Jacksonville State University was proud to share that for Yuliya Minets, the publication of her first book became a journey of self-discovery and understanding. The Ukrainian-born assistant professor of ancient history spent several years researching and writing “The Slow Fall of Babel” – a process that taught her as much about herself as it did about the ways ancient Christians experienced and conceptualized their linguistic differences.
“It was a transformative experience for me,” explained Minets, who joined the JSU faculty in 2020. “It helped me gain confidence in myself. I was once very shy of my accent and worried how an outsider like me can have a successful academic career in this country.”
Brett Buckner from JSU interviewed Ms. Minets who stated “I wanted this book to help us see the way we perceive and conceptualize languages, and how social-cultural stereotypes are involved in the way we see people who speak with foreign or local accents,” she said. “We are a globalized culture. Language connects us to different places. By speaking in a foreign language, you’re still inhabiting your homeland. Regardless of the language you speak, your accent becomes part of your identity. It testifies to who you are, where you’ve came from, and what you’ve been through.”
