[Music] hello everyone and welcome to New York
hello everyone and welcome to New York
hello everyone and welcome to New York University of adavi here we live in a
University of adavi here we live in a
University of adavi here we live in a multicultural and multilingual
multicultural and multilingual
multicultural and multilingual environment as you can tell by those
environment as you can tell by those
environment as you can tell by those people sitting around you just as a
people sitting around you just as a
people sitting around you just as a quick survey I’d like you to add a raise
quick survey I’d like you to add a raise
quick survey I’d like you to add a raise your hand if you speak at most one
your hand if you speak at most one
your hand if you speak at most one language at most two languages three
language at most two languages three
language at most two languages three four wow what a great range of
four wow what a great range of
four wow what a great range of linguistic diversity just in this room I
linguistic diversity just in this room I
linguistic diversity just in this room I myself speak two languages fluently
myself speak two languages fluently
myself speak two languages fluently English and Shauna Shauna is a majority
English and Shauna Shauna is a majority
English and Shauna Shauna is a majority language spoken in southern Africa in a
language spoken in southern Africa in a
language spoken in southern Africa in a country called Zimbabwe it’s not a
country called Zimbabwe it’s not a
country called Zimbabwe it’s not a language that immediately sparked
language that immediately sparked
language that immediately sparked recognition and so I’m always excited to
recognition and so I’m always excited to
recognition and so I’m always excited to share it with everyone I come across at
share it with everyone I come across at
share it with everyone I come across at first it was easy they would ask
first it was easy they would ask
first it was easy they would ask questions like how do I say thank you or
questions like how do I say thank you or
questions like how do I say thank you or how do I say that I’m going to the mall
how do I say that I’m going to the mall
how do I say that I’m going to the mall but then they started asking for a
but then they started asking for a
but then they started asking for a difficult question like how do I say
difficult question like how do I say
difficult question like how do I say that the orange hue of the sunlight
that the orange hue of the sunlight
that the orange hue of the sunlight reflects happiness I had to stop and
reflects happiness I had to stop and
reflects happiness I had to stop and think for a while eventually I got there
think for a while eventually I got there
think for a while eventually I got there but the lack of ease with which I got
but the lack of ease with which I got
but the lack of ease with which I got there concern you
there concern you
there concern you not because I was forgetting English
not because I was forgetting English
not because I was forgetting English translations to Shana saying but because
translations to Shana saying but because
translations to Shana saying but because it took me back to a time in high school
it took me back to a time in high school
it took me back to a time in high school when a friend threatened my identity I
when a friend threatened my identity I
when a friend threatened my identity I went to school with this friend in an
went to school with this friend in an
went to school with this friend in an international school Swasey that she had
international school Swasey that she had
international school Swasey that she had been born and raised her entire life in
been born and raised her entire life in
been born and raised her entire life in Zimbabwe and so had earned the title of
Zimbabwe and so had earned the title of
Zimbabwe and so had earned the title of the reals of Baldwin I was petrified of
the reals of Baldwin I was petrified of
the reals of Baldwin I was petrified of her It was as if she could somehow
her It was as if she could somehow
her It was as if she could somehow decide whether or not I was accepted
decide whether or not I was accepted
decide whether or not I was accepted into my culture identity weeks went by
into my culture identity weeks went by
into my culture identity weeks went by and nothing happened I started to feel a
and nothing happened I started to feel a
and nothing happened I started to feel a bit ridiculous actually but then it
bit ridiculous actually but then it
bit ridiculous actually but then it happened I said something grammatically
happened I said something grammatically
happened I said something grammatically incorrect in Shona and she called me a
incorrect in Shona and she called me a
incorrect in Shona and she called me a diluted apple at that moment not only
diluted apple at that moment not only
diluted apple at that moment not only had I been removed from my own country
had I been removed from my own country
had I been removed from my own country I’ve been removed from an entire
I’ve been removed from an entire
I’ve been removed from an entire continent
it was then that I realized why language
it was then that I realized why language is important see Shawna was an
is important see Shawna was an
is important see Shawna was an intangible part of the modern culture
intangible part of the modern culture
intangible part of the modern culture that I could call mine even though I
that I could call mine even though I
that I could call mine even though I wasn’t physically there the jokes and
wasn’t physically there the jokes and
wasn’t physically there the jokes and the secret comments that I could make in
the secret comments that I could make in
the secret comments that I could make in Shawna
Shawna
Shawna made me feel like I belong and for a
made me feel like I belong and for a
made me feel like I belong and for a second
second
second my friend had taken that away from me
my friend had taken that away from me
my friend had taken that away from me and made me feel wrong I had to relive
and made me feel wrong I had to relive
