Learn About Language As A Connecting Factor with Gennike A. Mayers

Language is a window into people’s culture. At the same time, it’s a connecting factor between cultures. This is what I have understood, in the course of my years of research and working with immigrants from different cultural backgrounds, both in Italy and in other parts of the world. 

Download the first chapter of The Storytelling Series: Beginners’ Guide for Small Businesses & Content Creators by Obehi Ewanfoh.

One language usually points to a specific group of people, maybe in the case of an immigrant, coming from Nigeria or Ghana but now residing in Italy.

When one interacts with another language, like in the case of the African immigrant above, you are also interacting with the culture of that language. In this case, language becomes a connecting factor among different people and cultures.

Here is another article you might like – Author John Robert Lee Talks About His Literary Works – Books And Poetries

This and more are what we will be learning about in today’s episode of Obehi Podcast. And we are going to be joined by an expert in the field, Gennike A. Mayers, from the republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Some Key Points In This Episode

• How to explore language as a career opportunity,
• Language as a connecting factor to bridge gaps,
• How African Caribbeans can connect more with mother Africa.

The Full Interview with Gennike A. Mayers

About The Guest: Gennike A. Mayers

Gennike Mayers is a Trinidad and Tobago national who embodies Caribbean diversity. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and a Postgraduate Diploma in Interpreting from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus.

You might also like to read – David Williams Talks About His Music And Youth Worker In The UK

Thanks to study-abroad programmes she did short stints at the Université des Antilles-Guyane in Martinique and the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMMA) in the Dominican Republic.

She also holds a Master’s degree in Communication in public, private and political organisations from l’Université de Versailles St. Quentin-en-Yvelines in Paris.

Professionally, she has worked in international development and humanitarian assistance in Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Haiti, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and the English-speaking Caribbean.

What began as a dissertation morphed into the book titled: CARICOM: Good Offices, Good neighbors. Explaining the diversity of CARICOM Member States’ approaches vis-à-vis the Venezuelan crisis.

Abstract from the book

Although small in total population size, CARICOM represents a voting bloc of 15 member states with the power to sway decisions taken in wider regional and international organizations.

By maintaining a united front, CARICOM can play a greater role as a mediator extending good offices to Venezuela’s government and opposition leaders as they seek to resolve the ensuing political and economic crisis.

Since 2018, there has been a clear division among CARICOM Member States regarding their diplomatic positions in the Venezuelan political crisis.

This dissertation analyses the variety of positions of selected CARICOM Member States through the lens of realism and constructivism to attempt to explain what factors are influencing the States in question.

Check out also this article – How Educational Institutions And Businesses Use African American History With Marcus Nicks

Some States have supported a strong CARICOM position while others have weakened CARICOM’s collective position as an International Organization.

The findings suggest that CARICOM provides a forum for states to affirm their Caribbean identity while ensuring mutually beneficial trade partnerships.

There is also evidence that states are rational actors, seeking their own self-interest above and beyond any notion of common identity.

Get a copy of the book: CARICOM: Good Offices, Good neighbours

Learn More About Obehi Podcast

Obehi Podcast brings you leaders and experts from different industries to share their experiences, relating to Africa and the African diaspora. Listen to Obehi Podcast across different platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcast, YouTube, and much more. 

Download the first chapter of The Storytelling Series: Beginners’ Guide for Small Businesses & Content Creators by Obehi Ewanfoh.