Julie Sedivy has a PhD in linguistics and had 5 languages under her belt by the time she was 5. Born in the Czechoslovakia and moving several times through many European countries, her family landed in Canada and slowly, English became the dominant language despite their Czech roots. Keeping a heritage language is difficult, and near impossible in a home where only one parent speaks that second language. We discuss losing language and exposure to heritage roots, the revelation of going back to the heritage country and understanding why you are the way you are, the over-importance of assimilation causing the ceasing of the heritage language, shame of a second language and how those with a second language or speaking English with an accent are perceived as different and sometimes excluded, when parents are told to only speak English to accelerate the child/children's learning, it can cause a language barrier in families, crossover learning, why no one should ever say "why can't they speak English", learning to embrace multilingualism, learning a second language will help you learn more languages, extending your communication repertoire, Canada's multilingual regions, the (false) perception of Spanish taking over the US, English has a pull and seems to become the default language even with those who speak the same heritage language, Dialectal and generational differences with language, honoring language, not always valuing the past, Indigenous languages, consulting with the elders, how things in America are disposable, getting curious about words, playing devil's advocate, Shakespeare and spelling, languages reflect cultures, valuing language, reverence can get in the way of preserving a heritage language, imperfect command of multiple languages, reverence tempered with realism, the French, Montreal and making an effort, swear words, feeling like a tourist, enriching your life with language and culture, commitment to keeping/acquiring a heritage or second language, the internet and podcast can help you learn/maintain a second language, addressing social attitudes, language is loaded for many people, evolutionary bias, under-travelled Americans and who we have different cultures in different states, opening our minds and experiencing other cultures locally.

You can find Julie at https://juliesedivy.com

Her new book Memory Speaks: On Losing and Reclaiming Language and Self is available for pre-order now (out on 10/12/21): https://www.amazon.com/Memory-Speaks-Losing-Reclaiming-Language/dp/067498028X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1QWJPC7BYBBLH&dchild=1&keywords=memory+speaks+sedivy&qid=1620057095&sprefix=sedivy+mem%2Caps%2C492&sr=8-1

or Order it from Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/11990/9780674980280

Episode recorded on 02/09/21
Episode released on 05/05/21

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Music: Shower Beer by GG Riggs