e
164. Speaking Galician
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we’re discussing the linguistic and cultural heritage of Galicia with Dani, a passionate Galician language teacher and content creator. Dani shares his journey of embracing his bilingual identity and the challenges faced while navigating the complexities of Galician and Spanish in a rapidly changing linguistic landscape.In this episode we
163. Speaking Ijaw & Yoruba
In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we embark on a fascinating journey through the linguistic and cultural tapestry of Nigeria with Raphael, a multilingual storyteller and podcaster. Raphael shares his unique experiences growing up in Jos, Nigeria, navigating the complexities of language and identity amidst a rich backdrop of diverse cultures. In this episode we discuss: 🇳🇬 Raphael's first la
162. Speaking Piemontese & Lombard
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues we’re having a conversation about Piemontese & Lombard with Guglielmo, co-founder and president of De Vulgare, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about minoritized languages. With a rich background in special education, history, and archaeology, Guglielmo shares his insights on the linguistic landscape of northern
161. Speaking Mauritian Creole
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we explore the vibrant linguistic and cultural landscape of Mauritius with multilingual music artist, writer, producer, and podcaster Lazou. Growing up in a melting pot of languages, Lazou shares her unique experiences navigating English, French, and Mauritian Creole.
In this episode we discuss:
🇲🇺 Lazou's multilingual upbringing, bala
160. Speaking Culinary Storytelling, Sustainability & Global Flavors with Chef Einav Gefen
In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we dive into the world of culinary storytelling and global flavors with Chef Einav Gefen. A seasoned chef and innovator, Einav shares her journey from her roots in Israel to her current role at Restaurant Associates, where she champions quality and sustainability in the culinary arts.
Join us as we discuss:
🫒Chef Einav's multilingual upbringing, with Hebrew
159. Speaking Bahamian Creole, Music & Cuisine with Bodine Victoria 🇧🇸
Hello Language Lovers! In this episode of Speaking Tongues we’re going back to the roots in The Bahamas with multifaceted Bahamian artist Bodine Victoria. Heralded as one of the most consistent hitmakers in the local music business, Bodine Victoria has turned her gift for communication into a successful multi-faceted business.
An actress, entertainer, presenter, and entrepreneur with 20-years of
From the Archive: Speaking Martinique Creole & French
This episode was originally published as Episode 39 on January 11, 2021.
In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we're having a conversation about Martiniquais Creole and French with our guest Mickael, founder of French Class NYC. Mickael shares his insights on the Creole spoken in Martinique and the French spoken in France, discussing the cultural and linguistic nuances that define these languages.
From the Archive: Speaking Singlish
This episode was originally published as Episode 97 on April 18, 2022.
In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we have a conversation about Singlish, a unique linguistic blend that reflects the multicultural essence of Singapore. Our guest, Marcus, provides fascinating insights into the nuances of Singlish and its interplay with the diverse languages of Singapore.
In this episode, we explore:
🇸🇬 T
From the Archive: Speaking Finnish
This episode was originally published as Episode 116 on October 24, 2022
In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we journey into the world of Finnish language and culture with Saga from FinnishLearning on Instagram. Join us as we explore the intricacies of Finnish grammar, the unique agglutinative nature of the language, and the cultural significance of the sauna tradition in Finland.
In this epis
From the Archive: Speaking Armenian
This episode was originally published as Episode 109. Speaking Armenian on July 25, 2022.
In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we're having a conversation on the diverse world of the Armenian language and culture with our guest, Liana, a writer, journalist, and creator of "Dining in Diaspora." Liana shares her journey from Iran to the United States and her experiences within the Armenian communi
From the Archive: Speaking Egyptian Arabic
This episode was originally published as Episode 94 on March 28, 2022
This week, we're diving into the fascinating world of Egyptian Arabic and ancient Egyptian cuisine with Dr. Menna El Dorry, an Egyptologist and archaeobotanist. Dr. Menna shares her expertise on the intersection of language, history, and food in Egypt, offering us a unique glimpse into the past and present culinary traditions of
From the Archive: Speaking Sardinian
This episode was originally published as Episode 119 on November 14, 2022.
This episode of Speaking Tongues wades into the fascinating world of the Sardinian language & culture with our guest Dalila. We explore the unique characteristics of Sardinian, its historical influences from Catalan and Spanish, and how it stands apart from Italian. Dalila shares insights into the grammar, highlightin
From the Archive: Speaking Saint Lucian Kwéyòl
This episode with my guests Kimhia and Indira was originally published as Episode 98 on April 25, 2022.
