Anna Babel

Linguist and professor, Anna Babel, answers questions about bilingualism and the number of languages one can learn. Kids from around the world share their experiences speaking multiple languages and the cultural connections they feel. The podcast also discusses the importance of languages as reflections of identities and the challenges of humor and authenticity in non-native languages.

In this engaging talk, Anna Babel, a Spanish professor at Ohio State University, dives into the complex ties between language and social identity. She challenges listeners to rethink who counts as a language speaker, using personal anecdotes and research. Babel highlights how ethnic backgrounds can skew perceptions of language proficiency and discusses the biases faced by bilingual children in education. With insights into the socio-economic factors affecting language assessment, she prompts a reevaluation of our assumptions about language skills.