The Secret Life of Language

“It takes courage … to switch a language.” In this bonus episode, we delve deeper into the topic of language shift in present-day Ukraine. Through the lens of two young Ukrainians, Amina and Volodymyr, who found themselves relocating to Australia after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we gain firsthand insights into language practices and views among Ukrainian youth. In conversation with Olga Maxwell, Amina and Volodymyr share their personal experiences of growing up with two languages – Ukrainian and Russian – and how things have changed in the context of the war. Their narratives reveal the complexities of navigating dual linguistic identities and the interplay between language, identity, and belonging. The Secret Life of Language is a podcast from the University of Melbourne’s School of Languages and Linguistics. This episode was produced by Eric van Bemmel and Kelvin Param of Profactual, Gavin Nebauer, and Olga Maxwell, and was recorded and mixed by Gavin Nebauer at The Horwood recording Studio University of Melbourne.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many Ukrainians who grew up speaking Russian are now making the shift to Ukrainian. But what’s motivating this shift? How does language feature more largely in Russia’s war against Ukraine? And what’s been the impact of centuries of Russification, and the suppression of the Ukrainian language and identity, on present-day Ukraine? In this episode of The Secret Life of Language, we delve into these questions with the insights of historian Dr Iryna Skubii and linguist Dr Natalia Kudriavtseva, exploring the complexities of the language question in Ukraine. We also talk to two young Ukrainians, Amina and Volodymyr, about their lived experiences between the two languages. Presented by Dr Olga Maxwell. The Secret Life of Language is a podcast from the University of Melbourne’s School of Languages and Linguistics. This episode was produced by Eric van Bemmel and Kelvin Param of Profactual, Gavin Nebauer, and Olga Maxwell.

First Nation knowledge surrounding sustainable food systems has largely been ignored in Australia. In this episode we consider how all of us can acknowledge and learn from the historical denial of this ancient wisdom to build common ground for the future. Host Adrian Hearn and co-host Lara Anderson are joined by Zena Cumpston, a Barkandji Woman from Western New South Wales and Research Fellow in Urban Environments, and Chris Williams, a board member at the Collingwood Children's Farm with a passion for growing sweet potatoes. A podcast from the University of Melbourne's School of Languages and Linguistics. Produced and edited by Adrian Hearn and Gavin Nebauer.

Keywords - Nothing In this episode of The Secret Life of Language, we explore a keyword, nothing. A keyword is a word or concept of great significance. Our Keywords project follows ever-changing words for an ever-changing world. In this episode of The Secret Life of Language, we explore the word nothing, it's history and its relevance today. Our guests talk about the etymology of nothing, its meaning and importance for their own work. Will we discover that nothing actually means something and can be very productive of materials, activities and thoughts? A podcast from the University of Melbourne's School of Languages and Linguistics. Produced by Véronique Duché and Craig Jeffrey. Mawng Dictionary can be found here: https://shop.aiatsis.gov.au/products/mawng-dictionary#productid

Keywords - Nothing In this episode of The Secret Life of Language, we explore a keyword, nothing. A keyword is a word or concept of great significance. Our Keywords project follows ever-changing words for an ever-changing world. In this episode of The Secret Life of Language, we explore the word nothing, it's history and its relevance today. Our guests talk about the etymology of nothing, its meaning and importance for their own work. Will we discover that nothing actually means something and can be very productive of materials, activities and thoughts? A podcast from the University of Melbourne's School of Languages and Linguistics. Produced by Véronique Duché and Craig Jeffrey.

