The Conversation

A love for my language


Listen Later

Around the world, languages are disappearing. Kim Chakanetsa speaks to two women who are helping to keep their endangered languages alive – how has learning the words of their ancestors shaped their identities?

Mshkogaabwid Kwe from Turtle Island, an indigenous name for Canada, learned her clan’s language, Anishinaabemowin, as an adult. She is now raising her children in an English-free home. She has a deep gratitude to those who walked before her and kept the words alive, knowing the persecution that they faced.

Tsamaxa Toroxa spoke English and Afrikaans growing up in South Africa, and often faced prejudice from other Black South Africans who expected her to speak an indigenous language. Learning the language of her ancestors, Khoe, has shaped how she sees herself and she is now helping to keep the language alive by sharing it with others through the arts.

Produced by Caitlin Sneddon

IMAGE DETAILS

L: Mshkogaabwid Kwe (credit Mshkogaabwid Kwe)
R: Tsamaxa Toroxa (credit Tsamaxa Toroxa)

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The ConversationBy BBC World Service

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

69 ratings


More shows like The Conversation

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,397 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,839 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,781 Listeners

Business Daily by BBC World Service

Business Daily

538 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,802 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,058 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,916 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,077 Listeners

Learning English Stories by BBC Radio

Learning English Stories

393 Listeners

Learning English Vocabulary by BBC Radio

Learning English Vocabulary

504 Listeners

Learning English Grammar by BBC Radio

Learning English Grammar

310 Listeners

Learning English from the News by BBC Radio

Learning English from the News

251 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

735 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

2,972 Listeners

Simple English News Daily by SEND7

Simple English News Daily

31 Listeners

The British English Podcast by Charlie Baxter

The British English Podcast

64 Listeners

Thinking in English by Thomas Wilkinson

Thinking in English

96 Listeners

Limelight by BBC Radio 4

Limelight

257 Listeners

British English Listening Practice - English Go! Podcast by Chris

British English Listening Practice - English Go! Podcast

21 Listeners

English in a Minute by BBC Radio

English in a Minute

14 Listeners

What in the World by BBC World Service

What in the World

16 Listeners

Learning English For Work by BBC News

Learning English For Work

36 Listeners

Learning Easy English by BBC

Learning Easy English

98 Listeners