How mother tongue moulds us
About this episode
The episode explores the effects of speaking multiple languages on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors through interviews with two researchers.
Datshiane Navanayagam speaks to two women who research what happens to our thoughts, feelings and behaviours when we speak many languages. To what extent do we have a “mother tongue” – and what happens if we stop using it? Dr Aneta Pavlenko is a Ukrainian-American linguist who looks at the emotional impact of moving between languages. Professor Núria Sebastián Gallés is a Spanish cognitive psychologist who studies bilingual toddlers and young babies. Produced by Rebecca Moore and Hannah Sander (Image: (L) Aneta Pavlenko, courtesy Aneta Pavlenko. (R) Núria Sebastián Gallés, courtesy Núria Sebastián Gallés.)
People in this episode
Host: Datshiane Navanayagam
Guests: Dr Aneta Pavlenko, Professor Núria Sebastián Gallés
Topics covered
- language
- bilingualism
- cognition
- emotional impact
- mother tongue
Keywords
- mother tongue
- bilingualism
- language impact
- cognitive psychology
- emotional effects
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BBC World Service
Places: Ukraine, Spain
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