One of the most prominent features that a culture is demarcated by is its form of communication: language. Likewise, the first step to understanding a culture is to become immersed in its language, and vice versa. The two come hand in hand; it is almost impossible to completely sever one from another. Maxine Hong Kingston, who uses language as her primary vessel for relaying her life as it was in the lieu of two contrasting cultures, understood this, and used it to her advantage. An analyses of Kingston’s The Woman Warrior reveals that she makes the blending of American and Chinese culture evident even in her speech and style.
Even though Kingston uses English throughout the book, she does so in a way that emulates Chinese speech patterns. She recognizes that, “…style should be responsive to the subject,” and therefore does her best to try and recreate the …show more content…
Even in her dialogue…, “Speech alone can give clues to a character’s origins, background, education, status, and intellect,” (Macauley and Lanning 78). She refers to foreigners as, “Ghosts,” as she affirms when she says, “The Japanese…were…the only foreigners not considered ghosts by the Chinese,” (Kingston 93). By doing this instead of using the American word, ‘foreigner’ or the Romanization of the Cantonese term, ‘kuei,’ she finds a sweet spot in the middle that can both be understood by her American audience but is still retains its authentic meaning. If it weren’t for this careful balance between the two languages, the tales such as that of Brave Orchid and Moon Orchid, the beautiful meaning behind their names- and most importantly the significance of Moon Orchid trying to assert her position in her husband’s life:, “You must be Little Wife. I am Big Wife,” would be lost (Kingston 145). In this way she creates a format that appeals to both cultures by combining
Even though Kingston uses English throughout the book, she does so in a way that emulates Chinese speech patterns. She recognizes that, “…style should be responsive to the subject,” and therefore does her best to try and recreate the …show more content…
Even in her dialogue…, “Speech alone can give clues to a character’s origins, background, education, status, and intellect,” (Macauley and Lanning 78). She refers to foreigners as, “Ghosts,” as she affirms when she says, “The Japanese…were…the only foreigners not considered ghosts by the Chinese,” (Kingston 93). By doing this instead of using the American word, ‘foreigner’ or the Romanization of the Cantonese term, ‘kuei,’ she finds a sweet spot in the middle that can both be understood by her American audience but is still retains its authentic meaning. If it weren’t for this careful balance between the two languages, the tales such as that of Brave Orchid and Moon Orchid, the beautiful meaning behind their names- and most importantly the significance of Moon Orchid trying to assert her position in her husband’s life:, “You must be Little Wife. I am Big Wife,” would be lost (Kingston 145). In this way she creates a format that appeals to both cultures by combining