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A Language I Love Is...

A Language I Love Is...

By: Danny Bate
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A show about language, linguistics and people who love both!


A Language I Love Is... (ALILI) broadcasts linguistic joy and shares expert insights into the languages of the world. It's a simple formula: one host, one guest, one language, and three key questions:


1) What is your story and connection to this language?

2) What do you love about this language?

3) What is something you want the audience to know about this language?


Through informative interviews and casual conversations, ALILI fulfills its mission: to share the linguistic love with all.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danny Bate
Episodes
  • Jèrriais and Geraint Jennings
    Jun 9 2025

    Bouônjour! Join me on a journey to Jersey, an island off the coast of France, where for centuries the local language of Jèrriais has kept up its role in the life of the Islanders, despite considerable pressure from linguistic heavyweights in the area (first French, later English). My guest for episode 36 of ALILI is Geraint Jennings, a language teacher, translator and lover of Jèrriais, who was the ideal person to present the history of Jersey and the status of Jèrriais today. We discuss where Jèrriais comes from, how it's faring in the modern world, and what makes it distinct from French on the mainland. Both my guest and this episode's beloved language are sure to leave you entchéthaûdé!


    Support the language-loving mission by joining the ALILI Patreon here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/ALanguageILoveIs⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Start your own Jèrriais journey here at the page for the L’Office Du Jèrriais: https://www.jerriais.org.je/


    Clip of Jèrriais by Geraint taken from the L’Office Du Jèrriais SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/jerriais


    Host: Dr. Danny Bate

    Guest: Geraint Jennings

    Audio Mixing and Mastering: Jeremiah McPadden

    Music: Acoustic Guitar by William King

    Artwork: William Marler

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    45 mins
  • Dza and Peace Benson
    May 20 2025

    Episode 35 of ALILI is a new part of the world and a new language family: West Africa, and Niger-Congo! Our way into this corner of the linguistic world is Dza (also known as Jenjo or just Jen), an endangered language spoken in Nigeria. My guest is Peace Benson, who is actively working to spread awareness of her native language through academic research and infectious enthusiasm. We discuss all sorts of Dza-related topics, from its distinctive vowels to the sociolinguistic situation of Nigeria. Stay tuned to the end for some Swahili content from me.

    Support the language-loving mission by joining the ALILI Patreon here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/ALanguageILoveIs⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Clip of Dza (Jenjo) supplied by Peace.

    Host: Dr. Danny Bate

    Guest: Peace Benson

    Audio Mixing and Mastering: Jeremiah McPadden

    Music: Acoustic Guitar by William King

    Artwork: William Marler

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • Ternate and Maria Zielenbach
    Apr 27 2025

    Episode 34 is a trip to Indonesia, specifically to the small island of Ternate. Don't let the island's size fool you though – it has a rich and complex history, which this episode explores through the Ternate language. This was the choice of my guest, PhD researcher Maria Zielenbach, who introduces Ternate's history, sounds, lexicon and complicated family situation. You may be surprised to hear how Ternate word formation works a little bit like Welsh and Irish...

    Support the language-loving mission by joining the ALILI Patreon here: ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/ALanguageILoveIs⁠⁠⁠

    Maria's academic blog: ⁠https://halmahera.hypotheses.org/⁠

    Maria's recent book chapter about Dutch influence in Ternate: ⁠https://www.benjamins.com/catalog/impact.55.12sch⁠

    Host: Dr. Danny Bate

    Guest: Maria Zielenbach

    Audio Mixing and Mastering: Jeremiah McPadden

    Music: Acoustic Guitar by William King

    Artwork: William Marler

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    37 mins

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