LibraryScenariosHow to address unspoken language privilege in multilingual friend groups
Scenario

How to address unspoken language privilege in multilingual friend groups

Our friend group spans four languages and we've always prided ourselves on being this multicultural bubble, but lately I've noticed how the native English speakers dominate conversations and how exhausting it is for others to constantly translate their thoughts. We've never directly talked about this dynamic and I'm not sure how to bring it up without making people defensive.

Patan
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More people experience this than they realize.

What we've seen

A community built on linguistic diversity confronts the uncomfortable reality of unequal cognitive burden and unconscious power dynamics.

Ideas that help explain it
Worth thinking about

“Where Are You with Multilingualism and its gifts?”

If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.