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The Genius of Language

Fifteen Writers Reflect on Their Mother Tongues

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In this engaging collection, 15 writers reflect on how their bilingualism shapes their craft, resonating with Luc Sante's notion of "internal foreignness." They share a common sentiment: the feeling of displacement is what ultimately drives them to write. For Sante and others, foreignness is a dual-edged sword; their mother tongue, French, serves as both a barrier to complete assimilation into American life and a cherished refuge of expression. This linguistic exile grants the contributors the freedom to articulate their thoughts without constraints. The essays, featuring voices like Amy Tan, Josef Skvoreck, and Ariel Dorfman, invite readers to explore the writers' formative years, often tinged with nostalgia, even when the past may not seem fondly remembered. The narratives typically follow a familiar arc: moving from the linguistic and cultural comfort of family to the challenges of assimilation, often marked by a rejection of the native language, and culminating in a renewed appreciation for their heritage. Despite this predictable trajectory, the writers vividly illustrate the universal journey of discovering the boundless potential of language, capturing the essence of what it means to fall in love with words.

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The Genius of Language, Wendy Lesser

Sprache
Erscheinungsdatum
2004
Einband
(Hardcover)
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Titel
The Genius of Language
Untertitel
Fifteen Writers Reflect on Their Mother Tongues
Sprache
Englisch
Autor*innen
Wendy Lesser
Verlag
Pantheon
Erscheinungsdatum
2004
Einband
Hardcover
Seitenzahl
241
ISBN10
0375422382
ISBN13
9780375422386
Reihe
Beschreibung
In this engaging collection, 15 writers reflect on how their bilingualism shapes their craft, resonating with Luc Sante's notion of "internal foreignness." They share a common sentiment: the feeling of displacement is what ultimately drives them to write. For Sante and others, foreignness is a dual-edged sword; their mother tongue, French, serves as both a barrier to complete assimilation into American life and a cherished refuge of expression. This linguistic exile grants the contributors the freedom to articulate their thoughts without constraints. The essays, featuring voices like Amy Tan, Josef Skvoreck, and Ariel Dorfman, invite readers to explore the writers' formative years, often tinged with nostalgia, even when the past may not seem fondly remembered. The narratives typically follow a familiar arc: moving from the linguistic and cultural comfort of family to the challenges of assimilation, often marked by a rejection of the native language, and culminating in a renewed appreciation for their heritage. Despite this predictable trajectory, the writers vividly illustrate the universal journey of discovering the boundless potential of language, capturing the essence of what it means to fall in love with words.