and made me feel wrong I had to relive this feeling of loss when I struggled to
this feeling of loss when I struggled to
this feeling of loss when I struggled to share Shawna with my NY U of W friend
share Shawna with my NY U of W friend
share Shawna with my NY U of W friend and I didn’t like it wanted seeking to
and I didn’t like it wanted seeking to
and I didn’t like it wanted seeking to find company and my concern I started
find company and my concern I started
find company and my concern I started asking others how well-versed they felt
asking others how well-versed they felt
asking others how well-versed they felt in their native language given that a
in their native language given that a
in their native language given that a lot of them have gone to school
lot of them have gone to school
lot of them have gone to school exclusively in English or are heavily
exclusively in English or are heavily
exclusively in English or are heavily exposed to English through media and
exposed to English through media and
exposed to English through media and when I found these through these
when I found these through these
when I found these through these conversations was that I was not alone
conversations was that I was not alone
conversations was that I was not alone we were all suffering but the question
we were all suffering but the question
we were all suffering but the question is suffering from what what is it that
is suffering from what what is it that
is suffering from what what is it that is threatening native languages I needed
is threatening native languages I needed
is threatening native languages I needed only to look around the room to answer
only to look around the room to answer
only to look around the room to answer that question shells stocked with
that question shells stocked with
that question shells stocked with endless English titles multiple news
endless English titles multiple news
endless English titles multiple news channels all in one language even the
channels all in one language even the
channels all in one language even the house decorations were in English
house decorations were in English
house decorations were in English English had invaded my house my room and
English had invaded my house my room and
English had invaded my house my room and now it was invading my mom English has
now it was invading my mom English has
now it was invading my mom English has started a slow and quiet assault in
started a slow and quiet assault in
started a slow and quiet assault in native languages and this is mostly due
native languages and this is mostly due
native languages and this is mostly due to an imbalance of exchange English has
to an imbalance of exchange English has
to an imbalance of exchange English has gained prominence on the global stage
gained prominence on the global stage
gained prominence on the global stage because of this important in
because of this important in
because of this important in communication politic and economic such
communication politic and economic such
communication politic and economic such that it’s being rapidly exported to
that it’s being rapidly exported to
that it’s being rapidly exported to places where English was never dominant
places where English was never dominant
places where English was never dominant before but a similar export of native
before but a similar export of native
before but a similar export of native languages to other parts of the world is
languages to other parts of the world is
languages to other parts of the world is not being observed and this imbalance is
not being observed and this imbalance is
not being observed and this imbalance is eroding native languages to demonstrate
eroding native languages to demonstrate
eroding native languages to demonstrate this visually I’d like to direct your
this visually I’d like to direct your
this visually I’d like to direct your attention towards me
attention towards me
attention towards me currently there are seven thousand one
currently there are seven thousand one
currently there are seven thousand one hundred and two known languages to man
hundred and two known languages to man
hundred and two known languages to man and according to the endangered
and according to the endangered
and according to the endangered languages project by the
languages project by the
languages project by the our ends of linguistic diversity the
our ends of linguistic diversity the
our ends of linguistic diversity the number of languages are predicted to
number of languages are predicted to
number of languages are predicted to drop to 4048 by 2017 that means by the
drop to 4048 by 2017 that means by the
drop to 4048 by 2017 that means by the end of our lifetimes the number of
end of our lifetimes the number of
end of our lifetimes the number of languages will be half of what they are
languages will be half of what they are
languages will be half of what they are today why is this important why should
today why is this important why should
today why is this important why should we care
we care
we care well it’s in the words of one of my
well it’s in the words of one of my
well it’s in the words of one of my favorite people the late and former
favorite people the late and former
favorite people the late and former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela
president of South Africa Nelson Mandela
president of South Africa Nelson Mandela he said if you talk to a man in a
he said if you talk to a man in a
he said if you talk to a man in a language he understands that goes to his
language he understands that goes to his
language he understands that goes to his head but if you talk to a man in his
head but if you talk to a man in his
head but if you talk to a man in his language that goes to his heart
language that goes to his heart
language that goes to his heart English is for communication but it is
English is for communication but it is
English is for communication but it is far more than that it is a window into
far more than that it is a window into
far more than that it is a window into the inner workings of a person a
the inner workings of a person a
the inner workings of a person a person’s being is held in their native
