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Immersion: A Linguist's Memoir
Fans of the self-discovering journeys in Cheryl Strayed’s Wild and Andrew McCarthy’s The Longest Way Home will love diving into linguist Linda Murphy Marshall’s adventure-filled international journey as she overcomes her past to find her place in the world—all over the world.
Immersion is a memoir that takes the reader on a captivating emotional and physical journey through Linda Murphy Marshall’s from the longstanding, crippling impact of family members’ low expectations and abuse, to her discovery as a young adult that she possesses special skills in foreign languages.
Linda is taught from an early age that she has little of value to offer the world. But her love of and affinity for languages enables her to create a new life—to separate herself from her toxic environment and to build a successful, decades-long career as a professional multilinguist. It’s a rewarding vocation, but a challenging her assignments with the US federal government take her on some hair-raisingly dangerous journeys, some to countries with unstable governments and even active war zones. But these sometimes-harrowing experiences teach her how to open the “windows” around her, unearth her true self, and develop a healthy sense of self-worth—and ultimately, paradoxically, her work and travel so far from home allow her to come home to herself.
Immersion is a memoir that takes the reader on a captivating emotional and physical journey through Linda Murphy Marshall’s from the longstanding, crippling impact of family members’ low expectations and abuse, to her discovery as a young adult that she possesses special skills in foreign languages.
Linda is taught from an early age that she has little of value to offer the world. But her love of and affinity for languages enables her to create a new life—to separate herself from her toxic environment and to build a successful, decades-long career as a professional multilinguist. It’s a rewarding vocation, but a challenging her assignments with the US federal government take her on some hair-raisingly dangerous journeys, some to countries with unstable governments and even active war zones. But these sometimes-harrowing experiences teach her how to open the “windows” around her, unearth her true self, and develop a healthy sense of self-worth—and ultimately, paradoxically, her work and travel so far from home allow her to come home to herself.
- GenresMemoirNonfictionLanguage
252 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 24, 2024
6 people are currently reading
2380 people want to read
About the author
Linda Murphy Marshall
3 books36 followersLinda Murphy Marshall is a multi-linguist and writer with a Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages and Literature and an MFA in Creative Writing. Her memoir, Ivy Lodge: A Memoir of Translation and Discovery received a starred review from Kirkus. Her writing has been published or is forthcoming numerous publications, includingThe Los Angeles Review,The Catamaran Literary Reader,The Ocotillo Review, The Blue Earth Review, Maryland Literary Review, Under the Gum Tree, Critical Read, American Writers Review, Bacopa Literary Review, Adelaide Literary Magazine, Flash Fiction Magazine, Sip Cup, Hobo Camp Review, Mom Egg Review and elsewhere. In addition, she worked as a senior research scientist at the University of Maryland Center for Advanced Study of Language (CASL), is an Associate for the National Museum of Language (NML), a docent at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and served as Translation Editor at the Los Angeles Review. Her first memoir, Ivy Lodge: A Memoir of Translation and Discovery was published in 2022 and received a starred Kirkus review.
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In her work as a language analyst and translator, she worked with over fifteen languages. Working as an African language specialist, she co-authored a book on Xhosa, a South African “click” language, and acted as a consultant on another book on another South African “click” language, Sotho. In addition, she made over a dozen work trips to the continent of Africa and has visited/stayed in every continent but Antarctica.
**********
In her work as a language analyst and translator, she worked with over fifteen languages. Working as an African language specialist, she co-authored a book on Xhosa, a South African “click” language, and acted as a consultant on another book on another South African “click” language, Sotho. In addition, she made over a dozen work trips to the continent of Africa and has visited/stayed in every continent but Antarctica.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 26, 2024
I have the pleasure of being a friend of the author but I had no idea of the wild adventures her job had required. I always thought she was just at a desk. It was fun reading her story and getting to know her even more. We share a love for languages but her love has taken her to places I can only imagine. I always enjoy her writing style, she is so good with description and setting up a scene that lets the reader vividly picture what she is trying to say. I highly recommend this book and as I always tell Linda: I want to be like her when I grow up.
September 27, 2024
4+
A rare hyperpolyglot’s mastery of over a dozen languages changes lives including her own (Missouri, Spain, Brazil, Zambia, South Africa, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania; 1970 to 2008): To say Linda Murphy Marshall is someone who loves languages, studies them, and knows many doesn’t begin to do her enough justice.
Knowing and speaking four or more languages is considered rare, a polyglot. Marshall’s among the rarest, a hyperpolygot, proficient in over a dozen languages: Spanish (with a doctorate in Hispanic Languages and Literature), “then Portuguese, French, German, Russian . . .,” followed by more than five African languages, including Xhosa, Sotho, Shona, Swahili, and Amharic; two called “click” languages, among the most difficult in the world (why, explained below). This alone is extraordinary. But that also doesn’t do Immersion: A Linguist’s Memoir enough justice.
Immersing herself in learning an astonishing number of languages, Marshall became a translator for several Federal agencies on diplomatic and intelligence assignments. Capable of live and “in-country” “simultaneous interpretation.”
Each “new language equaled new Linda somehow.” Her transformation builds one language, one country experience at a time. The author has traveled to “every continent but Antarctica,” making for a unique reading experience.
All the more impressive since Marshall spent the first thirty-five years of her life in a small, conservative, confining Midwestern suburb (outside of St. Louis in Kirkwood, Missouri). “One-dimensional, bland, predictable.” Clashing with her family’s and her community’s traditional norms, she was lonely not fitting in; distressed and lacking self-esteem, self-worth, self-confidence. Once married, she felt guilty for being a “mediocre housewife” and the mother of two young children who loved them but wanted more.
Finding the courage to stand up for herself, she moved to Maryland with her children, got divorced, and was essentially disowned by her parents and siblings. Coping alone with all the worries and anxieties of not being a stay-at-home mom, she began a remarkable, long career.
This candid and riveting personal and professional journey reads, then, as part coming-of-age/self-actualization, part feminist commentary, part travelogue, part cultural, part political history, and part thriller.
