Who(m) should I interview?

Hi there and how are you all doing? There’s been an uptick in readers (thanks to my shameful self-promo over at Notes), so if you’re new here — welcome!

I started Babel Babble for two reasons:

1. Document my language learning journey

2. Have an excuse to learn more about different linguistic topics in my spare time

And what better way of learning is there than talking to people? I mean, just look at how much Ali G learned from Noam Chomsky:

So, this letter is my way of saying: I’D LOVE TO INTERVIEW YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW!

What are the potential topics and people that I’d entertain having? Oh there’s plenty:

• Novel, strange, peculiar and intensive ways of learning languages (think missionary or military training)

• Language revitalization — people involved in keeping a rare language alive

• Someone really really into Esperanto

• Translators/interpreters

• People with language teaching experience (English in Japan? French in Polynesia? I’ll take it)

• Linguists and researchers who could talk about a topic they’re crazy about incessantly

• Slang

• Conlangers

• etc…

If you or someone you know would like to be a guest at Babel Babble, let me know by responding to this email or by dropping me a comment!

P.S. The interview process will involve us talking over Zoom, me doing a transcription and preparing a version for publication.

P.P.S. I don’t want to promote products but if you’ve built/developed something cool and unique — hit me up.

P.P.P.S. Sharing is caring, so even if you don’t want to talk to me but know a fine candidate — hook us up please.