person’s being is held in their native
person’s being is held in their native tongue and to compromise that will be a
tongue and to compromise that will be a
tongue and to compromise that will be a crime one of the way these crimes is
crime one of the way these crimes is
crime one of the way these crimes is being committed is to the creation of
being committed is to the creation of
being committed is to the creation of what I would like to call the glitches
what I would like to call the glitches
what I would like to call the glitches the collisions are a combination of
the collisions are a combination of
the collisions are a combination of English and a native language to take
English and a native language to take
English and a native language to take for example Shona you can have Shona and
for example Shona you can have Shona and
for example Shona you can have Shona and English and get some good a perhaps more
English and get some good a perhaps more
English and get some good a perhaps more famous example because it’s the name of
famous example because it’s the name of
famous example because it’s the name of a movie is the combination of Spanish
a movie is the combination of Spanish
a movie is the combination of Spanish and English and you get Spanglish this
and English and you get Spanglish this
and English and you get Spanglish this unplanned combination of native
unplanned combination of native
unplanned combination of native languages usually arises when a person
languages usually arises when a person
languages usually arises when a person is speaking and for a fraction of a
is speaking and for a fraction of a
is speaking and for a fraction of a second they forget the word in the
second they forget the word in the
second they forget the word in the native language that complete sentence
native language that complete sentence
native language that complete sentence to illustrate this with a simple example
to illustrate this with a simple example
to illustrate this with a simple example in Shona if you want to say can I please
in Shona if you want to say can I please
in Shona if you want to say can I please use your phone you would say beautiful
use your phone you would say beautiful
use your phone you would say beautiful kumbaya Kushan is an area but sometimes
kumbaya Kushan is an area but sometimes
kumbaya Kushan is an area but sometimes because we hear phone so often in
because we hear phone so often in
because we hear phone so often in English we forget what the word is for
English we forget what the word is for
English we forget what the word is for for and so there’s this blank in our
for and so there’s this blank in our
for and so there’s this blank in our sentence instead of leaving the blank
sentence instead of leaving the blank
sentence instead of leaving the blank present day we just borrow an English
present day we just borrow an English
present day we just borrow an English word and fit it into our senses and the
word and fit it into our senses and the
word and fit it into our senses and the sentence becomes guru koo kumba la
sentence becomes guru koo kumba la
sentence becomes guru koo kumba la bouche and Issa for yay
bouche and Issa for yay
bouche and Issa for yay what
what
what created is a temporary patch for my
created is a temporary patch for my
created is a temporary patch for my senses but over time this patch becomes
senses but over time this patch becomes
senses but over time this patch becomes less temporary and more permanent this
less temporary and more permanent this
less temporary and more permanent this process of filling in the blanks doesn’t
process of filling in the blanks doesn’t
process of filling in the blanks doesn’t even have to be a single word it can be
even have to be a single word it can be
even have to be a single word it can be entire sentences that are mixed into a
entire sentences that are mixed into a
entire sentences that are mixed into a conversation I admitted doing this quite
conversation I admitted doing this quite
conversation I admitted doing this quite often sometimes with my father and
often sometimes with my father and
often sometimes with my father and mother call me we may stop the
mother call me we may stop the
mother call me we may stop the conversation Shawna saying hi and hello
conversation Shawna saying hi and hello
conversation Shawna saying hi and hello and I’m gonna have to explain the
and I’m gonna have to explain the
and I’m gonna have to explain the complicated things I’m doing in
complicated things I’m doing in
complicated things I’m doing in university we may switch back to English
university we may switch back to English
university we may switch back to English because it would take me forever to say
because it would take me forever to say
because it would take me forever to say that in Shona and then at the end of the
that in Shona and then at the end of the
that in Shona and then at the end of the conversation we might say goodbye in
conversation we might say goodbye in
conversation we might say goodbye in English or Shona depending on how we
English or Shona depending on how we
English or Shona depending on how we feel my roommates often over here and my
feel my roommates often over here and my
feel my roommates often over here and my conversations and our marble in my
conversations and our marble in my
conversations and our marble in my ability to drift in and out of my native
ability to drift in and out of my native
ability to drift in and out of my native tongue but if only they knew it was a
tongue but if only they knew it was a
tongue but if only they knew it was a skill I wish I didn’t have filling in
skill I wish I didn’t have filling in
skill I wish I didn’t have filling in the blanks is doing a lot of damages to
the blanks is doing a lot of damages to
the blanks is doing a lot of damages to languidly it eats away at the language
languidly it eats away at the language
languidly it eats away at the language until there is nothing left until the
until there is nothing left until the
until there is nothing left until the language has less than tactical and