How fascinating that this exceptional linguist struggled with math and science. Wanting to understand the dissonance, the best I could come up with is the brain processes language and math differently. But that doesn’t account for Marshall’s other talents as a classical pianist and painter.
You can read this memoir from the perspective of how learning languages can open you up to “other people, about art, literature, customs and culture,” as well as social unrest and political upheaval. And/or from a personal identity quest that “stretched me in ways I didn’t know I could be stretched.”
For the linguist extraordinaire who wants to make sure she communicates as skillfully as possible for all the parties involved, a similar goal is seen in the well-written prose that makes sure readers understand too. Given all the places Marshall has traveled to, all the experiences, and all the languages, you’ll come away with a clear picture of each and every one. Some delightful, others terrifying, all vivid.
Creatively, each chapter is structured around a language tense, critical to learning a language, translated into a “literary device” summarizing, with an example, each chapter’s takeaway and what it means in her personal journey.
For instance, the Prologue begins with “FORESHADOWING” . . . “in which the writer gives the reader hints of what’s to come.” It describes the author’s first trip overseas in 1970 to Spain during her junior year study abroad college program that “foreshadowed not only a lifetime of trips but also a revisioning and restructuring of my life.” A central theme.
The memoir continues in the same vein with eight chapters and an Epilogue introduced by a linguistic term that’s also often a creative writing technique: “The Present Tense,” “The Conditional Tense,” “The Past Progressive Tense,” The Future Tense,” “The Imperative Mood,” “Code-Switching,” “Syllabary,” “Semantics,” and “The Subjunctive Mood.”
We would have had to google syllabary if it wasn’t explained in the context of languages: “a set of written symbols that represent syllables that make up words, acting as an alphabet, such as in Japanese, Cherokee, and Ethiopia’s Amharic.” It’s Ethiopia’s language this chapter focuses on. A good thing it came later, after Marshall learned eight other languages that grew increasingly more challenging. Each overcoming greater difficulties; each leading to greater acceptance, tolerance, fears, and dangers; and each increasing her self-worth, pride, and sense of identity.
The languages that challenged Marshall the most are African. The click languages, for instance, use three different sounds made with the tongue to stand for the sound of three consonants: “dental click” for the letter c, “lateral click” for x, and “palatal click” for q.
Although these two languages are spoken by “350 million people in sub-Saharan Africa,” there’s over 500 categorized as Bantu languages. And that’s only a slice of the diversity of languages on a continent of fifty-four countries speaking over 2,000.
When Marshall was called upon to learn Xhosa in the late 1980s, she was one of only a few who knew it and thought it “impossible” to master. She says she still hasn’t, but by now we feel nothing seems impossible for someone who’s gifted, disciplined, brave, and willing to jump in and immerse herself fully to the challenge.
In doing so, the author witnessed African history in the 1990s and later. Her work took her to three of the five regions in Africa: East, Central, and South Africa; excludes North and West Africa.
These assignments landed the linguist in the midst of a coup in Lusaka, Zambia; deeply affected her visiting Nelson Mandela’s jail cell when he became a free man after nearly thirty-years imprisoned for fighting apartheid, struck by his absence of bitterness; a war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and terrorist devastation when the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya was bombed.
There’s also many heartwarming moments. One on the plane to Rio de Janeiro, asked to translate the lyrics of that uplifting song, “He’s Got the Whole World in his Hands,” for children from Brazil. Another, witnessing the poverty of people living in “shanties” or “favelas” or slums in Brazil’s capital, and the even more impoverished surviving in the Sertão backlands in Northeast Brazil. “I told myself that if they could live like this and still smile, laugh, how dare I cry?”
Marshall’s personal challenges resonate. From her identity and feminist struggles to single parenting when you love your children but also love your other job. We’re relieved to learn she married again, this time to a man who supports her needs.
A question indirectly raised is whether mastering languages would help us better understand other people, cultures, history, and ourselves?
A rare hyperpolyglot’s mastery of over a dozen languages changes lives including her own (Missouri, Spain, Brazil, Zambia, South Africa, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania; 1970 to 2008): To say Linda Murphy Marshall is someone who loves languages, studies them, and knows many doesn’t begin to do her enough justice.
Knowing and speaking four or more languages is considered rare, a polyglot. Marshall’s among the rarest, a hyperpolygot, proficient in over a dozen languages: Spanish (with a doctorate in Hispanic Languages and Literature), “then Portuguese, French, German, Russian . . .,” followed by more than five African languages, including Xhosa, Sotho, Shona, Swahili, and Amharic; two called “click” languages, among the most difficult in the world (why, explained below). This alone is extraordinary. But that also doesn’t do Immersion: A Linguist’s Memoir enough justice.
Immersing herself in learning an astonishing number of languages, Marshall became a translator for several Federal agencies on diplomatic and intelligence assignments. Capable of live and “in-country” “simultaneous interpretation.”
Each “new language equaled new Linda somehow.” Her transformation builds one language, one country experience at a time. The author has traveled to “every continent but Antarctica,” making for a unique reading experience.
All the more impressive since Marshall spent the first thirty-five years of her life in a small, conservative, confining Midwestern suburb (outside of St. Louis in Kirkwood, Missouri). “One-dimensional, bland, predictable.” Clashing with her family’s and her community’s traditional norms, she was lonely not fitting in; distressed and lacking self-esteem, self-worth, self-confidence. Once married, she felt guilty for being a “mediocre housewife” and the mother of two young children who loved them but wanted more.
Finding the courage to stand up for herself, she moved to Maryland with her children, got divorced, and was essentially disowned by her parents and siblings. Coping alone with all the worries and anxieties of not being a stay-at-home mom, she began a remarkable, long career.
This candid and riveting personal and professional journey reads, then, as part coming-of-age/self-actualization, part feminist commentary, part travelogue, part cultural, part political history, and part thriller.
How fascinating that this exceptional linguist struggled with math and science. Wanting to understand the dissonance, the best I could come up with is the brain processes language and math differently. But that doesn’t account for Marshall’s other talents as a classical pianist and painter.
You can read this memoir from the perspective of how learning languages can open you up to “other people, about art, literature, customs and culture,” as well as social unrest and political upheaval. And/or from a personal identity quest that “stretched me in ways I didn’t know I could be stretched.”
