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How Do I Bridge a Language Barrier to Talk Books?
Dear Literary Lady,
My mother and I both love to read, but it’s difficult to share our reading experiences with each other because we speak different languages. My mother doesn’t speak English fluently and I don’t speak her native language fluently. How do we overcome the language barrier to share more books with each other?
–M.L., San Francisco, CA
Dear M.L.,
As a first generation Asian American, I can’t tell you how much I relate to this issue. I owe my love of reading to my mother, but we both speak, think, and read in different languages. I’ve always been envious of my friends who talk about books with their parents with ease. They’re always borrowing each other’s books, sharing opinions and recommendations, or arguing about new favorites and unexpected duds—all things I wish I could do with my parents.
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I’ve realized, however, that first generation children like us can have a dialogue with our parents about literature, it just takes more effort. Here are some ways of overcoming the language barrier to share our most meaningful reading experiences with our loved ones:
1. Give them translations of your favorite books
We’ve come a long way in the translation department, and you’d be surprised how many contemporary and classic novels are available in a variety of languages these days. True, reading a translation is not quite the same as reading the same book together, but think of it as an interesting point for discussion. Ask your mother if certain scenes, characters, or cultural references translated well. Ask her if any parts seemed confusing or difficult to understand.
2. Read the classics together
You can always find translations of famous classics in other languages, and they’re often excellent. A lot of scholarly effort goes into these translations, so very little is lost. Further, the translated titles and authors are more commonly known and easy to find. You don’t have to guess at what the author’s name is in a different language, or figure out how to say the title in another tongue. Translations of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities or Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice are a snap to find in non-English bookstores.
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3. Read a translation of a novel they love
Instead of foisting translated English novels on your mother, try reading her favorites translated into English. What are classics from her culture that she grew up reading? Look for the English version of books that sparked your mother’s love of reading.
4. Watch a movie adaptation of a novel together
If you’ve both read a novel in different languages, watch the movie adaptation together. Many of the greatest novels ever written have been turned into films, and it’s always fascinating to hear what another reader did or didn’t like. Your mother’s thoughts on the movie may tell you a lot about how she originally envisioned the characters and scenes in the novel.
Language divides and cultural differences might make finding common ground harder, but they’ll also make for some of the most fascinating literary discussions you’ll ever have. You’ll gain perspectives on books you never even considered, discover novels you might never have found on your own, and best of all, you’ll learn more about your parent as a reader.
Now, go call your mother!
Literary Lady