language has less than tactical and
language has less than tactical and grammatical complexity such that it
grammatical complexity such that it
grammatical complexity such that it fails to evolve with the innovations
fails to evolve with the innovations
fails to evolve with the innovations that lead names and descriptions
that lead names and descriptions
that lead names and descriptions how can people update their language if
how can people update their language if
how can people update their language if they’re losing the components that are
they’re losing the components that are
they’re losing the components that are already there the lots of native
already there the lots of native
already there the lots of native languages is also being mediated through
languages is also being mediated through
languages is also being mediated through the lack of formal education in many
the lack of formal education in many
the lack of formal education in many places schools are toward exclusively in
places schools are toward exclusively in
places schools are toward exclusively in English even if that’s not the native
English even if that’s not the native
English even if that’s not the native language of the place I can tell you the
language of the place I can tell you the
language of the place I can tell you the English type of I read in lower high
English type of I read in lower high
English type of I read in lower high school and the first year of college
school and the first year of college
school and the first year of college titles you probably remember too if you
titles you probably remember too if you
titles you probably remember too if you went to an english-speaking school but
went to an english-speaking school but
went to an english-speaking school but ask me the number of Shona titles I
ask me the number of Shona titles I
ask me the number of Shona titles I remember in the past five years and
remember in the past five years and
remember in the past five years and those are far fewer and this isn’t just
those are far fewer and this isn’t just
those are far fewer and this isn’t just a personal experience it’s a national
a personal experience it’s a national
a personal experience it’s a national experience the number of academic and
experience the number of academic and
experience the number of academic and fiction books written in Shona declined
fiction books written in Shona declined
fiction books written in Shona declined dramatically as you go from primary to
dramatically as you go from primary to
dramatically as you go from primary to secondary to tertiary education this
secondary to tertiary education this
secondary to tertiary education this seems counterintuitive to me because as
seems counterintuitive to me because as
seems counterintuitive to me because as you reach higher
you reach higher
you reach higher educational levels you’re supposed to be
educational levels you’re supposed to be
educational levels you’re supposed to be developing a richer language be forming
developing a richer language be forming
developing a richer language be forming new associations and connections that
new associations and connections that
new associations and connections that didn’t exist before
didn’t exist before
didn’t exist before if comprehensive academic Shona stops in
if comprehensive academic Shona stops in
if comprehensive academic Shona stops in early adolescence how are children
early adolescence how are children
early adolescence how are children supposed to talk about more than
supposed to talk about more than
supposed to talk about more than everyday matters how are we going to
everyday matters how are we going to
everyday matters how are we going to equip them with the tools to develop
equip them with the tools to develop
equip them with the tools to develop their language in the rapidly changing
their language in the rapidly changing
their language in the rapidly changing world that we live in that is the crux
world that we live in that is the crux
world that we live in that is the crux of language sig nation and under
of language sig nation and under
of language sig nation and under development it is the death of a
development it is the death of a
development it is the death of a language before its time the spread of
language before its time the spread of
language before its time the spread of English is also resulting in expression
English is also resulting in expression
English is also resulting in expression oppression for me there is something I
oppression for me there is something I
oppression for me there is something I cannot say in English just because I
cannot say in English just because I
cannot say in English just because I take on a slightly different persona
take on a slightly different persona
take on a slightly different persona when I speak English compared to when I
when I speak English compared to when I
when I speak English compared to when I speak Hashanah
speak Hashanah
speak Hashanah for example Shona speaking one guy is
for example Shona speaking one guy is
for example Shona speaking one guy is way more loud and way less shout than
way more loud and way less shout than
way more loud and way less shout than English speaking all that and I often
English speaking all that and I often
English speaking all that and I often see this in pictures of myself in the
see this in pictures of myself in the
see this in pictures of myself in the picture on your far left is me just
picture on your far left is me just
picture on your far left is me just before an english-speaking debate I look
before an english-speaking debate I look
before an english-speaking debate I look very sticky and the other picture is me
very sticky and the other picture is me
very sticky and the other picture is me with my mother talking and laughing in
with my mother talking and laughing in
with my mother talking and laughing in front now don’t get me wrong I’m not
front now don’t get me wrong I’m not
front now don’t get me wrong I’m not saying I’m always happy when I speak
saying I’m always happy when I speak
saying I’m always happy when I speak Shona and I’m always sad when I speaking