For the linguist extraordinaire who wants to make sure she communicates as skillfully as possible for all the parties involved, a similar goal is seen in the well-written prose that makes sure readers understand too. Given all the places Marshall has traveled to, all the experiences, and all the languages, you’ll come away with a clear picture of each and every one. Some delightful, others terrifying, all vivid.
Creatively, each chapter is structured around a language tense, critical to learning a language, translated into a “literary device” summarizing, with an example, each chapter’s takeaway and what it means in her personal journey.
For instance, the Prologue begins with “FORESHADOWING” . . . “in which the writer gives the reader hints of what’s to come.” It describes the author’s first trip overseas in 1970 to Spain during her junior year study abroad college program that “foreshadowed not only a lifetime of trips but also a revisioning and restructuring of my life.” A central theme.
The memoir continues in the same vein with eight chapters and an Epilogue introduced by a linguistic term that’s also often a creative writing technique: “The Present Tense,” “The Conditional Tense,” “The Past Progressive Tense,” The Future Tense,” “The Imperative Mood,” “Code-Switching,” “Syllabary,” “Semantics,” and “The Subjunctive Mood.”
We would have had to google syllabary if it wasn’t explained in the context of languages: “a set of written symbols that represent syllables that make up words, acting as an alphabet, such as in Japanese, Cherokee, and Ethiopia’s Amharic.” It’s Ethiopia’s language this chapter focuses on. A good thing it came later, after Marshall learned eight other languages that grew increasingly more challenging. Each overcoming greater difficulties; each leading to greater acceptance, tolerance, fears, and dangers; and each increasing her self-worth, pride, and sense of identity.
The languages that challenged Marshall the most are African. The click languages, for instance, use three different sounds made with the tongue to stand for the sound of three consonants: “dental click” for the letter c, “lateral click” for x, and “palatal click” for q.
Although these two languages are spoken by “350 million people in sub-Saharan Africa,” there’s over 500 categorized as Bantu languages. And that’s only a slice of the diversity of languages on a continent of fifty-four countries speaking over 2,000.
When Marshall was called upon to learn Xhosa in the late 1980s, she was one of only a few who knew it and thought it “impossible” to master. She says she still hasn’t, but by now we feel nothing seems impossible for someone who’s gifted, disciplined, brave, and willing to jump in and immerse herself fully to the challenge.
In doing so, the author witnessed African history in the 1990s and later. Her work took her to three of the five regions in Africa: East, Central, and South Africa; excludes North and West Africa.
These assignments landed the linguist in the midst of a coup in Lusaka, Zambia; deeply affected her visiting Nelson Mandela’s jail cell when he became a free man after nearly thirty-years imprisoned for fighting apartheid, struck by his absence of bitterness; a war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and terrorist devastation when the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya was bombed.
There’s also many heartwarming moments. One on the plane to Rio de Janeiro, asked to translate the lyrics of that uplifting song, “He’s Got the Whole World in his Hands,” for children from Brazil. Another, witnessing the poverty of people living in “shanties” or “favelas” or slums in Brazil’s capital, and the even more impoverished surviving in the Sertão backlands in Northeast Brazil. “I told myself that if they could live like this and still smile, laugh, how dare I cry?”
Marshall’s personal challenges resonate. From her identity and feminist struggles to single parenting when you love your children but also love your other job. We’re relieved to learn she married again, this time to a man who supports her needs.
A question indirectly raised is whether mastering languages would help us better understand other people, cultures, history, and ourselves?
October 1, 2024
"If you don't do it, you'll never know what would have happened if you had done it "
I would love to have a second language let alone being able speak multiple languages across the world, it would be so fascinating to be able to interact fluently multiculturally.
Immersion is a memoir about a translator for the US government, and Linda Murphy takes us on a journey of how being a Linguist landed her a career travelling the world and immersing herself in unsafe situations while her husband and young family were on the other side of the world.
"I love all the people and the noise and the music and the smells and diversity of life you find. It is such a source of constant stimulation. And the Brazilians are great.."
If you enjoy memoirs and love travel, you should check this one out. It is written beautifully and I loved Linda's journal entries throughout out the book and were almost lyrical at times.
Linda had a tough childhood and from this story she taught me how sometimes the strength you're looking for is right there in front of you looking back at you in the mirror and that is YOU.
She found her place and she found her purpose which gave her so much more than life .
Thank you @booksparks and Linda Murphy Marshall for this physical copy I learned a lot about a Linguists life and have so much admiration and you have inspired me to take up that second language 🙏
I would love to have a second language let alone being able speak multiple languages across the world, it would be so fascinating to be able to interact fluently multiculturally.
Immersion is a memoir about a translator for the US government, and Linda Murphy takes us on a journey of how being a Linguist landed her a career travelling the world and immersing herself in unsafe situations while her husband and young family were on the other side of the world.
"I love all the people and the noise and the music and the smells and diversity of life you find. It is such a source of constant stimulation. And the Brazilians are great.."
If you enjoy memoirs and love travel, you should check this one out. It is written beautifully and I loved Linda's journal entries throughout out the book and were almost lyrical at times.
Linda had a tough childhood and from this story she taught me how sometimes the strength you're looking for is right there in front of you looking back at you in the mirror and that is YOU.
She found her place and she found her purpose which gave her so much more than life .
Thank you @booksparks and Linda Murphy Marshall for this physical copy I learned a lot about a Linguists life and have so much admiration and you have inspired me to take up that second language 🙏
October 14, 2024
This was a very interesting memoir to read. The author's love for language led her to have a full life, learning about world languages and traveling around the world to put that knowledge to good use, interpreting when she was able.
It wasn't always easy and fun. She endured some hard, tough, and sometimes dangerous situations, lest of all, uprooting her family to live her dream. We, the readers, live through those moments and milestones with her in this very well written account of her life and struggles.
Immersion pulled me into the world of language and linguistics that were unfamiliar to me but felt very comfortable. The author did a wonderful job of making her life and experiences relatable and interesting. I totally enjoyed this memoir.