This episode unfolds the many influences that have shaped Saint Lucian Creole, highlighting its roots in Mandinka and Wolof grammar structures. We explore the cultural significance of Creole Day in Saint Lucia and the use of Madras fabric, while also practicing some phrases in Creole.
In thi
From the Archive: Speaking Thai
This episode with our guest Grace was originally published on May 2, 2022.
In episode 99, we explored the intricacies of Thai grammar, including its 72-letter alphabet, and practice the tonality of the Thai language. Grace guides us through the use of polite particles and highlights the similarities between Thai and Chinese, particularly the five distinct tones.
In this episode, we discuss:
🇹🇭 Th
From the Archive: Speaking Te Reo Maori
This episode was originally published as Episode 83. Speaking Te Reo Maori on January 10, 2022. Our guest is Amelia Butler, the founder of Learn Māori Abroad.
In this episode, we discuss:
🌿 Emilia’s journey with Te Reo Māori, from her early education in Māori immersion schools to her current role in teaching the language worldwide.
🌿 The historical transition of Te Reo Māori from an oral to a
From the Archive: Speaking Latin American Spanish
This conversation with Mauricio of @babelsolutions was originally published on March 21, 2022 as Episode 93: Speaking LatAm Spanish
Episode 93 takes us on a linguistic journey through Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, offering insights into the rich tapestry of Spanish dialects across these regions.
In this episode, we discuss:
🌎 Mauricio’s upbringing between Argentina and P
From the Archive: Speaking Greek
This episode from the archives is a conversation about Greek language and culture with Stefanos, (IG: Learngreekwithstefanos) Greek language teacher from Cyprus. This episode was originally published on August 9, 2021
In this episode, Stefanos shares:
🇬🇷 The connections between modern and ancient Greek, and the intriguing triple Greek dialect.
🇬🇷 Insights into Greek etymology and some favorite r
From the Archive: Speaking Swahili, Kikuyu, & Sheng
In case you missed it, this is a repost of Episode 33. Speaking Swahili, Kikuyu & Sheng, first published Nov 16, 2020.
Our guest Wairimu (@mwalimuwairimu) talks with us about experiences growing up in a multilingual environment and the origins of Swahili, its spread through East Africa, and the unique differences between coastal and Nairobi Swahili.
In this episode, we discuss:
🇰🇪 Wairimu’
158. Speaking Jazz, Cesária & Cape Verdean Blues with Kavita Shah
Hello Language Lovers! Welcome back to a new episode of Speaking Tongues.
This week, we're thrilled to explore several languages through jazz music, the legendary and influential Cesária Évora, and the new album, Cape Verdean Blues with the incredibly talented Kavita Shah. Kavita is an award-winning vocalist, composer, researcher, and educator who deeply engages with the jazz tradition while
157. Speaking Fado Music & Portuguese Language with Cordeone 🇵🇹
Hello Language Lovers! Welcome back to a new episode of Speaking Tongues. This week, we're thrilled to have this conversation about Fado music and European Portuguese language with Cordeone, a multi-instrumentalist who began his musical journey at the tender age of nine. Cordeone's impressive repertoire includes the accordion, piano, classic guitar, Portuguese guitar, Brazilian percussion,
156. Speaking Indigenous Cuisine, Taino Heritage & Spanish Language with Chef Alexandra Strong of Mitsitam Café
Hello Language Lovers! Welcome back to a new episode of Speaking Tongues. This week, we're thrilled to chat with Chef Alexandra Strong, the executive chef for Restaurant Associates at the Mitsitam Café located at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. Chef Alex shares her rich multicultural background with roots in the Indigenous Caribbean, West Africa, and Europe, and h
155. Speaking Marathi
Hello Language Lovers! Welcome back to a new episode of Speaking Tongues. This week, we're pumped to dive into Marathi language and culture with Uma, a writer, literary translator, and film enthusiast. In this conversation, Uma shares a wealth of knowledge about linguistic traditions in South Asia and shares her personal journey with translating her mother tongue, Marathi.
In this episode, we
154. Speaking Ekpeye
Hello Language Lovers! Welcome back to a new episode of Speaking Tongues. This week we’re celebrating Ekpeye language and culture with Franca, founder of the Speak Ekpeye Fluently Language Initiative, an NGO dedicated to the revitalization and promotion of the Ekpeye language.
