Books by Julie Sedivy
Memory Speaks: On Losing and Reclaiming Language and Self
by Julie Sedivy
This is a book for anyone for whom English is a second, third, maybe even fourth language—but who has seen their other languages crumble and disintegrate as English has taken over their brain. The loss of one's mother tongue is a painful experience, leading to a possible breakdown in communication with those you care most about (one or both of your parents) and this book, by language scientist Julie Sedivy, documents how and why it happens. It's a deeply personal story, about what it meant for her to lose her Czech language and identity by growing up in North America, and will likely ring true to anyone who has experienced something similar.
