Welcome to a new mini-series from the CARE MATTERS podcast!
How Language Matters- Introduction with Majella Kilkey and Jayanthi Lingham
In this short introductory episode of ‘How Language Matters‘, Professor Majella Kilkey and Dr. Jayanthi Lingham brief us on the powerful role of language in care research, communication, and practice. Drawing from their work on the Borders in Care project, they reflect on how terminology like “unpaid carer” or “informal care” may reflect—or obscure—people’s lived experiences.
They look at the key questions and themes which will frame the mini-series, such as:
- Is focusing on language a distraction from addressing systemic issues like underfunding and inequality?
- How language can draw attention to invisible forms of labour and care.
- The impact of words like “dependency” in framing people as passive rather than interdependent.
- How complex or shifting language within the care system can act as a barrier to services.
This introduction, shaped through collaboration with the Centre for Care Voice Forum, sets the stage for further conversations in the series that challenge how we talk about care—and why that matters.
How Language Matters, episode 1
How Language Matters in Transnational Care: In conversation with Professor Loretta Baldassar
About this episode
In this episode of How Language Matters, Dr Jayanthi Lingham (Centre for Care, University of Sheffield) speaks with Professor Loretta Baldassar (Edith Cowan University, Australia) about the critical- but often overlooked- role of language in shaping care experiences among ageing migrant populations.
Drawing on comparative insights from Australia and the UK, Jayanthi and Loretta explore:
- The demographic reality of ageing migrant populations and their unique care needs.
- Language as a barrier to accessing timely and adequate care services.
- The complex dynamics between migrant care recipients and migrant care workers—often both using English as a second language.
- How language intersects with digital literacy, class, and race in access to care.
The conversation is a vital listen for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers working at the intersection of migration, ageing, and care.