Global Voices Podcast 2: Speaking Our Language · Global Voices
Jamillah Knowles

This post is part of our special coverage Languages and the Internet.
Hello world!
In this edition of the Global Voices podcast we talk all about language. You can find many articles on this theme on our Languages and Internet special coverage page. The way we speak, write, gesture, code and communicate is such a rich topic for discussion that it was hard to pick what to go for in the podcast. Hopefully you’ll find food for thought in our conversations here.
Global Voices Podcast 2: Speaking Our Language by globalvoices
Updated tradition
To begin, our Managing Editor, Solana Larsen talks to Global Voices Israel author Dr. Carmel Vaisman about her new book Hebrew Online (available for purchase in Hebrew from Keter Books). It’s fascinating to hear about the origins of Hebrew, and how it has grown and evolved with with use over time.
Geography and tongue
Online or offline the languages we speak and write say a lot about who we are. A choice of official language for a nation can also reveal much more than just communication. Sara Moreira is Global Voices’ Portuguese Language editor. She told us about her journalistic patch that is not just geographical or topical but more closely linked to language.
Telling tales
It’s not just where we are talking of course but what we have to say that makes language so intriguing. Claire Ulrich is the editor of Global Voices in French site and the assistant editor for Francophone content. Claire highlights the prolific work of Global Voices translator Boukary Konate and his work communicating life in Mali. Claire tells us about some Tales from the Village that we could all learn something from.
Coded messages
Not all language is something we speak and write of course. It’s also something we use to make things online. Jeremy Clarke is the man behind the code and design of the multi-lingual Global Voices websites. To say the least he has a lot to do, and we can all thank him for making sure GV is here and that all contributors and readers can access it. We talked about what it is like to run such a big site with so many people, and how the language of code can also be political.
That’s all for this edition of the Global Voices podcast, but we’ll be back with more for you to listen to soon. Please feel free to leave us a comment or suggestion for next time.
Music credits
In the podcast you can hear lots of lovely Creative Commons music. If you want to find out more about these artists here are the links for you.
Thanks to Orb Gettarr for the atmospheric Return of the Atlanteans Lemurian Candidate, to Mark Cotton for his Spiritualized Homage, to Superbus feat. NS for Fujjad! Most of the music was found via OpSound.Org, The Free Music Archive or direct from the artists. Thanks also to all of the wonderful voice over performances and clips that help to glue the podcast together.
Thanks for listening and we look forward to sharing the next Global Voices podcast!
This post is part of our special coverage Languages and the Internet.
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