How mother tongue moulds us

How mother tongue moulds us

From The Conversation by BBC World Service

March 16, 2026 · 26 min

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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