Keeping My Family's Language Alive
Michael Rosen talks to Samantha Ellis, author of Chopping Onions on My Heart, about her efforts to keep alive the language of her parents: Judeo-Iraqi Arabic.
Michael Rosen talks to Samantha Ellis, author of Chopping Onions on My Heart, about her efforts to keep alive the language of her parents: Judeo-Iraqi Arabic.
Samantha grew up in London hearing her parents speak the language they spoke in their homeland of Iraq. Now she's keen to try and speak it herself, and to share the poetic expressions of Judeo-Iraqi Arabic with her son.
Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Sally Heaven, in partnership with The Open University.
Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qtnz
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Featured
.
Broadcasts
- Thu 28 Aug 202515:30BBC Radio 4
- Sun 31 Aug 202520:00BBC Radio 4
Listen to Michael Rosen in conversation with The Open University
Explore the OU’s Cultural Idioms Guide
From blunk to brickfielder: our wonderful words for weather
Digital body language – how to communicate better online
Coinages that changed the world – and some that tried to...
Ittibitium, borborygmus, and Ba humbugi – 14 wonderful science words you’ve never heard of
Smiley face: Seven things you didn't know about emoji
The funny words that kids invent
Podcast
![]()
Word of Mouth
Series exploring the world of words and the ways in which we use them