In this episode we discuss:
🇳🇬the intricacies of the Ekpeye language, its tonal and descriptive nature used when commu
153. Speaking Irish & Valencian
Hello Language Lovers! Welcome back to a new episode of Speaking Tongues. This week, we’re excited to share this conversation about the Irish and Valencian languages with Alexandra, a PhD candidate at the University of Valencia and a mentor with the Endangered Languages Project. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Alexandra now resides in Valencia, Spain, and shares her incredible journey and insight
Bonus Episode. Speaking The Endangered Languages of New York
Hello Language Lovers! Welcome back to a special bonus episode of Speaking Tongues. Today, we have an extraordinary conversation with Ross Perlin, a linguist, writer, and translator, who joins us to discuss the endangered languages of New York City. Ross has written extensively for major publications and is the author of the compelling book "Language: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother T
152. Speaking Shona & Ndebele
Hello Language Lovers! Today, we’re thrilled to talk with Fari, a language lover and multilingual originally from Zimbabwe, joining us from Vancouver. Fari’s diverse linguistic journey has given her a unique perspective on the languages and cultures of Southern and Eastern Africa.
In this conversation, we discuss:
🇿🇼 Fari’s first language, Shona, and her journey learning other languages such as Z
151. Speaking Hausa
Hello Language Lovers! Welcome back to a new episode of Speaking Tongues. This week, we’re thrilled to bring you a conversation about the Hausa language with Amina, an online Hausa teacher joining us from Nigeria. You know how much we love linguistic diversity and I’m so happy to share this conversation exploring the intricacies of Hausa language and the rich cultural tapestry of northern Nigeria.
150. Speaking Babanki & Cameroon Pidgin
Hello Language Lovers! Welcome back to a new episode of Speaking Tongues. This week, we’ve reached episode 150 and I’m so proud to share this conversation about Babanki & Cameroon Pidgin with Pius Akumbu. Pius is a Cameroonian linguist working at LLACAN, a laboratory of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) that specializes in the study of the languages and cultures of Afri
149. Speaking Tamazight & Moroccan Darija
Hello Language Lovers and welcome back to a new episode of Speaking Tongues. This week we are speaking about Tamazight and Moroccan Darija with Itto Outini. Itto is a journalist, Fulbright Scholar, Steinbeck Fellow, MacDowell Fellow, public speaker, and author of the forthcoming memoir, “Blindness is the Light of My Life”. She holds an MA in journalism and strategic media from the University of Ar
148. Speaking Silbo Canario & Canarian Spanish
Hello Language Lovers and thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues. Today, we’re talking about a language that I have really wanted to feature on the show for a long time! Gara is joining us from Tenerife to talk about Silbo Canario and Spanish spoken in the Canary Islands. With a deep passion for preserving and promoting the unique linguistic heritage of her homeland, Gara br
147. Speaking Khroskyabs
Hello Language Lovers and welcome back to a new episode of Speaking Tongues. Today we’re talking about Khroskyabs with Yulha. Yulha is native speaker of this endangered language, from the Tibetan Plateau. She has been working on documenting and revitalizing her mother tongue since her high school and she is optimistic of her work moving into a positive direction.
In this conversation, we discuss:
146. Speaking Kannada
Hello Language Lovers. Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues, the podcast in conversation with multilinguals. Today, we’re talking with Joshua about Kannada, one of the several languages he grew up speaking in his native Karnataka. Joshua is an Indian expat living in France and owes a lot of finding his dream job to his language learning skills. He is from South India and s
145. Speaking Icelandic
Hello Language Lovers! Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues, the podcast in conversation with multi linguals. Today, we’re talking with Óskar about Icelandic language and culture. Óskar Bragi is the Chief Icelandic Language Coach at Speak Viking. He has been teaching Icelandic for over 10 years. When not teaching, you can find him: Spending time with his daughter, going to
144. Speaking Georgian and Mingrelian 🇬🇪
Hello Language Lovers! Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues, the podcast in conversation with multi linguals. Today, I’m speaking with Gvantsa about her languages of Georgian and Mingrelian. Gvantsa is a Master's student at the Technical University of Munich. Although she speaks several languages, her linguistic journey is particularly marked by a deep connection to Ge
143. Speaking Mandarin
Hello Language Lovers! Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues, the podcast in conversation with multilinguals. This week, I’m joined by Emily of Language Travel Adoptee to talk about her language story and her journey of connecting to Mandarin Chinese
In this episode Emily talks to us about:
💫 Her adoption story and her journey to deciding that she was ready to share it wit
142. Speaking Belize Kriol 🇧🇿
Hello Language Lovers. Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues. This week, I’m thrilled to bring you this conversation with Belizean linguist, Silvanna Udz.
