What happens when languages travel, meet and change? Drawing on her own experience of growing up speaking Punjabi in Yorkshire, Kashmir Kaur explores Punjabi as a diasporic language across places, generations and popular culture. Through maps, personal stories, Punjabi words, Gurmukhi and music - from bhangra and British Asian fusion to Panjabi MC, Diljit Dosanjh and contemporary global collaborations - we’ll follow some of the ways Punjabi travels and changes across different contexts. But if there is no single English and no single Punjabi, can there really be a single ‘Panglish’? And who decides what counts as ‘good’ or ‘proper’ language? Come and try some Punjabi, experiment with writing your name in Gurmukhi, listen for linguistic and musical mixing and think about the words and ways of speaking that you carry with you. No knowledge of Punjabi is required.
This workshop invites participants to write creatively in any language they wish in a relaxed, guided environment. We will be responding to creative writing prompts about climate breakdown, working to consider the many languages - of feeling, of ecology, of time, and of justice - that we are navigating together when we try to communicate what is happening. Participants will be led through a series of activities to respond creatively, in discussion and on the page, with the opportunity to share work in a digital pamphlet emerging from the session.
Join us at local libraries across Leeds for fun sessions of sharing stories and rhymes with time to play in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
A great opportunity to meet with others and join the library as part of your visit. Free event for under fives and their grown ups, just turn up.
Switch off, settle in, and read together at our monthly quiet reading hour. Bring a book or borrow one, relax, and stay afterwards for a friendly book chat if you wish.
