30 Powerful Questions On Linguist Identity in the Diaspora

My mother tongue is my childhood, my land and country.

1. When was the last time it hurt you to speak your mother’s tongue?
2. How many times a day are you likely to speak your mother’s tongue?
3. When was the last time you communicated in your mother’s tongue?
4. Do you notice any blood formulating on the side of your mouth once you begin speaking your mother’s tongue?
5. How much of your identity would you say is compromised once you began losing your mother’s tongue?
6. How much of your parents’ voice is reflected in you?
7. What’s special about your parent’s home country?
8. How responsible are your parents for helping you speak their language?
9. Do you wish to be from any other ethnic or racial background?
10. How confident do you feel when speaking your mother’s tongue?
11. How old were you once you began speaking your mother’s tongue?
12. How old were you once you began developing a second tongue?
13. How far have you gone to speak your mother’s tongue?
14. Are you fully (insert nationality here) in spite of the absence of speaking (insert your mother’s tongue)?
15. Whom do you feel most comfortable speaking your mother’s tongue?
16. Does your mouth feel moist or dry after speaking your mother’s tongue for 1, 5, 10, 15 minutes?
17. When was the last time you communicated your mother’s tongue with an elder of your community?
18. Who are you?
19. Did anything in your reply mention of your mother’s tongue?
20. What hurts the most about speaking your mother’s tongue?
21. How safe is your mother’s tongue in your mouth?
22. Is there anything you’d want to share with someone unfamiliar with your mother’s tongue? I.e. Level of difficulty, depth of breath needed to speak it, etc.
23. Would you say your identity is being comprised whenever you engage in interracial friendships and|or interracial relationships?
24. Which part of the body or throat is dependent on speaking your mother’s tongue?
25. In your culture, what’s the greatest activity involving your tongue? Drinking tea, loud chanting, non-verbal communication, etc.
26. Would you say your language proficiency is strong enough to help you navigate in your parent’s home country alone?
27. Has speaking another tongue caused distressed?
28. How much of your financial stability would you say is credited to having two tongues?
29. Does your mother’s tongue have its own rendition of “Happy Birthday”?
30. How do you say ‘I love you’ in your mother’s tongue?