Speaking of Language

Sociolinguist, author, and professor Valerie Fridland returns to our podcast to discuss accents, dialects, and her new book, Why We Talk Funny. https://www.valeriefridland.com/   https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/language-in-the-wild   Featured music: “Did I Stutter?” by Pocket Bandits https://pocketbandits.com #Schietwetter

Dr. Serene Wang joins us to discuss the power of “chunking” in language learning for more effective communication and understanding. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Serene-Wang-2   #EmergentBilingual

Lincoln Snyder joins us to discuss the Pennsylvania Dutch language, its history, and the ongoing efforts to revitalize it. https://lincolnsnyder.com/ #serendipity

Thaiza Barros enlightens us about language acquisition and Portuguese, and shares some findings from her research into how young children acquire specific speech sounds. https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=-u2wcXUAAAAJ&hl=pt-BR   #poesia #pirilampo

Dr. LeAnne Spino discusses the differences between language proficiency and intercultural competence, and offers strategies for demonstrating and communicating the value of language programs.  https://web.uri.edu/languages/meet/leanne-spino-seijas/   https://web.uri.edu/global/globalize-your-degree/signature-international-programs/   #café

Megan Yap and Simon Ilincev, two Cornell students studying linguistics and computer science, introduce us to Lingofable, their new app offering language learning through stories. https://lingofable.com/   team@lingofable.com #超凡入圣 #odskočitsi

Leslie Monter-Casio, Catherine Mao, and Molly Jones, Cornell students from the executive board of ALANA, share the many ways their student organization supports intercultural programming on campus. https://www.instagram.com/alanaintercultural   https://cornell.campusgroups.com/alana Instagram: @alanaintercultural #échaleganas #cānyù #whimsy

Nandipa Sipengane, isiZulu language instructor from Yale University's Council on African Studies, discusses strategies for pedagogy and community building in less commonly taught languages, both in person and over distance. https://macmillan.yale.edu/africa/person/nandipa-sipengane   https://sharedcourseinitiative.org/   nandipa.sipengane@yale.edu   #ubuntu   Read a transcription of this episode h...

Our dear colleague and friend Naomi Larson is in the studio with us today! Naomi is a senior lecturer in Japanese here at Cornell, and we will talk about the many wonderful opportunities she creates for language learners here, and everywhere, to engage with each other and with language and culture. https://asianstudies.cornell.edu/naomi-nakada-larson   #山眠る #山笑う

In this episode, Rosie Nguyen, accomplished author and PhD student at Cornell, shares the value in her translinguistic experience writing award-winning fiction in Vietnamese as well as researching communication, media, and digital culture in English here at Cornell. https://www.facebook.com/rosienguyenvn/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13852796.Rosie_Nguy_n   https://rosienguyen.net/ #thươn...

In this episode, we explore how multilingualism and cultural sensibility shape who we are, how we relate to others, and how we move through our professional lives. #воля

Cornell students Colette Bu, Cameron Howland, and Cody Paul share their experiences as language tutors and conversation hour leaders. We will hear all about these important resources and why everyone should join in on the fun, and discuss the many other ways that these students' language skills enrich their lives.  https://lrc.cornell.edu/conversation-hours https://lrc.cornell.edu/language-tutorin...

Dr. Jamie Edmonds is the director of the Critical Languages Institute at Arizona State University. He shares his thoughts on the importance and future of language education. https://cli.asu.edu/   Instagram: @criticallanguagesinstitute Facebook: @asucli #isihurip  #santaisaja

Cornell student Arina Danilina joins us to discuss her academic and linguistic journeys. As a dedicated facilitator of Russian conversation hours and a participant in the College Scholar Program, Arina's research investigates how the architecture and design of refugee housing impacts mental health. She is also interested in the interaction between spaces and people, and finding connection over pol...

Dr. Dominique Branson, a past Soros Justice Fellow with the Open Society Foundations, and a Cornell alum, joins us to discuss linguistic justice and what it means for racial disparities in the US legal system. https://dominiquebranson.com/   #shalom

Our annual expression of gratitude from the Language Resource Center family. Featuring: Ashley Griffith (LRC Engagement & Outreach Coordinator) Ahmed Shamim (LRC Academic Programs Coordinator) Ruby Shaw (LRC student intern) Jack Brown (guest, season 16, episode 4) Dan Kaufman (guest, season 16, episode 12) Mijeong Mimi Kim (guest, season 16, episode 8) Jadon Geathers (guest, season 16, episode...

Dr. Daniel Kaufman returns to Speaking of Language to discuss language revitalization, language ideology, the deceptiveness of AI, and more. Watch Dan's talk at the LRC: https://youtu.be/ew2VfzbRtz4 https://www.elalliance.org/ https://languagemap.nyc/   https://cs.uky.edu/~raphael/linguistics/phonology/currentMi.cgi   #redouble #bawi

We chat with Cornell PhD student Jadon Geathers about the development of his AI speaking partner platform for language learners, ChitterChatter. #仁 https://jadongeathers.github.io/   The Future of Learning Lab: https://learning.cis.cornell.edu/ chitterchatter.app/   Instagram: @jadonarmon  Cornell Chronicle article: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2025/07/ai-tool-helps-students-build-confidence-...

Dr. Polly Lauer, a Klarman Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Romance Studies here at Cornell, shares how radio and other mass media have contributed to the revitalization of Indigenous language and community in Guatemala. polly.lauer@cornell.edu   https://romancestudies.cornell.edu/polly-lauer   #maltyoxinik

We are joined by the versatile and accomplished Daisy Rockwell, a Vermont-based painter and award-winning translator of Hindi and Urdu literature. In 2022, she was awarded the Booker Prize for Translation, and she recently gave a talk as part of Cornell’s 15th annual Tagore lecture series in Modern Indian Literature called Mixed Metaphors: Adventures in Translationland. She speaks with Sam about l...

Dr. Mijeong Mimi Kim follows up on her recent talk at Cornell, sharing the benefits of integrating undergraduate teaching assistants into the language curriculum.    mmkim@wustl.edu Watch Mimi's talk at Cornell: https://youtu.be/fE9df4GciCU #curiosity

Cornell's Japanese language program has a partnership with Kansai University. We meet two of their students, and discuss the importance of international experiences and exchange. #practicemakesperfect #千里の道も一歩から

The Southwest Asia and North Africa Program (SWANA) is Cornell’s new hub for research, learning, and engagement with the cultures and people of the vast geographical region stretching from Morocco in the west to Iran in the east. Women of MENA is a Cornell student organization: a digital publication at the intersection of culture and gender studies. Their platform offers a space for open dialogue,...

Fernando Rubio, director of the Yale Center for Language Study, talks all about Open Educational Resources for language teaching and learning. Dr. Rubio’s talk at Cornell: https://youtu.be/U6Imb0FxB0o?si=IFtIxMxaBZUzvveP #txirimiri  #calabobos #orbayu

Jack Brown, PhD student in Cornell's Department of Romance Studies, is the Alumni Ambassador for the Critical Language Scholarship Program. Jack discusses the CLS and reasserts the importance of language study in creating a safer, more connected world. https://einaudi.cornell.edu/learn/academics/critical-language-scholarship-program   https://clscholarship.org/   https://events.cornell.edu/event/i...