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International Mother Language Day 2022
Our “International Mother Language Day” series asks writers from the University of Louisville community to respond to the following eight questions in their mother language that explore and celebrate their relationship to a language that is not English. The writers are free to answer all of the questions, or as many as they would please. Through this series, we foster an appreciation for the rich linguistic background of our community and demonstrate the joys of writing in languages outside of English. If writers would prefer, they’re invited to write approximately 300 words describing their favorite memory or favorite thing about Louisville.
Questions for Writer
Language:
Favorite word in Mother Language:
Favorite word in English:
1) Where is your mother language traditionally spoken?
2) When do you usually use your mother language?
3) What is the last thing that you wrote in your mother language?
4) What do you prefer about your mother language to English?
5) What do you prefer about English to your mother language?
6) What is one English word that you wish your mother language had? Why?
7) What’s your favorite song in your mother language?
8) Which language, outside of your mother language and English, would you like to learn? Why?
Contact Michael J. Benjamin at writing@louisville.edu if interested!
Post #1- Mikaela Smith, Filipino (Tagalog)
Language: Filipino (Tagalog)
Favorite word(s) in Mother Language: Hiraya Manawari
Favorite word in English: Eloquence
- Where is your mother language traditionally spoken?
Ginagamit namin ang aming wika sa aking bansang Pilipinas, pero maraming ibat-bang dialekto ang maaaring matagpuan doon.
- When do you usually use your mother language?
Dahil kasalukuyang nakatira ako sa amerika, nagsasalita lamang ako ng tagalog kapag kasama ang aking ina o kaya para tuwamag sa aking pamilya na nasa Pilipinas.
- What is the last thing that you wrote in your mother language?
Ang huli kong nasulat sa aking wika ay ang mensahe ko sa mama ko na gagawin ko na ang aking exam. Kung pag-uusapan natin ay sanaysay, ang huli kong nasulat ay tungkol sa kaapihan ng tao.
- What do you prefer about your mother language to English?
Ang aking wika ay hindi pormal kapag ginagamit ko kumpara kapag nagsasalita ako ng Ingles.
- What do you prefer about English to your mother language?
Mas nasanay ako magsalita ng Ingles pagkatapos kong lumipat dito, kaya mas nasasabi ko ang aking mga pinag-iisipan ko sa ingles kesa sa aking inang wika.
- What is one English word that you wish your mother language had? Why?
Ang isang salita na tingin ko ay kailangan ng isa lamang tawag ay Injustice. Ang iba lamang na tawag sa ito ay halos mga parirala at hindi nag-iisa.
- What’s your favorite song in your mother language?
Ang aking paboritong kanta na filipino ay “Binhi” ni Arthur Nery
- Which language, outside of your mother language and English, would you like to learn? Why?
Ang wikang gusto ko matutuhan ay ang Chinese, porket ang aking jowa at ang kanyang pamilya ay tsino at gusto ko matuto at maintindihan ang kanyang ama at ina.
Post #2
Language: 廣東話 (Cantonese)
Favorite word in Mother Language: 唔該
Favorite word in English: serendipity
1) Where is your mother language traditionally spoken?
講廣東話嘅地方主要喺中國嘅廣東省、廣西省部分地區，同埋香港、澳門，由於早期華人移民外國嘅緣故，都有唔少海外老華人都識講廣東話架。
2) When do you usually use your mother language?
而家講廣東話嘅機會少咗，主要都係同女朋友傾電話、video call嘅時候講下。
3) What is the last thing that you wrote in your mother language?
噉係同女朋友傾WhatsApp，同佢講「晚安」。
4) What do you prefer about your mother language to English?
我都好鍾意英文同廣東話。如果講我鍾意廣東話嘅地方呀，主要係佢貼地，播新聞、主持晚會，都會畀人一種好輕鬆、informal嘅感覺。
5) What do you prefer about English to your mother language?
戴埋個頭盔先，兩種語言我都好鍾意。但係老實講，喺keyboard度打廣東話真係唔容易，唔少香港人都唔識打廣東話架。佢哋一般用語音輸入、手寫、或者直情打英文添。
6) What is one English word that you wish your mother language had? Why?
呢個問題未諗到喎， sor。
7) What’s your favorite song in your mother language?
哇，唱呢首歌都有可能會被拉架。呢首歌就係「願榮光歸香港」。
8) Which language, outside of your mother language and English, would you like to learn? Why?
對於呢個問題，我好open架。想學法文，係因為好多二十世紀嘅思想家都用法文寫做。想學拉丁文，因為佢好似係西方文明嘅支柱。兩睇啦，都係要有時間先。
University of Louisville Writing Center 