I appreciated the courage of this young man's voice as he looked at himself from a safe distance to tell his truth. If I were still a PD, I'd air it. As a listener I enjoyed it. I didn't listen to the cleaned up version
Malaya Timawa Dima'api creates a poetic masterpiece in Trading One Tongue for the Other. Through this carefully crafted poem, he conveys the struggles of growing up using different languages in different cultures. His artistic and simplistic verse gracefully captures the raw emotion he experienced as a child while growing up in a mix of cultural differences. He explores the power of language along with the challenges it creates when culture is compromised in a time of change. Dima'api's strong voice clearly and rhythmically aids the effortless flow which creates uniformity throughout the solemn piece.
Poetry is a hard proposition on the radio. It’s such an inherently conversational medium and sometimes, in trying to decipher the riddles of poetic language, you can be pushed away rather than pulled in—which radio, at its best, should do. Just the same, Dima'api’s poem is full of images that the listener can latch onto easily, and it’s personal and intimate enough to make you feel like you’re being addressed one-on-one, not orated to off a stage. Dima'api’s experience of balancing a new language with an old one feels suited to poetry—as well as poetry being spoken to you across the airwaves.
Straightforward poetic piece from a young man straddling two worlds/languages. Beautifully honest, sadly removed. Nice fluid motion between languages and accents with plenty of content. THis is short piece that could fit an evening show but still there are one or two strong words that might restrict it's placement on air.
vm
Comments for Trading One Tongue for the Other
Produced by outLoud queer youth radio project
Other pieces by outLoud Radio at Youth Radio
Rating Summary
4 comments
Ruth Yellowhawk
Posted on March 29, 2006 at 03:41 PM | Permalink
Review of Trading One Tongue for the Other
I appreciated the courage of this young man's voice as he looked at himself from a safe distance to tell his truth. If I were still a PD, I'd air it. As a listener I enjoyed it. I didn't listen to the cleaned up version
Emily LaFond
Posted on February 18, 2005 at 11:55 AM | Permalink
Review of Trading One Tongue for the Other
Malaya Timawa Dima'api creates a poetic masterpiece in Trading One Tongue for the Other. Through this carefully crafted poem, he conveys the struggles of growing up using different languages in different cultures. His artistic and simplistic verse gracefully captures the raw emotion he experienced as a child while growing up in a mix of cultural differences. He explores the power of language along with the challenges it creates when culture is compromised in a time of change. Dima'api's strong voice clearly and rhythmically aids the effortless flow which creates uniformity throughout the solemn piece.
Jonathan Goldstein
Posted on January 16, 2004 at 08:10 AM | Permalink
Review of Trading One Tongue for the Other
Poetry is a hard proposition on the radio. It’s such an inherently conversational medium and sometimes, in trying to decipher the riddles of poetic language, you can be pushed away rather than pulled in—which radio, at its best, should do. Just the same, Dima'api’s poem is full of images that the listener can latch onto easily, and it’s personal and intimate enough to make you feel like you’re being addressed one-on-one, not orated to off a stage. Dima'api’s experience of balancing a new language with an old one feels suited to poetry—as well as poetry being spoken to you across the airwaves.
Transom Editors
Posted on November 20, 2003 at 07:44 PM | Permalink
Review of Trading One Tongue for the Other
Straightforward poetic piece from a young man straddling two worlds/languages. Beautifully honest, sadly removed. Nice fluid motion between languages and accents with plenty of content. THis is short piece that could fit an evening show but still there are one or two strong words that might restrict it's placement on air.
vm