It wasn't always easy and fun. She endured some hard, tough, and sometimes dangerous situations, lest of all, uprooting her family to live her dream. We, the readers, live through those moments and milestones with her in this very well written account of her life and struggles.
Immersion pulled me into the world of language and linguistics that were unfamiliar to me but felt very comfortable. The author did a wonderful job of making her life and experiences relatable and interesting. I totally enjoyed this memoir.
November 26, 2024
I genuinely don't remember the last time I read a book that I identified with as strongly as this! From the very first pages I found myself nodding along, underling and tabbing pages because so much of what author Linda Murphy Marshall wrote just resonated. This is a book I was working into conversations on a regular basis, and a book I can't wait to share with friends who will also totally get it!
One of the main messages in Immersion is how over and over again, learning languages helped Marshall find herself, rediscover herself, and learn these incredible things about her life and the person she's becoming. As a memoir, it's such a life story! After years of feeling a bit loss and mired in her own life, Marshall takes a job as a linguist for the US government and starts immersing herself first in languages she already knew, and then quickly in new ones. Her stories of assignments abroad were incredible, both beautiful and touching and also harrowing! I loved how much meaning she was able to take from even small events. And I love how she reiterates that learning languages (and therefore studying people and culture and history and socioeconomics, etc) leads her over and over to learning about herself--her strength, her resourcefulness, her stance on different issues. She took on new personalities while learning these languages, but she was also polishing an defining her own.
I spent almost a third of my life living in foreign countries and immersing myself in foreign languages, so reading Marshall's stories rang so many bells for me. I recognized her early moments of euphoria, discovering how big (and yet small) the world is and how open it can be. I loved her discussions of languages and the personalities they loan the speaker. I saw so much of my own memories and experiences in her story (minus the dangerous bits and no-so-distant gunfire). My poor copy is full of underlined passages and tabs of moments I could absolutely relate to. I loved her journey, and it made me relive bits of my own.
*I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review; all the thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
One of the main messages in Immersion is how over and over again, learning languages helped Marshall find herself, rediscover herself, and learn these incredible things about her life and the person she's becoming. As a memoir, it's such a life story! After years of feeling a bit loss and mired in her own life, Marshall takes a job as a linguist for the US government and starts immersing herself first in languages she already knew, and then quickly in new ones. Her stories of assignments abroad were incredible, both beautiful and touching and also harrowing! I loved how much meaning she was able to take from even small events. And I love how she reiterates that learning languages (and therefore studying people and culture and history and socioeconomics, etc) leads her over and over to learning about herself--her strength, her resourcefulness, her stance on different issues. She took on new personalities while learning these languages, but she was also polishing an defining her own.
I spent almost a third of my life living in foreign countries and immersing myself in foreign languages, so reading Marshall's stories rang so many bells for me. I recognized her early moments of euphoria, discovering how big (and yet small) the world is and how open it can be. I loved her discussions of languages and the personalities they loan the speaker. I saw so much of my own memories and experiences in her story (minus the dangerous bits and no-so-distant gunfire). My poor copy is full of underlined passages and tabs of moments I could absolutely relate to. I loved her journey, and it made me relive bits of my own.
*I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review; all the thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
October 20, 2024
This is a very unique and inspiring memoir. Especially, for the women, who have been told at any point of life, that they do not have what it takes to get ahead in life.
This deeply personal and unputdownable memoir takes you on a highly captivating , multi-decade journey around the globe, linguistic wonders, and an incredible process of self-realization and self discovery.
This is a memoir of Linda Murphy Marshall who used her love of languages to build a successful and extensive career as a professional multi-linguist. From her young adult years ,she has been dealing with the lack of self worth borne out of low expectations from the family and a subtle abuse to her zest for learning foreign languages. Through her passionate love for learning languages , she opens new avenues for herself and she transforms her life as an ordinary mid-western woman to one of the top international linguists of US Government. She refuses to go down the much travelled path of Womanhood and carves out a different path for herself, which is both rewarding and challenging.
With every new language she excels, with every new place she visits, with every new threat she faces and with every triumph over her fears and self doubt, she uncovers a new layer of self worth and self confidence. Despite being miles away from her home, she finds home within herself at these foreign locations.
Each one of author's experiences in every new place offers a different set of perspective to the reader and invokes a variety of emotions. The experiences astonishingly range from a wide variety, one could ever imagine. From immersing herself into a new foreign language to exploring the cultural context of that language. From facing challenges to understand and speak a language in a world without Internet and Duolingo, to the satisfying experience of mastering fluency over a language. From countless lonely nights and weekends, to meeting and bonding with the local people of that place. From enjoying her solitude in amazing landscapes of different countries to facing riots, escaping thugs, living through life threatening close calls, when she was stationed in countries with political turmoil, and battles tumultuous situations in war torn areas.
What makes this memoir, even more special is the graceful and eloquent writing style of the author. Brilliantly narrated with adequate amount of suspense, drama, emotions and slight humor, this memoir makes it impossible for the reader to put the book down.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an engrossing and highly motivating story. If someone is currently learning a new language or plan to build a career as a linguist then this book will be very interesting and enlightening for them.
Thank you @Booksparks for my gifted copy. :)
Linda Murphy Marshall
This deeply personal and unputdownable memoir takes you on a highly captivating , multi-decade journey around the globe, linguistic wonders, and an incredible process of self-realization and self discovery.
This is a memoir of Linda Murphy Marshall who used her love of languages to build a successful and extensive career as a professional multi-linguist. From her young adult years ,she has been dealing with the lack of self worth borne out of low expectations from the family and a subtle abuse to her zest for learning foreign languages. Through her passionate love for learning languages , she opens new avenues for herself and she transforms her life as an ordinary mid-western woman to one of the top international linguists of US Government. She refuses to go down the much travelled path of Womanhood and carves out a different path for herself, which is both rewarding and challenging.
With every new language she excels, with every new place she visits, with every new threat she faces and with every triumph over her fears and self doubt, she uncovers a new layer of self worth and self confidence. Despite being miles away from her home, she finds home within herself at these foreign locations.