Silvaana Maree Udz, Ed.D., is a founding member of di National Kriol Council of Belize. In addition to ongoing Belize Kriol language outputs, she also spent seven years as an assistant professor teaching English in Taiwa
141. Speaking Basque
Hello Language Lovers! Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues, the podcast in conversation with multi linguals. This week, we’re talking with Eukene about her language of Basque. Eukene is a Ph.D. candidate in Linguistic Studies at the University of Miami. She is an advocate of minority languages and cultures. Her work focuses on the language variation in young Basque speake
140. Speaking Algerian Arabic
Hello Language Lovers! Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues, the podcast in conversation with multilinguals. In this episode, we’re talking to Meriem about her Algerian language and culture, as well as architecture and design. Meriem is an Algerian-born, Doha-raised designer currently based in the US, coalescing cultural experiences into multidisciplinary design exploratio
139. Speaking Ktunaxa
Hello Language Lovers! Thanks for tuning in to this new episode. This week we’re speaking with Aiyana (IG@ktunaxapride) about her language of Ktunaxa. Aiyana Twigg is Indigenous, belonging to two nations in Canada, the Ktunaxa Nation and Blackfoot. She grew up within the Ktunaxa Nation in Tobacco Plains and graduated from University with a passion to revitalize her Indigenous language Ktunaxa.
In
138. Speaking Catalan 🇦🇩
Hello Language Lovers! This is episode 138 and I’m thrilled to bring you this conversation with Taylor @centralpolyglot about Catalan language and culture in Andorra. Taylor is a Fulbright scholar currently living in the European microstate of Andorra and in this episode, we talk about:
🇦🇩 Her path to the Fulbright program that led her to living in Andorra from her upbringing in Missouri
🇦🇩 Vari
137. Speaking Brazilian Portuguese
Hello Language Lovers! Today we are chatting all things Brazilian Portuguese and Brazilian music with our favorite samba dancer, DJ and musician Leticia @areyoubrazilian Leticia, like me, is a self-proclaimed Brazilophile and having this chance to collectively geek out over Brazilian dance, culture, and samba music new and old was truly a blast!
In this episode we talk about
🇧🇷 How Leticia initi
136. Speaking Haitian Creole & Jamaican Patois
Hello Language Lovers! Today we are speaking with Maggie, a content creator based in Toronto about her languages of Haitian Creole and Jamaican Patois
Maggie is a perfect person to have this conversation with as she is so well versed on creole languages spoken not just in the Caribbean but all over the world. In this episode we talk about
How Jamaican stands out in the Caribbean through culture an
135. Speaking Spanish & Italian
Hello Language Lovers! Today we’re talking about Spanish (spoken in Spain) & Italian with Jamal.
In this episode, he talks to us about
Making the switch from using academic Spanish to conversing in everyday Spanish
His favorite conversation words in Spanish
Learning Italian - specifically the Roman vernacular - while living in Spain
How personas can change when speaking different
134. Speaking French
Hello Language Lovers! Today, we’re talking about French - a language that many of you know I’m learning - with Julie, the founder of Towanda Language School. Julie is a language teacher and learner who loves to bust myths around language learning. She talks to us in this conversation about how language has helped her make connections as she’s traveled all over the world.
In this episode some of
133. Speaking Cantonese & Welsh
Hello Language Lovers! It’s a new year and a new season of Speaking Tongues. Today, we’re welcoming Israel to talk about his languages of Cantonese and Welsh. Israel is a composer by day and a polyglot/language enthusiast/YouTuber/podcaster by night (though nowadays usually in reverse) from Hong Kong, based in Manchester. His interest in languages was sparked by his musical ear, and extends to a v
132. Speaking Gujarati
Hello Language Lovers! Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues- the podcast in conversation with multilinguals. This week, we’re talking with Babita Patel, a humanitarian photographer and founder of The KIOO Project, about her language of Gujarati.
In this episode, Babita talks to us about her very international life and growing up speaking Gujarati in her home and community
