Madeleine Thien & Deepa Bhasthi: The Sanctity of Language

Words matter. But how far can language take us – or lead us away from – where we want to be? ‘Words can erase and distort so many things,’ says Madeleine Thien (The Book of Records). ‘Justice, reason, democracy, freedom, goodness, truth—we have used these words in the service of widely different intentions.’ She’s joined today by writer and translator Deepa Bhasthi (Heart Lamp), who in 2025 became the first translator of colour to win the International Booker Prize. Chaired by Dina Nayeri.

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