Shona and I’m always sad when I speaking
Shona and I’m always sad when I speaking but there’s just a certain comfort
but there’s just a certain comfort
but there’s just a certain comfort ability that comes with speaking your
ability that comes with speaking your
ability that comes with speaking your native tongue speaking Shona is like
native tongue speaking Shona is like
native tongue speaking Shona is like going home in a way it’s a place where I
going home in a way it’s a place where I
going home in a way it’s a place where I never feel judged for being myself my
never feel judged for being myself my
never feel judged for being myself my mother who is in this photograph also
mother who is in this photograph also
mother who is in this photograph also experiences this dual personality she
experiences this dual personality she
experiences this dual personality she always chastises me in Shona as if doing
always chastises me in Shona as if doing
always chastises me in Shona as if doing it in English will somehow result in a
it in English will somehow result in a
it in English will somehow result in a half-hearted expression of her
half-hearted expression of her
half-hearted expression of her disappointment it’s as if all her
disappointment it’s as if all her
disappointment it’s as if all her intense emotional state are tied to
intense emotional state are tied to
intense emotional state are tied to Shona and that doing it in English will
Shona and that doing it in English will
Shona and that doing it in English will somehow be a form of infidelity to be
somehow be a form of infidelity to be
somehow be a form of infidelity to be honest it’s probably also because she
honest it’s probably also because she
honest it’s probably also because she knows chastising me and Shona wounds by
knows chastising me and Shona wounds by
knows chastising me and Shona wounds by a greater fear than English ever could
a greater fear than English ever could
a greater fear than English ever could all jokes aside these examples served
all jokes aside these examples served
all jokes aside these examples served that language is not just an expression
that language is not just an expression
that language is not just an expression of identity it is that cultural identity
of identity it is that cultural identity
of identity it is that cultural identity that people embody what they speak if we
that people embody what they speak if we
that people embody what they speak if we let languages become extinct we’re
let languages become extinct we’re
let languages become extinct we’re essentially sewing the mouths of the
essentially sewing the mouths of the
essentially sewing the mouths of the speakers shut for life depriving them of
speakers shut for life depriving them of
speakers shut for life depriving them of a voice that everyone deserves a voice
a voice that everyone deserves a voice
a voice that everyone deserves a voice that cannot necessarily be heard in the
that cannot necessarily be heard in the
that cannot necessarily be heard in the foreign terms of English so what can be
foreign terms of English so what can be
foreign terms of English so what can be done after all English has already
done after all English has already
done after all English has already spread well stop speaking English right
spread well stop speaking English right
spread well stop speaking English right now this of course is a ludicrous
now this of course is a ludicrous
now this of course is a ludicrous suggestion and it’s not what I’m saying
suggestion and it’s not what I’m saying
suggestion and it’s not what I’m saying at all but I do propose there changes we
at all but I do propose there changes we
at all but I do propose there changes we can make the most powerful thing a
can make the most powerful thing a
can make the most powerful thing a nation can do is to destroy the
nation can do is to destroy the
nation can do is to destroy the hierarchy of language at the earliest
hierarchy of language at the earliest
hierarchy of language at the earliest stage possible that is in schools my
stage possible that is in schools my
stage possible that is in schools my experience in a monolingual English
experience in a monolingual English
experience in a monolingual English school in Zimbabwe made me feel strongly
school in Zimbabwe made me feel strongly
school in Zimbabwe made me feel strongly about this because China was told almost
about this because China was told almost
about this because China was told almost as a secondary language the intelligence
as a secondary language the intelligence
as a secondary language the intelligence of my classmates and I were evaluated
of my classmates and I were evaluated
of my classmates and I were evaluated based on our English speaking ability
based on our English speaking ability
based on our English speaking ability instead of seeing the synergy between
instead of seeing the synergy between
instead of seeing the synergy between English and Shona we saw English sitting
English and Shona we saw English sitting
English and Shona we saw English sitting firmly above Shona in this way English
firmly above Shona in this way English
firmly above Shona in this way English became the language of prestige and
became the language of prestige and
became the language of prestige and superiority and Seana was framed as the
superiority and Seana was framed as the
superiority and Seana was framed as the language of outdated tradition and that
language of outdated tradition and that
language of outdated tradition and that is an experience that no children should
is an experience that no children should
is an experience that no children should ever have to feel if the balance between
ever have to feel if the balance between
ever have to feel if the balance between English and China had been better or
English and China had been better or
English and China had been better or even if the balance had been tilted
even if the balance had been tilted
even if the balance had been tilted slightly towards Shona perhaps I would
slightly towards Shona perhaps I would
slightly towards Shona perhaps I would have realized at a much younger age that
