Exhaling Words

Welcome to Pride 2021!

Welcome to Pride 2021!

Welcome to Pride 2021!

Some of the most common questions that I receive are: Should I study MSA or colloquial Arabic? Which dialect should I pick? Which should I learn first- MSA or colloquial? So join me in part 3 of this series looking at Arabic dialects and diglossia, where we'll discussing how to choose between studying MSA or colloquial (or both), which dialect to learn, and how to approach the Arabic-learning process. Check it out!

One of my favorite topics to discuss is Arabic diglossia and dialectology! So here is the second part in a multi-part series looking at Arabic dialects. In Part 2 I’m talking about the different dialects of Arabic and some of the things that make them different. In coming episodes, we'll be talking about how to approach studying Arabic and its many forms. Check it out!

One of my favorite topics to discuss is Arabic diglossia and dialectology! So here is the first part in a multi-part series looking at Arabic dialects. In Part 1 I’m talking about what it means to be a diglossic language; and in coming episodes, we’ll be talking about Arabic dialects and how to approach studying Arabic’s many forms. Check it out!

We all joke about the Duolingo owl and its fake threats to remind you to study your target language daily. But what is the real value of Duolingo? Can you learn a language from the platform? Can it help? Is it good and effective? This week I dive into my feelings around, and critiques of, Duolingo, and how I believe we can use it to aid in our language-learning goals. Check it out!

One of my favorite topics to discuss, and something I get asked about a lot, is the influence of Arabic on the Persian language. This is the topic that first really got me into language contact, historical linguistics, and Iranian linguistics; so, it’s very close to me heart. Check out this long episode of me getting very excited and talking very fast!

Something I often get asked about is the differences between the 3 major dialects of Persian: Iranian (Farsi), Afghan (Dari), and Tajik. This is a topic I’ve studied a lot, as a student/speaker of Dari and Tajik who had to learn Iranian Persian in a pinch. So, I’ve tried to work through the major differences between these three dialects in a 2-part series. Check out Part 2, which focuses on differences in vocabulary and grammar between the three dialects!

Something I often get asked about is the differences between the 3 major dialects of Persian: Iranian (Farsi), Afghan (Dari), and Tajik. This is a topic I’ve studied a lot, as a student/speaker of Dari and Tajik who had to learn Iranian Persian in a pinch. So, I’ve tried to work through the major differences between these three dialects in a 2-part series. Check out Part 1, which focuses on script, phonology, pronunciation of grammatical forms, and colloquial sound shifts!

Passive listening is often used as an excuse or as a ploy to reel in learners; but it really has value when used properly. This week, I want to look at how passive listening can help us internalize a language's phonotactics or syntax, and how it can be critical in building up fundamental skills and advanced proficiency. Check it out! 

Language learning is hard on its own... but when we add to it the trauma that we can acquire through being beat down and unsupported by our teachers and peers, it becomes even harder. Sometimes previous trauma keeps us from starting a new language. And other times, our personal identities hold us back. This week, I want to talk about my struggle with trauma and how it's affected my study of Persian over the years. 

Aspiration? Voicing? Ejectives? Beatboxing?! And Armenian?! This week I explore the difficulty of certain sounds for native English speakers and the idea that linguistics can be used to make language learning easier. Check it out!

What makes a language difficult? How can we compared difficulty between languages? Should we even try to categorize languages by "difficulty?" This week, I want to explore the FSI (Foreign Service Institute) scale of language difficulty and talk about other factors that might weigh into how difficulty or easy the language-learning process can be.

Why do we study languages? Why motivates us? What demotivates us? And how do we know when that (de)motivation is at the tipping point? This week I explore the importance of desire and motivation in choosing a language to study and seeing through your study… or not…

The F Word? How dare we talk about FLUENCY on this podcast! Today, I want to briefly explore the world of language proficiency and fluency and problematize language proficiency tests, unbalanced language skills, and changing proficiency levels, all while offering you my approach to the word "fluent." Let me know what you think.

What is an article? What does it do? Can articles do more than just define a noun? Could they possibly do the opposite of their surface meaning? Find out this week as I talk about the value and use of the definite article in Arabic and Hebrew, and a peculiar use of the Persian indefinite article.

What words do we use to describes studying words? Today I want to talk about what is "linguistics," "historical linguistics," and philology," as these are terms that come up when I describe what I do. I also get into the details of language contact, language development, and how these are seen in morpho-syntax. If you make it through the episode and still want more, be sure to subscribe for more language nerdery!

What is the one thing you never as a lady? Her age! In this episode, I walk you through the diversity, and similarity, between the way a number of languages express age. Was your language not included and it has a special construction? Let me know and I'll be sure to feature it later, as I'm sure this topic will come up again.

The number one question Erin receives on the internet is to explain what languages she's studied, when, and how. So, in Episode 2, Erin attempts to condense 16 years of language-learning madness into 30 minutes. Hopefully it answers all your questions... and makes you think of 100 more!

In the inaugural episode of "Exhaling Words," Erin shares her story of how she came to study multiple languages, work with languages from Western and Central Asia, and ultimately make this podcast. Stick around for more great episodes about languages, linguistics, and the language learning journey.