Speaking Tongues Podcast: Celebrating Voices, Stories, and Flavors From Around the Globe

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...

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, balanci...

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 a...

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...

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....

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: 🇸🇬 The...

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 episode...

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 community...

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...

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, highlighting...

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 this ep...

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: 🇹🇭 The...

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 wr...

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 Per...

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 roo...

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’s jo...

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 a...

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,...

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...

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...

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 commun...

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...

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...

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 Zu...

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....