Have you ever thought about what it means to speak a language? As it turns out, the answer to this question is complex and deeply intertwined with the question of who we are - and how we are seen - as human beings.

Anna Babel studies the complex relationship between language and social categories.  She is particularly interested in language contact, the politics of minority languages, and migration.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Anna Babel: Who counts as a speaker of a language? | Anna Babel | TEDxOhioStateUniversity

Who counts as a speaker of a language? | Anna Babel | TEDxOhioStateUniversity

Evidence from Bolivia shows how social expectations influence our auditory perceptions of language, altering comprehension.

A child's school experience underscores how racial and ethnic biases shape perceptions of linguistic proficiency and identity.

Perceptions of language proficiency are swayed by social categories; listeners' biases can obscure true linguistic skills.