Each one of author's experiences in every new place offers a different set of perspective to the reader and invokes a variety of emotions. The experiences astonishingly range from a wide variety, one could ever imagine. From immersing herself into a new foreign language to exploring the cultural context of that language. From facing challenges to understand and speak a language in a world without Internet and Duolingo, to the satisfying experience of mastering fluency over a language. From countless lonely nights and weekends, to meeting and bonding with the local people of that place. From enjoying her solitude in amazing landscapes of different countries to facing riots, escaping thugs, living through life threatening close calls, when she was stationed in countries with political turmoil, and battles tumultuous situations in war torn areas.
What makes this memoir, even more special is the graceful and eloquent writing style of the author. Brilliantly narrated with adequate amount of suspense, drama, emotions and slight humor, this memoir makes it impossible for the reader to put the book down.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an engrossing and highly motivating story. If someone is currently learning a new language or plan to build a career as a linguist then this book will be very interesting and enlightening for them.
Thank you @Booksparks for my gifted copy. :)
Linda Murphy Marshall
September 28, 2024
I had the good fortune to be with Linda Murphy Marshall on that Brazil trip. Her language skills are truly top tier yet her human warmth and compassion are her hallmark. I have always admired her fear/challenge dynamic and especially her liberation informed need to lean into the challenge. This book clearly presents her successful march from Kirkwood/wife to international operator, translator, author and artist while still holding on to her beautiful family and friends. A rich, rewarding read.
October 23, 2024
This book really opened my eyes to what is involved in the life of a linguist working for the government. I think before reading it, I pictured the job as hours and hours in a cube studying and translating information. While there is certainly a portion of that, there is considerably more travel than I had imagined. Linda takes the reader on trips around the world to distant lands and shares her experiences in a really interesting narrative that draws you in further and further with each new adventure. In parallel with her travels, she is also on a personal journey and discovers a lot along the way about herself. These two elements feed off of each other and as she further evolves in the role, the trips become more challenging which help her to learn even more about herself.
It’s a great read and I highly recommend it if learning more about different cultures, traveling and personal growth is of interest to you. This book as all 3 of those rolled into one and I found I had a hard time putting it down.
It’s a great read and I highly recommend it if learning more about different cultures, traveling and personal growth is of interest to you. This book as all 3 of those rolled into one and I found I had a hard time putting it down.
October 17, 2024
Thank you so much to @booksparks for the gifted copy of #Immersion by Linda Murphy Marshall and allowing me along on this #FallPopUp review tour!
Synopsis
Immersion is a memoir that takes the reader on a captivating emotional and physical journey through Linda Murphy Marshall's life: from the longstanding, crippling impact of family members' low expectations and abuse, to her discovery as a young adult that she possesses special skills in foreign languages.
Rewiew
From the moment I read the dedication, I knew that I was really going to love this memoir.
I started traveling like crazy when I met my wife and found myself really relating to Linda’s story. When we see new places, my wife and I will often say that we can’t believe we are exploring alongside people that are just living their lives day to day. The education, awareness, and personal growth and connection I have received from traveling means so much to me and I love how that is explored and showcased in this memoir. Over and over again Marshall rediscovered herself through travel and learning new languages, and I have found that too. I wish I knew more languages and this memoir inspired me so much!
Synopsis
Immersion is a memoir that takes the reader on a captivating emotional and physical journey through Linda Murphy Marshall's life: from the longstanding, crippling impact of family members' low expectations and abuse, to her discovery as a young adult that she possesses special skills in foreign languages.
Rewiew
From the moment I read the dedication, I knew that I was really going to love this memoir.
I started traveling like crazy when I met my wife and found myself really relating to Linda’s story. When we see new places, my wife and I will often say that we can’t believe we are exploring alongside people that are just living their lives day to day. The education, awareness, and personal growth and connection I have received from traveling means so much to me and I love how that is explored and showcased in this memoir. Over and over again Marshall rediscovered herself through travel and learning new languages, and I have found that too. I wish I knew more languages and this memoir inspired me so much!
June 25, 2025
IMMERSION is the story of a career chock full of adventures in learning and living surrounded by languages and their peoples. Highly recommended.
September 29, 2024
This is the second of Linda Murphy Marshall's memoirs that I've read and I couldn't put this one down. Immersion: A Linguist's Memoir told me the stories of Linda's life and experiences that I was missing from her first memoir, Ivy Lodge, which focused more on her childhood and relationships with her family.
Immersion gave me all the nitty-gritty details that I'd wanted to know more about after finishing Ivy Lodge. This second memoir gives you a glimpse into Linda's life as a linguist for the United States Government; from getting her first position to learning new languages to going to different countries in Africa.
Linda's second memoir is a story of progress, self-discovery, and embracing who you are. She proves that it's never too late to start down a new path (having got her first position with the US government after she'd completed her PhD and had children, then learning new languages as an adult, then discovering more about who she was well into her adult life). She also shows us the multitude of ways that learning foreign languages (even just a few words) helps us to be more open, understanding, and compassionate people.
Immersion is very well written and very easy to read. Linda's writing style is descriptive where it needs to be; painting magnificent yet traumatic images of the places she's been, yet realistic as she doesn't sugar coat things. You feel like you're getting as balanced of a view as possible of a certain city, a certain country, a certain culture at a certain point in history. Some parts of Immersion had me nodding along with understanding (I speak multiple foreign languages so completely get the struggles about learning the language, the culture, and also learning about yourself and who you are in a foreign language) and other parts had me tearing up with dispair (there's one particular experience from Nairobi, Kenya that I'm thinking of).
I'd really recommend this book to anyone but I think it'd be particularly interesting for those learning foreign languages and interacting with cultures that are foreign to them.
Immersion gave me all the nitty-gritty details that I'd wanted to know more about after finishing Ivy Lodge. This second memoir gives you a glimpse into Linda's life as a linguist for the United States Government; from getting her first position to learning new languages to going to different countries in Africa.
Linda's second memoir is a story of progress, self-discovery, and embracing who you are. She proves that it's never too late to start down a new path (having got her first position with the US government after she'd completed her PhD and had children, then learning new languages as an adult, then discovering more about who she was well into her adult life). She also shows us the multitude of ways that learning foreign languages (even just a few words) helps us to be more open, understanding, and compassionate people.
