Bonus episode: Young Ukrainians reflect on their country's changing linguistic landscape.

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.