I will be sharing weekly posts on language. What do you want to know?
Fun fact: According to the astrological calendar, the new year actually starts during Aries season. I don’t pretend to be an expert in astrology, but I am a big fan 🙂 I love anything that helps explain why we are the weird, wonderful human beings that we are.
That said, there have been a lot of changes over the past few months. Due to a recent reorganization, I was let go from my full-time position. While that’s been a challenge, it’s also given me the opportunity to figure out what’s next—for me and for LUPA Talks.
Starting something new without a financial safety net is uncomfortable, to say the least. But now more than ever, I’m committed to making LUPA Talks clear, accessible, and easy for people to engage with.
Interestingly, since the rebrand, I’ve noticed that my friends and loved ones have a much better understanding of what I’m aiming to do with LUPA Talks. I’ve had amazing conversations—about how language is used at a marketing firm, with testimonials in one language versus another; about social media videos where people are translanguaging (going back and forth between languages in a single conversation); and about how we include or exclude language communities. This is exactly what I had hoped for!
And yet, there are still people who are completely confused by the concept of LUPA Talks. Just today, while applying for a business credit card, the bank representative asked me multiple times, “So you teach English?”
The most common assumptions I hear about LUPA Talks are that it’s either 1) a language learning company, or 2) a translation service. It’s neither—at least not in the traditional sense.
The mission of LUPA Talks is to help people feel more confident in their language abilities and to promote inclusivity across languages.
That means LUPA Talks isn’t designed for language tourists or casual learners brushing up before a summer holiday. It’s for those of us who live every day at the intersection of multiple languages and cultures. For those navigating the insecurities and confusion that come with how language connects to our identity. It’s about empowering people to see the value in the way they speak—and helping others understand how to be inclusive of those experiences.
To support that mission, I’m committing to more consistent content—on the blog and across social media. I already have some ideas I’m excited to share, especially around current events, the arts, music, and how language is used as a form of resistance or empowerment. But I’m especially inspired by the topics you are noticing and curious about in your daily lives.
Starting today, I’m committing to posting weekly blog content every Thursday. I’d love to hear from you—what language-related topics are on your mind? I’ll be keeping things short and sweet, with your time and attention in mind.
And if you have ideas to contribute, I’d love to hear:
- Are there any topics you’d like to explore?
- Any musical artists using language in interesting ways?
- Any trending videos that showcase creative uses of language?
Dr. Xiomara Rivera Pagán
