"Ma vie, ma langue", an original RFI podcast in partnership with Inalco University

How can learning a language change the trajectory of a life? What do people who learn a foreign language dream of? Guided by these questions, in this podcast journalist Marjorie Bertin takes us on a cultural and linguistic journey to meet the people who make the difference. Whether moving, funny, unexpected or deeply moving, the singular stories of three students, a doctor and a teacher from Inalco prove that opening up and learning a language and culture can affirm an identity and turn a life upside down.

Episode 1 - Ishta: Kurdish, the forbidden language

Ishta, originally from Syria, had to hide her mother language, Kurdish, throughout her childhood, as Arabic was the only language allowed. This ban reinforced her ethnic and political identity. Later, threatened by her father's political activism, the family went into exile in Lebanon and then France. There, Ishta learns Kurdish at Inalco with the intention of defending the cause of her people before international institutions.

Episode 2 - Liliane: Wushi, the endangered language

The discovery of Wushi, a language spoken by just 22,000 speakers in the English-speaking region of Cameroon, spurred Liliane to fight for its preservation by devoting her doctoral thesis to it at Inalco. This endangered language, heir to the Bantu languages, is in danger of disappearing because it has never been transcribed. Between YouTube videos, armed conflicts and the creation of a Wushi lexicon, Liliane shares her journey to save this language and preserve the culture it represents. Her struggle highlights the importance of language circulation and writing in cultural and human preservation.

Episode 3 - Loïc: Wolof, the language of fraternity

Loïc, a student living on the bangs of society, finds a new perspective when he befriends Senegalese students in eastern France. Fascinated by their solidarity and their language, Wolof, he immerses himself in their culture. By learning the language, he discovered a world that captivated him, eventually leading him to become a lecturer in Wolof grammar at Inalco. How can a language have such an influence on a life trajectory? From a turbulent youth in Eastern France to the world of academia, Loïc recounts this turning point, one of those that radically change a life.

Episode 4 - Marine: Japanese, the language of ecology

Marine, passionate about preserving the marine environment, decides to learn Japanese. Her goal? To launch an eco-friendly water safari on her island of Tahiti, knowing that many Japanese tourists visit French Polynesia. She understands the importance of speaking the language and understanding Japanese culture in order to raise awareness of climate issues among her future customers. Her journey from Tahiti to Inalco University in Paris reflects her quest for a more environmentally-friendly world through language learning.

Episode 5 - Frédérique: Indonesian, the forgotten language

What are the reasons for rejecting one's mother language? Frédérique, whose parents settled in Java and returned to France when she was three, found herself brutally disconnected from her mother language, Indonesian. Despite frequent trips to Indonesia, she gradually finds herself unable to speak. This affects her relationship with her mother. Now a film director, she shoots films in Indonesia but is still unable to communicate with her actors in their language. Realizing the importance of rediscovering her mother language, Frédérique began learning Indonesian at Inalco, an immersion that the young woman experienced as a rebirth.