Hello Language Lovers! Welcome back to a new episode of Speaking Tongues. This week, we’re excited to share this conversation about the Irish and Valencian languages with Alexandra, a PhD candidate at the University of Valencia and a mentor with the Endangered Languages Project. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Alexandra now resides in Valencia, Spain, and shares her incredible journey and insights into these two vibrant languages and cultures.

In this conversation, we discuss:

🇮🇪 Alexandra’s linguistic journey, starting with her first language, English, and her experiences learning Irish, Spanish, and Valencian.

🇮🇪 The dynamic linguistic landscape of Ireland, especially in Dublin, and how Irish is becoming more prevalent in urban areas.

🇮🇪 The structure and characteristics of the Irish language, including its verb-subject-object word order, initial mutations, and prepositional pronouns.

🇮🇪 The historical and ongoing efforts to promote and normalize the use of Irish in Dublin and other urban areas.

🇮🇪 The challenges and stigmas associated with speaking Irish in Dublin, and how these perceptions are being challenged and changed.

🇮🇪 Alexandra’s research on urban speakers of minoritized languages and her work with the Endangered Languages Project.

🇪🇸 The Valencian language and its relationship with Catalan, including the debate on whether Valencian is a variety of Catalan or a separate language.

🇪🇸 The cultural and linguistic diversity in Valencia, and the challenges faced by Valencian speakers in maintaining their language in urban settings.

🇪🇸 The impact of urbanization and globalization on minoritized languages, and the efforts to create spaces where these languages can thrive.

🇪🇸 Alexandra’s personal experiences and reflections on the importance of language and cultural identity in both Ireland and Valencia.

Thank you to Alexandra for sharing your knowledge, your culture, and your languages with us. If you enjoy this episode of Speaking Tongues, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the Speaking Tongues Podcast on Apple Podcasts and like and subscribe on YouTube so that other language lovers like ourselves can find the show! If you’ve been a long-time listener of the show or a recent listener, you can now pledge ongoing support for the show on Buy Me a Coffee dot com or on Patreon dot com. And as you know, I wrote a book! My food ‘zine of international language and cuisine, Taste Buds Vol 1. is available now for purchase! Check social media for the sneak peek inside of the book and make sure you purchase for yourself and your friends! Links to all platforms are below!

To Connect with Alexandra:

Email: Alexandra@endangeredlanguages.com

Schedule an ELP Mentor appointment/ Is féidir leat cruinniú saor in aisce a chur in áirithe anseo:

https://endangeredlanguagesproject.as.me/schedule/9f4dee73/appointment/40138871/calendar/7762129?appointmentTypeIds[]=40138871

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