Immersion is very well written and very easy to read. Linda's writing style is descriptive where it needs to be; painting magnificent yet traumatic images of the places she's been, yet realistic as she doesn't sugar coat things. You feel like you're getting as balanced of a view as possible of a certain city, a certain country, a certain culture at a certain point in history. Some parts of Immersion had me nodding along with understanding (I speak multiple foreign languages so completely get the struggles about learning the language, the culture, and also learning about yourself and who you are in a foreign language) and other parts had me tearing up with dispair (there's one particular experience from Nairobi, Kenya that I'm thinking of).
I'd really recommend this book to anyone but I think it'd be particularly interesting for those learning foreign languages and interacting with cultures that are foreign to them.
August 28, 2024
Marshall had lost her language by 1985. She was a midwestern housewife with 2 kids and a PhD but felt lost and stifled.
She defied convention and made some major life changes to fulfill her ambitions and keep her languages alive.
The author is a very accomplished linguist and served a lot of time in Africa during the 1990s and early 2000s.
I never dreamt a translator’s life would be so adventuresome and I’m sure her memoir is sure to inspire others.
If nothing else her book is a testament to what women can aspire and accomplish.
Thanks to She Writes Press and NetGalley for the early copies.
She defied convention and made some major life changes to fulfill her ambitions and keep her languages alive.
The author is a very accomplished linguist and served a lot of time in Africa during the 1990s and early 2000s.
I never dreamt a translator’s life would be so adventuresome and I’m sure her memoir is sure to inspire others.
If nothing else her book is a testament to what women can aspire and accomplish.
Thanks to She Writes Press and NetGalley for the early copies.
May 18, 2024
I find memoirs tricky; if I find my cup of tea, I am fully immersed in it, with steam, flavours, and warmth oozing from the cup and the saucer, but despite being interested in some humans and the human conditions, I am not interested to hear about every single memoir-writer’s lives.
This one is a five-star for me because it contains interesting life experiences of Murphy Marshall, a linguist, who defied the norms in her community and found herself in adventures and dangerous situations.
It is possible that the writer and I differ on our individual political stances - not that this is mentioned in the book; but even in that case, I would have appreciated the writer’s exquisite work as a linguist, her competence, skills, expertise, perseverance, courage and craft. She is an expert in at least two click languages, and she knows how to write. The book was informative and has a great structure. I highly recommend it to those who love languages. I will be reading the author’s other work since her writing style, experiences, knowledge, perspective around women empowerment appeal to me and how she blended in her personal strengths and what she considers as mistakes and weaknesses in a balanced and objective way.
This one is a five-star for me because it contains interesting life experiences of Murphy Marshall, a linguist, who defied the norms in her community and found herself in adventures and dangerous situations.
It is possible that the writer and I differ on our individual political stances - not that this is mentioned in the book; but even in that case, I would have appreciated the writer’s exquisite work as a linguist, her competence, skills, expertise, perseverance, courage and craft. She is an expert in at least two click languages, and she knows how to write. The book was informative and has a great structure. I highly recommend it to those who love languages. I will be reading the author’s other work since her writing style, experiences, knowledge, perspective around women empowerment appeal to me and how she blended in her personal strengths and what she considers as mistakes and weaknesses in a balanced and objective way.
January 30, 2025
I'm already a big fan of Linda Murphy Marshall after reading her first book, Ivy Lodge. Her newest book, Immersion: A Linguist's Memoir is just outstanding literature. I was captivated by the memories the author shared of her professional experiences as well as her personal perspective on her travels. The fact that she speaks over a dozen languages and traveled extensively to Africa is amazing and she portrays her story with all the good and the bad of her sometimes hair-raising and dangerous journey. This memoir reads like a best-selling novel!
Thank you, Linda, for sharing your stories with us, your delighted readers.
Judy Pepper
Thank you, Linda, for sharing your stories with us, your delighted readers.
Judy Pepper
February 7, 2025
Linda's adventures are amazing to read about, and her honest reactions to the places and times she's experienced are so interesting. Though she has every reason to brag about her accomplishments and honors, she brings you along and lets you know about the apprehension and fear that she experienced when thrown so far outside the world she knew in the United States. Well worth a read!
September 27, 2024
A fascinating look at one woman's journey to find her calling and herself. Thank you to booksparks for the book!
From a married housewife with little ones, to a U.S. government translator, Linda Murphy Marshall finds that her love and proficiency of languages takes her across,the world amidst coups, riots and war .
From a married housewife with little ones, to a U.S. government translator, Linda Murphy Marshall finds that her love and proficiency of languages takes her across,the world amidst coups, riots and war .
October 31, 2024
Full review at: https://readingourshelves.wordpress.c...
We learn a little early on about Linda’s childhood, but the action starts when she studies in Spain during her college years. She works for a few years after college, using her language skills, but then stops to become a stay at home mom. The thing is, she doesn’t want to stop. Of course she loves her kids, but she doesn’t really like being a stay at home mom. She only did it because it was what was expected of her – by her own family and her husband’s. But she hates cooking, and feels like her talents are in other things.
She even applies to some jobs, but at first she just wants to see if she could qualify for them. She is not convinced she’d actually take them. Then, an old mentor recommends her for a translating job in Brazil. It’s only for a few weeks, so surely her husband and family can take care of the kids for that long?
Brazil is life-changing, of course. She has to be “on” 24/7 for the people she’s traveling with, and she holds her own and earns the respect of other translators she meets along the way. She comes home and does not want to stay at home.
This leads to some big changes, including a divorce, but Linda and her kids ultimately move to DC so she can start working for the US government. While there, she continues to learn more and more languages, often decided by shifting global events. Does the government foresee needing people who speak a certain language or dialect, and how long does it take to teach a linguist that dialect?
Mostly, Linda comes to learn multiple languages from the African continent, and travels there many times in different circumstances. While some trips are purely educational, others are to places where riots or bombings are real threats. The stories of these various travels take up the bulk of the book, and they are fascinating. She also points out that Africa is not monolithic in any way – linguistically, culturally, etc.
As the author presents these stories, she also presents the challenges she faced, and lessons learned, from each excursion. That is her journey… but I was content to vicariously tag along to places I’ve never visited myself!