have realized at a much younger age that
have realized at a much younger age that an idea or thought should be evaluated
an idea or thought should be evaluated
an idea or thought should be evaluated based on his own terms not it’s English
based on his own terms not it’s English
based on his own terms not it’s English correctly another thing that we need is
correctly another thing that we need is
correctly another thing that we need is to create and cultivate native language
to create and cultivate native language
to create and cultivate native language network excitingly this is already being
network excitingly this is already being
network excitingly this is already being done by three Indian graduates who
done by three Indian graduates who
done by three Indian graduates who created an app called share chat in
created an app called share chat in
created an app called share chat in which you just share memes news and
which you just share memes news and
which you just share memes news and stories exclusively in Indian
stories exclusively in Indian
stories exclusively in Indian in languages such as Tamil Punjabi and
in languages such as Tamil Punjabi and
in languages such as Tamil Punjabi and Hindi these networks allow us to
Hindi these networks allow us to
Hindi these networks allow us to digitally connect with someone who
digitally connect with someone who
digitally connect with someone who always speaks our language that way we
always speaks our language that way we
always speaks our language that way we can be reminded of what our language
can be reminded of what our language
can be reminded of what our language represents it’s amazing that we have
represents it’s amazing that we have
represents it’s amazing that we have language networks to help us learn new
language networks to help us learn new
language networks to help us learn new languages but we also have to remember
languages but we also have to remember
languages but we also have to remember that we need network to sustain the ones
that we need network to sustain the ones
that we need network to sustain the ones you already have
you already have
you already have at the beginning I asked if people spoke
at the beginning I asked if people spoke
at the beginning I asked if people spoke at most one language and there were a
at most one language and there were a
at most one language and there were a couple of hands out there and you must
couple of hands out there and you must
couple of hands out there and you must may be that language with English and
may be that language with English and
may be that language with English and you might be wondering where do I stand
you might be wondering where do I stand
you might be wondering where do I stand with this well there’s no one answer but
with this well there’s no one answer but
with this well there’s no one answer but I do have a request engage empower
I do have a request engage empower
I do have a request engage empower enrich engage with people who speak a
enrich engage with people who speak a
enrich engage with people who speak a different language from you talk to them
different language from you talk to them
different language from you talk to them ask them their story about their
ask them their story about their
ask them their story about their language and their identity empower them
language and their identity empower them
language and their identity empower them never ask them to conform to your
never ask them to conform to your
never ask them to conform to your English language speaking ability
English language speaking ability
English language speaking ability instead make them proud to speak in
instead make them proud to speak in
instead make them proud to speak in language other than English and together
language other than English and together
language other than English and together that way we can enrich enrich our global
that way we can enrich enrich our global
that way we can enrich enrich our global environment and our immediate
environment and our immediate
environment and our immediate environment by encouraging intercultural
environment by encouraging intercultural
environment by encouraging intercultural exchange and learning the last solution
exchange and learning the last solution
exchange and learning the last solution is based on the fact that if you don’t
is based on the fact that if you don’t
is based on the fact that if you don’t like something and you can’t change it
like something and you can’t change it
like something and you can’t change it then change your attitude and so it is
then change your attitude and so it is
then change your attitude and so it is up to us the people who speak languages
up to us the people who speak languages
up to us the people who speak languages other than English to always treasure
other than English to always treasure
other than English to always treasure our speech its beauty its complexity its
our speech its beauty its complexity its
our speech its beauty its complexity its simplicity I once asked my psychology
simplicity I once asked my psychology
simplicity I once asked my psychology professor how a bilingual person can
professor how a bilingual person can
professor how a bilingual person can tell if one language is becoming
tell if one language is becoming
tell if one language is becoming dominant in the other and he told me
dominant in the other and he told me
dominant in the other and he told me that that person will start dreaming in
that that person will start dreaming in
that that person will start dreaming in the dominant language and so I hope by
the dominant language and so I hope by
the dominant language and so I hope by proposing these solutions and reflecting
proposing these solutions and reflecting
proposing these solutions and reflecting on my experience through this TED talk
on my experience through this TED talk
on my experience through this TED talk that one day I’ll go back to dreaming
that one day I’ll go back to dreaming
that one day I’ll go back to dreaming and run thank you
and run thank you
and run thank you [Applause]
”
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