Reflect on Kimberly and what it means to be a "Girl in Translation." What does the term translation mean when juxtaposed with Kimberly adaptation to American life?
Does the noun translation indicate completion while the verb, translate, indicate a work in progress?
Is the translation process ever complete, or is one always just not quite the "real thing"? How does one update the text? How does Kimberly update the translation as she becomes more linguistically capable? When one thinks about translations, new and revised, think about Kim's life new and revised compared to the older version. Is she happier with the new edition? Is happiness a part of the equation? Is happiness a consideration? What does, as Tina Turner says, "Love got to do with it?" Is love Kim's motivation for change? Love of whom or for whom?
What is lost in translation and who picks up or notices what is lost or discarded? How does Kimberly deal with this, or does she?
How does Jean Kwok address this subtlety in the text through characterization? What proof do we have of Kim's language acquisition and how is this reflected in her transformation read: translation?
Respond in 3 paragraphs and use 1 citation per paragraph: 1 free paraphrase, 1 block quote and 1 shorter citation (not necessarily in that order). Respond to 1-2 classmates.
Homework:
Work on revisions to Dance Boots and keep reading Girl. We should talk about where we are in the book. I have read all the essays sent correctly. A couple of students never responded to my emails re: proper submission.
Just in case there was any confusion, all the essays have to be passed with a C or better. At the end of the semester, students will be able to toss the lowest graded paper.
How does Jean Kwok address this subtlety in the text through characterization? What proof do we have of Kim's language acquisition and how is this reflected in her transformation read: translation?
Respond in 3 paragraphs and use 1 citation per paragraph: 1 free paraphrase, 1 block quote and 1 shorter citation (not necessarily in that order). Respond to 1-2 classmates.
Homework:
Work on revisions to Dance Boots and keep reading Girl. We should talk about where we are in the book. I have read all the essays sent correctly. A couple of students never responded to my emails re: proper submission.
Just in case there was any confusion, all the essays have to be passed with a C or better. At the end of the semester, students will be able to toss the lowest graded paper.
I will post the next assignment and due dates later today.
4 comments:
Billy Russell
Professor Sabir
English 1B
3 March 2012
In Jean Kwok's novel, Girl in Translation, the main character Kimberley is an immigrant from Hong Kong who speaks limited English. She is only 11 years old when her and her mother move to New York. She knows nothing of American culture, so she must adapt quickly. In the beginning of the novel, Kim speaks very limited English and understands only a limited amount. Jean Kwok characterizes Kim's misunderstanding of English by writing exactly what Kim hears in italics when a word or phrase is unknown to her. For example, when her friend Annette tells Kimberley that her mom is a Real Estate Agent, Kim hears that her mom is a "really state agent,"(p.48) which makes no sense to Kim.
This subtle use of words in italics that describe incorrect translations on Kimberley's part show a transformation of Kimberley throughout the story. The more she learns of American culture, the less incorrect translations there are. Kimberley has almost no help with understanding these words. She is usually fearful of simply asking, because she doesn't want to humiliate herself in front of other students (p.187). The only times that she is helped to understand words are when she is with her English tutor, and to a much lesser extent when she is with Mrs. Avery, Annette's mother. For the most part though, she must learn these words by herself with the use of an English dictionary.
It is extremely important for Kim to learn English, because her mother speaks and understands virtually no English whatsoever. Kim becomes responsible for, "all things in English"(p.57). Not only is she responsible for everything in English, but her mother also doesn't want her out with any friends for fear that she will lose focus on her schoolwork. All of this leaves little time for happiness in Kim's life. She only allows herself one party but, she certainly makes the most of it:
The pipe came around several times and I smoked and exhaled until I felt I had blown the memory of Matt into the distance. I lay back across the floor, my head spinning. I didn't know where everyone else had gone, or perhaps they were still in the room. The prickle of carpet against the back of my hair was extremely pleasant (p. 241).
I was shocked when Kim let herself get stoned with Curt. She had never willingly done anything dishonorable in the entire novel up until this point. This is probably the most joy Kim allows herself in the whole story.