This one would appeal to word nerds, travel enthusiasts… and people asking themselves if they should “go for” something bigger in life.
We learn a little early on about Linda’s childhood, but the action starts when she studies in Spain during her college years. She works for a few years after college, using her language skills, but then stops to become a stay at home mom. The thing is, she doesn’t want to stop. Of course she loves her kids, but she doesn’t really like being a stay at home mom. She only did it because it was what was expected of her – by her own family and her husband’s. But she hates cooking, and feels like her talents are in other things.
She even applies to some jobs, but at first she just wants to see if she could qualify for them. She is not convinced she’d actually take them. Then, an old mentor recommends her for a translating job in Brazil. It’s only for a few weeks, so surely her husband and family can take care of the kids for that long?
Brazil is life-changing, of course. She has to be “on” 24/7 for the people she’s traveling with, and she holds her own and earns the respect of other translators she meets along the way. She comes home and does not want to stay at home.
This leads to some big changes, including a divorce, but Linda and her kids ultimately move to DC so she can start working for the US government. While there, she continues to learn more and more languages, often decided by shifting global events. Does the government foresee needing people who speak a certain language or dialect, and how long does it take to teach a linguist that dialect?
Mostly, Linda comes to learn multiple languages from the African continent, and travels there many times in different circumstances. While some trips are purely educational, others are to places where riots or bombings are real threats. The stories of these various travels take up the bulk of the book, and they are fascinating. She also points out that Africa is not monolithic in any way – linguistically, culturally, etc.
As the author presents these stories, she also presents the challenges she faced, and lessons learned, from each excursion. That is her journey… but I was content to vicariously tag along to places I’ve never visited myself!
This one would appeal to word nerds, travel enthusiasts… and people asking themselves if they should “go for” something bigger in life.
April 17, 2025
This is an impressive memoir of a language specialist with a rare human capacity to learn and speak not just two or four languages, but more than a dozen. Linda Murphy Marshall exhibited her abilities early in life with her tenacity to overcome the low expectations set by her family, and fulfill the high expectations she set for herself despite where she lived, despite raising two children, and leaving a loved husband who did not champion her ambitions. She was single-minded and dedicated to her studies in pursuing a Master's, then a PhD in Spanish and Portuguese, and only took a break from getting her second doctorate in comparative languages in order to start working. The memoir traces her trajectory with the US government to extend the reach of the United States into Africa, where unusual languages are spoken--such as click languages, difficult to learn and speak. And so she was tasked with learning them and traveling to multiple African countries bringing her extraordinary ability to communicate in order to support the diplomatic corps. The author describes harrowing experiences in places where civil and political turmoil raged outside her window. But she also describes the delightful experience of being welcomed by a proud family who extended the warmest hospitality. This memoir reveals an inside view of a linguist in action, written in a moving narrative that sheds light on the reader's understanding of what it is like to have a passion for language, a passion for an unusual career, and most of all, a passion for learning. This is a stirring memoir written by a highly accomplished woman.
February 8, 2025
Immersion: A Memoir of a Life in Translation by Linda Murphy Marshall is more than just a memoir—it’s an eye-opening journey into the power of language and cultural immersion to transform the way we see the world. Through her experiences as a translator and traveler, Marshall encounters both the beauty and dangers of stepping into unfamiliar linguistic and cultural landscapes, and in doing so, she doesn’t just change—she forces the reader to change as well.
She faces real dangers—walking alone in an unfamiliar city, suddenly aware that she stands out; misreading a situation in a foreign country where a single word could mean the difference between safety and trouble. She learns that language is not just about words but about survival, about understanding unspoken rules and cultural nuances that can dictate whether one is welcomed or seen as an outsider. These experiences push her beyond fear, teaching her resilience, adaptability, and a deeper awareness of how language shapes human interaction.
As a reader, her journey becomes my own. I begin to see cultural differences not as obstacles but as opportunities for deeper understanding. Marshall’s memoir makes it impossible to ignore how language carries history, emotion, and identity, and how immersing ourselves in another culture forces us to question our own assumptions. Her experiences have opened my eyes to the complexity of cultural differences, making me more aware, more empathetic, and more appreciative of the vast, interconnected world we live in.
She faces real dangers—walking alone in an unfamiliar city, suddenly aware that she stands out; misreading a situation in a foreign country where a single word could mean the difference between safety and trouble. She learns that language is not just about words but about survival, about understanding unspoken rules and cultural nuances that can dictate whether one is welcomed or seen as an outsider. These experiences push her beyond fear, teaching her resilience, adaptability, and a deeper awareness of how language shapes human interaction.
As a reader, her journey becomes my own. I begin to see cultural differences not as obstacles but as opportunities for deeper understanding. Marshall’s memoir makes it impossible to ignore how language carries history, emotion, and identity, and how immersing ourselves in another culture forces us to question our own assumptions. Her experiences have opened my eyes to the complexity of cultural differences, making me more aware, more empathetic, and more appreciative of the vast, interconnected world we live in.
October 2, 2024
This is probably my third memoir, and it is so interesting to know what you might find about how others are living their lives. I often forgot while reading that I am reading a memoir just because the author's life seemed so interesting. It was also enlightening to know how certain untraditional paths can be so rewarding.
This memoir is about Linda Murphy Marshall's experience as a linguist and her job as an interpreter. The book flows nicely, starting from how certain isolated events got her to Spain, piqued her interest
in Spanish and Portugese, and then multiple foreign languages. Her writing is easy to understand and the point she is making is often supplemented with examples from her life, making it entertaining for the reader. I was fascinated by her work done in Brazil, and in Africa and kept wishing to learn new languages.
Since this is a memoir, it got dry for me in some parts, but that is expected because this was not a fictional story where I can get lost for hours. The book was really interesting, but it takes some time to digest it. Overall though, this memoir is for anyone who loves languages, is eager to read about different cultures, and is open to knowing about someone else's life.
