This document is a transcript of one of Attia Hosain’s BBC programmes for the world service. In ‘Writing in a Foreign Tongue’, Hosain speaks about the paradoxes involved in writing in a foreign language, because although Urdu was her mother tongue, she chose to write in English. In particular, Hosain explains how she found it difficult to translate certain thoughts and sentiments from Urdu into English, especially in dialogues or when referring to particular cultural and social customs. Hosain was very rooted in her own culture and learnt Arabic, Urdu and Persian at a young age. However, she was also taught English since she was three and her formal education took place mainly in English and French.