Allen Lee
Professor Sabir
English 1B
13 march 2012
The word translation in the title of the book, "Girl in Translation" can refer to the way Kimberly is adapting to the American life in New York. Starting in an early age, the first adaptation was school. She went to public school and learning to socialize. Although most kids wrote, "Wish I had known you better" (111), Kimberly met Annette. Another factor of school was graduating to the next grade, achieving a better education.
The process of translation could never be complete. As nature dictates that there will always be something to be improved on. For Kimberly, she received a full scholarship into a private school. She started with an interview, but due to financial problem and the word, "money", she did not want to use large amount of family resources:
I didn't know what the fifty percent that we would have to pay would mean, but I knew we could never afford it. Now that it was impossible, I wish I could stay. this was a chance to get both Ma and me out of the factory, out of that apartment, and I realized I wanted it desperately (109).
When Kimberly received a free ride into the private school, her integration was difficult. She found herself intimidated due to being a minority in the vast school. She wanted to change her clothing style to ease the translation, but the idea was rejected by her mother, this brought her anger, the first sign of disobedience, "I was suddenly so angry that I wanted to push her into the pile of dresses stacked in front of her on the counter" (135)
Marie Heide
English 1B
12 Mar 2012
Prof. Sabir
The novel Girl in Translation by Jean Kowk, is about an eleven year old girl Kimberly who has moved to New York from Hong Kong with her mother in hopes of making a brighter future for her and being able to provide a better life for her mother. As Kimberly grows, she is faced with transitioning from being a traditional Chinese girl living in America to a Chinese-American girl living in America. She tries to fit in with the other children but finds it a bit difficult due to the fact that she does not know much English when she attends school. “Our new student eye-prezoom?...You’re very late. What’s your exsu? I knew I had to answer so I guessed. “Kim Chang”” (p.25). From the start, Kimberly is left alone to learn and fit in a world that is not kind to those who are different. She must learn to adapt to world that will not adapt to her. Along the way, she gradually grows and becomes accustomed to the American ways and gradually allows it to translate her from a Chinese girl to a Chinese-American.
As Kimberly becomes more involved with her peers at school and engulfed with her daily life, she begins to take a different outlook. Kimberly is coming from a poverty stricken home but aside from the poor living conditions and lack of basic necessities found in a typical apartment, she is fulfilled with the basic need of love from her mother. One instance in the book, when Kimberly is changing for gym class at the preparatory school, she realizes that home-made underwear will not be accepted by the other girls with their brand name clothing tags. Naturally wanting to fit in, she is embarrassed and changes into her gym clothes behind a closed toilet door stall (p.131). Kimberly’s mom decides to buy her factory-made underwear which puts Kim at ease but does not necessarily make her happy. Kim is still the same Chinese girl that all the kids look upon as different, only now, she is disguised in the “other kids” clothing. Being happy was never part of the plan for Kim, all she wanted was to be looked upon as the same. The longer she stays in America, the more difficult is to become happy in a world with constantly changing pressures.
Kimberly was placed with a huge amount of adult responsibilities that no child should ever have to go through. Later in the novel, Kimberly and Matt become involved and as she falls deeper in love with him, her motivation to complete her goals changes. Matt is a traditional Chinese man that feels it is his place to take care of the woman. “I want to take care of you, Kimberly, not the other way around. That’s how it should be” (p. 277). However, Kim has been the one who constantly was taking care of her mom, working alongside with her to help support the two of them and managing an excellent education to get the both of them to a better place in the world. By telling Matt that Kimberly will be the one to take of both of them, the “typical” love relationship of boy takes care of girl changes drastically for Matt, for Kimberly has assumed the male role.
Brittney Brunner
Prof. Sabir
English 1B
19 March 2012
I looked up the word translate and it says (by language) "to turn from one LANGUAGE to another or from one's own language into another" Then I looked at the synonyms for the word TRANSLATE and some of the words are "Metamorphose, transform, change, and mature"
When I hear the title Girl in Translation I think of it as a play on words. She is constantly mis-pronouncing words and misconstruing some words, but as a girl not from America she is like a catipillar she has to change and morph into this beautiful butterfly. She has to mature and change her Chinese culture and ways and morals even, to fit in America, and for now she is managing to get by with the help of her friend Annette. She has to learn and decifer what people want from her espeacially Mr. Bogart.
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