2009-10 AM Fictions of India - Expert Group on Language

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Expert Group on Language

Group: Representations of India


Kim

Language of narration and characters: English (language of the colonizing nation)

Language as means to characterize

Portrayal of cultural or social differences through word choice and varying style

Use of words that derive from languages spoken by the natives “ ‘ But my yogi is not a cow,’ said Kim [...]” (p. 14) “ ‘Pardesi (a foreigner),’ Kim explained, [...] (p. 15)

Literal translations “ ‘Two arrows in the quiver are better than one; and three are better still,’ Kim quoted the proverb with a meditative cough [...] (p. 69)

Circumscribing the manner in which language is used “ [...] Kim translated into the vernacular the clinch-ing sentences he had heard in the dressing room at Umballa [...] (p. 48)

No portrayal of faulty grammar or other indications for bad knowledge of a language exception: “You’re a thief. Choor? Mallum?’ His Hindustanee was limited, and disgusted Kim intended to keep to the character laid down for him.” (p. 84)

Status of language -> favourizing of Hindustanee?

Kim is able to speak many languages which enables him to move freely in his world + able to understand the codes used within the Great Game ( “ tarkeean”, cf. p. 183 and p. 198-199)


Untouchable

Language of narration and characters: English (language of the colonizing nation)

Language as means to characterize

Portrayal of cultural or social differences through word choice and varying style

Use of words that derive from languages spoken by the natives “ ‘ But Pundit ji!’ said Sohini [...]” (p. 29)

Literal translations “ ‘You eater of your masters’, she shouted, ‘may the vessel of your life never float in the sea of existence! [...]” (p. 71)

    - Circumscribing the manner in which language is used

“ ‘Ham desi sahib (I, native sahib), don’t stare at me,’ said the man deliberately using the wrong Hindustani spoken by the English [...]” (p. 151)

No portrayal of faulty grammar or other indications for bad knowledge of a language

Bhaka’s thoughts are portrayed in the same flawless English as is e.g. the well-educated poem’s speech although Bakha is illiterate 

Exception: “The impulse that had made him [Colonel Hutchinson] think of learning Hindustani before he started his mission was a noble one considering that his work lay among the ; the habit of muddling through the language, and never learning it properly during his thirty years of his stay in India, was most disastrous in its consequences.” (p. 122-123)

Why does Mrs Hutchinon use Hindi words when she talks to her husband in a fury? “ ‘I can’t keep waiting for you all day while you go messing about with all those dirty bhangis and charmars,’ [...] (p. 132)


Midnight's Children

Language of narration and characters: English (language of the colonizing nation)

Language as means to characterize

Portrayal of cultural or social differences through word choice and varying style

Use of words that derive from languages spoken by the natives

       “doctor sahib ” = form of addressing a male person (p. 25 )
    “yara” = friend (p. 13)
     “maulvi” = expert in islamic law (p. 51) 

No portrayal of faulty grammar or other indications for bad knowledge of a language BUT use of run-on-words

     “whatsitsname” (p. 50)