The Power of Bilingualism: A Conversation with Antonella Sorace

In this episode, Antonella Sorace, Director of Bilingualism Matters, joins the host to share her personal journey and dispel common myths about bilingualism. Together, they explore how bilingualism shapes identity and fosters adaptability, with Antonella explaining that while bilinguals often feel “in between” cultures, this very adaptability is a key advantage. She discusses cognitive benefits, including improved attention and earlier development of perspective-taking in bilingual children. The conversation also touches on what happens when native languages aren’t used regularly and feel less accessible over time – even if words or grammar become harder to access, these languages are never truly lost and can be reactivated with exposure. Antonella highlights the importance of maintaining minority languages, the role of artificial intelligence in language preservation, and the risks of linguistic homogenisation. Listeners are encouraged to embrace and value their own linguistic diversity.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Bilingualism

01:07 Personal Journey into Bilingualism

04:13 Common Misconceptions about Bilingualism

06:15 Bilingualism and Identity

11:40 Cognitive Benefits of Bilingualism

18:16 Language Accessibility and Attrition

22:44 Cultural Value of Non-Dominant Languages

29:30 The Importance of Maintaining Home Languages

34:39 Empathy and Perspective in Bilingualism

35:06 The Importance of Bilingualism

38:34 Misconceptions About Bilingualism

40:00 The Role of AI in Language Preservation

44:45 Encouraging Language Learning in Adults

48:00 The Value of Maintaining Bilingualism

52:43 Bilingualism as an Adventure

54:24 Identity and Belonging in Bilingualism

Resources mentioned:

Bilingualism Matters, by Maria Garraffa, Antonella Sorace, and Maria Vender

Connect with Antonella:

Bilingualism Matters’ website: https://www.bilingualism-matters.org/

Antonella’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonella-sorace-2214625/

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