When I learned/was learning Spanish and French, I spent a considerable amount of time learning about the cultures of the places that spoke Spanish and French. For me, that meant learning about the history of French and Spanish colonialism, the histories of Latin America, French West Africa, and Quebec, Louisiana and Haiti. I also spent a considerable amount of time finding Spanish and French language music that I liked. Since language is a component of culture, all of this helped acculture myself to the culture, and helped me really feel the language.
There’s academic evidence to suggest that these “affective factors” – namely affinity towards the language and the people who speak it – can improve language learning outcomes.
This has felt like a recurring challenge of learning Telugu. I didn’t grow up consuming Telugu media, and I don’t know much about the histories or cultures of the parts of India that speak Telugu. My main connection to Telugu is through family, and when I’m away from them it’s hard to feel a connection to the language.
That’s why I’m glad I stumbled upon Maidaanam, a publication concerning “culture, history, and politics from the Deccan and Southern India. The publication seems to lean towards Hyderabad and Telangana, but should be a good way to learn more about the region.
Here are some articles that I’m excited to dig into: