78. Meet Ilan Stavans, a Tocqueville for our century America the Bilingual · 78 - Season 6 - Meet Ilan Stavans, a  Tocqueville for our century “The more languages you speak,” observes Ilan Stavans, who speaks several, “the more capacity you have either to experience this world as a multilayered place, or to live in multiple universes at the same time.” Ilan still remembers how, when as a youngster he and his family immigrated to New York City, “the juxtaposition of languages would become remarkable to me as an aspect [...]

77. A Trumpeter’s Tale America the Bilingual · 77- Season 6 - A trumpeter's tale Esteban Battalán was not yet 7 years old when he first picked up a trumpet. He already spoke two languages and was poised to not only learn but master a third—the one he describes in our episode as “the most international language.” Can you guess? (And no, not English.) SOUND THE TRUMPET OF THE LEGENDARY CSO BRASS Esteban is now principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass—popularly known as CSO Brass. If [...]

75. Recipe: Mix Jewish with Mexican, Add Maine Among the many bilingual projects that Professor Margaret Boyle of Bowdoin College in Maine has on the front burner is the newly released Sabor Judío: The Jewish Mexican Cookbook. Margaret, who is Associate Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures and Director of Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies at Bowdoin, is also the coauthor, with Professor Ilan Stavans, of Sabor Judío. The two drew from their Jewish Mexican heritages and the recipes of their families to develop the cookbook, whose Spanish title translates to Jewish Flavor. The 100 recipes [...]

73. global english: blessing or curse? The Rise of English won a prestigious award in 2023. In the episode, Rosemary shares why it meant so much to her. What if the answer to that question is “both”? In this episode, Professor Rosemary Salomone brings a linguist’s curiosity and a lawyer’s measured assessment to this question in her conversation with Steve. Rosemary is both linguist and lawyer, and just as significant, writer. THE RISE OF ENGLISH AND THE ROLE OF BILINGUALISM She and Steve are discussing her most recent book, The [...]