Living in a foreign land can be challenging enough, but often made worse by not having access to the traditional foods and family dishes of your formative years. In this episode of The Secret Life of Language, we explore the growing role of food in empowering refugees and recent migrants. Our guests talk about the different food businesses and initiatives that help recent migrants and refugees to not only learn from, but to also teach the local and broader community, with the aim of making refugees and migrants more economically independent and employable, as well as supporting their health and wellbeing. A podcast from the University of Melbourne's School of Languages and Linguistics. Produced by Lara Anderson and Gavin Nebauer with assistance from Profactual.com. Recorded and mixed at The Horwood Recording Studio University of Melbourne by Gavin Nebauer

Insect eating has the potential to alleviate food insecurity in many countries. However, public health nutritionists argue that large-scale entomophagy in Western culture faces many barriers. Listen to University of Melbourne experts on the history of insect eating in Latin America and Australia and the need to mitigate the very real disgust factor when it comes to insect eating if it is to become more mainstream and a truly viable solution to food insecurity. A podcast from the University of Melbourne's School of Languages and Linguistics. Produced by Lara Anderson and Gavin Nebauer with assistance from Profactual.com. Recorded and mixed at The Horwood Recording Studio University of Melbourne by Gavin Nebauer.

While many Australian indigenous languages are running out of speakers, the Murrinhpatha language is not only being actively passed on to subsequent generations, but is also gaining new speakers. Linguists Dr Barb Kelly and Dr John Mansfield take us on a journey into the society and culture of Murrinhpatha people through their language. Presented by Charlotte Mackay and Peter Hurst. A podcast from the University of Melbourne's School of Languages and Linguistics. Produced by Kelvin Param and Eric van Bemmel of Profactual, Gavin Nebauer, Charlotte Mackay and Peter Hurst. Music by Mark Kurungaiyi and Kevin Mollingin, and recorded and mixed by Realtone. NGEPAN: Mark and Kevin (Wadeye) https://youtu.be/nGE0UF_IV38 Be croc wise https://youtu.be/KTs8OnlSUBY

The world speaks some 6,700 languages, and 4,000 of them are spoken by indigenous peoples, who make up less than 6% of the global population. In this episode, we speak with researchers who venture into the world's remotest corners in their quest to document languages, to help revive or reinforce community tongues, or to discover what even a single, little-known language may have to teach us about the way humans communicate. Linguist Assoc Prof Nick Thieberger and cultural anthropologist Dr Debra McDougall are joined by hosts Charlotte Mackay and Peter Hurst. A podcast from the University of Melbourne's School of Languages and Linguistics. Produced by Eric van Bemmel and Kelvin Param of Profactual, Gavin Nebauer, Charlotte Mackay and Peter Hurst.

In the second of a two-part conversation, we look back at life as it really was for ordinary people "behind the Iron Curtain" in the now defunct German Democratic Republic. German studies researchers Alison Lewis and Claudia Sandberg join host Leo Kretzenbacher to examine East German pop culture and film, uses of language and humour, and notions of identity either side of the Berlin Wall. A podcast from the University of Melbourne's School of Languages and Linguistics. Produced by Eric van Bemmel and Kelvin Param of Profactual, and Gavin Nebauer.

Three decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent demise of the German Democratic Republic, how should we remember life in the famously authoritarian state? German studies researchers Alison Lewis and Claudia Sandberg join host Leo Kretzenbacher to look back at how ordinary East Germans negotiated their lives and livelihoods in the self-proclaimed "most egalitarian society in Europe". First of a two-part conversation. A podcast from the University of Melbourne's School of Languages and Linguistics. Produced by Eric van Bemmel and Kelvin Param of Profactual, and Gavin Nebauer.

In stories adapted from the declassified files of the Stasi, East Germany's secret police, we examine the roles of informer and victim in which so many ordinary East Germans found themselves over the four decades before the fall of the Berlin Wall. German studies researcher Alison Lewis also helps us decode the broader impact of the Stasi's tentacles and its lasting legacy. Presented by Leo Kretzenbacher. A podcast from the University of Melbourne's School of Languages and Linguistics. Produced by Eric van Bemmel and Kelvin Param of Profactual, Gavin Nebauer, and Alison Lewis. Download the transcript.

This is a teaser for The Secret Life of Language, a podcast from the University of Melbourne's School of Languages and Linguistics. Watch this space for upcoming episodes.