This memoir is about Linda Murphy Marshall's experience as a linguist and her job as an interpreter. The book flows nicely, starting from how certain isolated events got her to Spain, piqued her interest
in Spanish and Portugese, and then multiple foreign languages. Her writing is easy to understand and the point she is making is often supplemented with examples from her life, making it entertaining for the reader. I was fascinated by her work done in Brazil, and in Africa and kept wishing to learn new languages.
Since this is a memoir, it got dry for me in some parts, but that is expected because this was not a fictional story where I can get lost for hours. The book was really interesting, but it takes some time to digest it. Overall though, this memoir is for anyone who loves languages, is eager to read about different cultures, and is open to knowing about someone else's life.
September 24, 2024
I’m excited to be part of the Book Sparks Fall Pop Up book review tour, with the chance to read this memoir that captures the beauty of learning and traveling. This book is a journey through language and culture, spanning countries like Spain, Brazil, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. It’s filled with Linda’s experiences growing up, learning languages, and turning that passion into an international career. Each chapter stands on its own, showcasing her personal and professional growth. While some parts felt repetitive, with moments that seemed to restate what was already clear, Linda's insight into different cultures was engaging. She navigates the recurring themes of feeling “othered” and underestimated, which is interesting given her position as a middle-class white American. There’s a sense of empathy and understanding, even if it occasionally skirts the deeper acknowledgment of privilege. This memoir brings to life the languages and places Linda encountered. While I wished for a little more polish in the editing, it’s worth checking out for anyone interested in cross-cultural experiences.
December 24, 2024
This wins a spot as one of my favorite books of the year! I have always been very interested in travel and languages - especially the way that languages reflect the culture of the people who speak them. Following along as Linda Murphy Marshall travels to serve as a translator for the United States government was an adventure and learning experience. I can't begin to list the number of languages Murphy Marshall speaks, yet somehow she takes the time to share some of the unique features of each. As we travel through South America, Europe, and Africa, Murphy Marshall leaves herself open to new experiences and to learning. Various places that Murphy Marshall is stationed have some level of unrest. While she utilizes her abilities as a polyglot to assist in the protection of the United States' interests, she avoids painting the people of any of the nations she is stationed in with a broad brush.
September 29, 2024
From the author's first memoir, "Ivy Lodge," I knew a little bit about the author's professional life. I was very curious to learn how she mastered so many languages that are so different from one another. I was drawn into reading about her career as she went from one "hot spot" on the globe to another, where she exhibited a quiet curiosity to engage with everyday people and to learn about their cultures at the same time she was learning their languages. I remain in awe of her passion and ability to learn these languages--clearly reflecting her dedication and some incredibly hard work. This was a fascinating read, giving me new insight into the importance of linguists both to our nation's security and to its diplomatic missions.
My hope is that this memoir will encourage young people to study languages as a means of connecting with others across the world.
My hope is that this memoir will encourage young people to study languages as a means of connecting with others across the world.
September 22, 2024
An interesting story, although not what I expected from the description. I love learning new languages - sometimes I wish I were a translator myself - so I was very eager to get a glimpse of the inner workings of someone who not only does it for a living, but also does it in very unfamiliar territory. And those parts of the book did not disappoint me, but unfortunately they were dominated by the more traditional "memoir" parts.
Don't get me wrong, Linda Murphy Marsha has had a fascinating life and is a capable writer, I was just less interested in her journey of self-discovery than in the linguistic minutiae.
Thanks to the publisher, She Writes Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
Don't get me wrong, Linda Murphy Marsha has had a fascinating life and is a capable writer, I was just less interested in her journey of self-discovery than in the linguistic minutiae.
Thanks to the publisher, She Writes Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
December 28, 2024
Immersion is the kind of book that brings you into a woman’s challenging journey of self-discovery and makes you want to root for her success! She musters the grit from her difficult youth and dives deep into her talent for foreign languages and curiosity for different cultures that lead her to places many wouldn’t dare to go (not to mention the challenges she must have had as a woman). Her use of language terminology as chapter headers provides clever descriptors for what is to come. She learns to advocate for herself while providing crucial information to support the US government’s national security mission as a gifted language analyst. She ultimately shines a light on this important role and its complexities!
January 1, 2025
When you have a friend who you know as a fellow mom at your kid’s school, you may know she’s a linguist but you have no idea how she works as such.
Reading “Immersion” gave me an understanding of how committed Linda Murphy Marshall is to her craft. Devoting time to learn numerous languages and traveling worldwide to assist in solving problems with her knowledge makes for a fascinating read.
My favorite of Dr. Murphy Marshall’s adventures was when she travelled to an unstable African country where she learned to not only use her language knowledge but also learned to trust her feminist instincts to confront issues she didn’t know she would be thrown into.
I highly recommend this book.
Reading “Immersion” gave me an understanding of how committed Linda Murphy Marshall is to her craft. Devoting time to learn numerous languages and traveling worldwide to assist in solving problems with her knowledge makes for a fascinating read.
My favorite of Dr. Murphy Marshall’s adventures was when she travelled to an unstable African country where she learned to not only use her language knowledge but also learned to trust her feminist instincts to confront issues she didn’t know she would be thrown into.
I highly recommend this book.
January 3, 2025
Immersion offers a beautifully personal journey through language, culture, and identity. Marshall's reflections on how words shape our connections feel both relatable and eye-opening. A wonderful second book from a terrific memoirist! This memoir is a heartfelt exploration of resilience and transformation that stayed with me long after I finished reading. I plan to teach this book, and know my university students will find much to enjoy and explore.
November 4, 2024
This is a FASCINATING memoir. A story of overcoming a toxic childhood to find a job that involves Linda Murphy Marshall’s talents for language with world travel and adventure and even some risky job placements … what if you belong everywhere and language creates your home and connection wherever you go, that you are your own home?
December 31, 2024
Linda Marshall’s account of her education in a variety of non-traditional languages, as well as her rewarding and sometimes harrowing experiences in African countries is fascinating. Hers was an amazing career and should be an inspiration to anyone who might want to become a linguist and lead an exciting life. J. D.
October 7, 2024
This book was going to be Linda’s journey through life learning languages and traveling. I couldn’t get into the book. That is no fault to the author. I just don’t think memoir books are for me. You may like this book if you are interested in travel and stories about overcoming odds.
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