TRANSCRIPT: The importance of language and protecting your linguistic heritage -- after reading BABEL by RF KUANG

Transcript for the podcast episode

Today, we are diving into the topic of translated texts and the importance of maintaining your mother tongue to preserve culture and identity. I'll also be talking about how today's generation struggles so much to understand the culture that they come from, as well as what can be done about it. A small disclaimer: 95% of this episode will be in English. I will be speaking in Nepali for some points but it should not disrupt the engagement of my English-only audience, so don't let that discourage you. Grab a snack, and let's get started.

Language is not merely a tool for communication; it's the essence of culture, identity, and heritage. Our mother tongue holds within it the collective wisdom, history, and values of generations past. It shapes the way we perceive the world and express our thoughts and emotions. Without language, you cannot understand more than 80% of the culture associated with it. Translations can only help so much.

I read a novel at the beginning of the year called Babel written by Rebecca F. Kuang. Brilliant author, she also wrote The Poppy War trilogy. If you follow me on Instagram you'll know that I did a review on Babel, it's posted on my website under blogs, go ahead and check it out if you haven't already. I will include the link in the description of this episode.

Babel explores a lot about linguistics and the roots of words. It also explores topics such as colonialism and exploitation, but I mainly want to talk about the language and translation part of it. I think Rebecca does a fantastic job of making the reader feel exactly as the main character does. I'll give a short summary for those who haven't read it: the novel revolves around the main protagonist, his name is Robin Swift. He is from Canton and when he is very young, his entire family dies of Asiatic Cholera. He is essentially picked up by a British man named Professor Lovell who takes him to London to study at the Babel Institution of Translation in Oxford. Robin is originally Cantonese, which is his mother tongue. When he goes to London, he is forced to speak and learn Mandarin as well as English and other root languages because it benefits the institution of Babel and the British Empire in terms of trade and colonialism. He studies Mandarin for many many years and there is a part in the novel where you can see how divided he is in his identity. How when he tries to be British, he isn't British enough. When he tries to be Chinese, he is too British.

In the novel, Robin goes on to sort of forget his mother tongue, Cantonese, because he has been living in Mandarin and English for too many years. When he realizes he is forgetting his mother tongue, it is shown in a way that he is forgetting his mother too because the few memories that he had of her before she died are also disappearing since he hasn't lived in Cantonese for so many years.

The word mother is used in this novel in a variety of ways, which I think is so clever, representing the mother tongue, the actual mother, and the motherland as well. It is a terrifying moment, especially if as the reader you are an immigrant living in another country, I think you have experienced this kind of existential crisis.

Personally, ma Nepal jaada, ekdam American bhaako jasto lagcha hai, jati sukai nepali banna khojda pani American customs ra behavior aihalcha. America ma basda, dherai Nepali bhaako jasto lagcha. Tyo bichha ko balance nai hudaina, khojna pani dherai gaaro huncha hai. Saanai dekhi aafno desh bhanda baira basepachi testai hudo raicha. I will never be Nepali enough for Nepal, or American enough for America. This moment in the novel was the reason I decided to make this episode. It was so powerful.

So, going back to the topic of translation, what happens when we encounter texts translated from their original language? While translations allow us to access literature and ideas from around the globe, they also pose a unique challenge: the inevitable loss or alteration of meaning. Take, for example, the works of authors like Gabriel García Márquez, Haruki Murakami, or Leo Tolstoy. Each of these writers imbues their writing with the nuances and cultural context of their native language. When these texts are translated into another language, the translator faces the daunting task of capturing not just the words but the essence of the original work. Yet, despite the authors' best efforts, translations are inherently imperfect. The dangers of translation are especially evident when we look at it from a religious POV: translating important religious texts into languages outside of the original lexicon is very dangerous if you know what I mean. Certain words or phrases lack direct equivalents in other languages, leading to inevitable nuances being lost in translation. Cultural references may be misunderstood or omitted altogether, altering the reader's interpretation of the text. There are certain phrases in Nepali, that when translated into English, lose their actual meaning and their FLAVOR, essentially.

For example, "Badal Haru ho aakasha dhaki, nabasideu. Juna herne priyesi ko, man dukhaina deiu" a line from a popular song "Badal haru" by singer-songwriter Deep Shrestha. Such a beautiful song; if you translate that line straight into English it literally means "clouds that cover the sky, don't sit there. The beauty who gazes at the moon, don't break her heart". But the line is so much more than that; its a love letter to the moon, it is pleading the clouds to not be selfish. It is admiration of the woman who is gazing. The translation takes away the FLAVOR of the song. You would need to not only learn Nepali, but breathe and live in Nepali to understand that depth.

So, does this mean we should dismiss translated texts altogether? Not at all. Translations, imperfect though they may be, serve a vital role in bridging cultures and fostering understanding across linguistic divides. They allow us to experience the rich tapestry of world literature and gain insights into diverse perspectives.

So, how can we navigate the complexities of translated texts while still honoring the integrity of the original work? One approach is to approach translations with an open mind, recognizing that they offer a unique interpretation of the source material rather than a perfect replica. Additionally, seeking out multiple translations of the same work can provide a more comprehensive understanding of its meaning and nuances. Comparing different translations can reveal the choices made by each translator and shed light on the challenges inherent in the process. Or you can learn every language in the world HAHA, what a wild bucket list that would be huh?

Now I want to touch on how we can ensure that future generations continue to cherish and preserve their mother tongue. It begins with instilling a deep appreciation for language and culture from an early age. Parents play a crucial role in fostering this appreciation and encouraging their children to embrace their heritage.

One way parents can do this is by creating a nurturing language environment at home. Speaking to children in their mother tongue not only strengthens their language skills but also instills a sense of pride and connection to their cultural roots. You cannot expect a child to speak and capture their mother tongue if you do not teach it to them, you cannot expect them to keep up with traditions and culture if you do not teach it to them.

Additionally, exposing children to literature, music, and traditions from their cultural background helps them understand the importance of their heritage. Celebrating festivals, sharing family stories, and cooking traditional meals together are all meaningful ways to pass down cultural knowledge from one generation to the next.

It's also essential for parents to actively seek out resources and communities that support the preservation of their mother tongue. Language classes, cultural events, and community organizations can provide valuable opportunities for children to engage with their heritage and connect with others who share their background. I moved to the US at a very young age with my parents, and I wholeheartedly believe that if they had not taught me my culture, my religion, and the traditions, then I would not know anything about my roots. If they had not forced me to speak in Nepali, then I would only be able to speak English. If they had not enrolled me in certain classes that taught about South Asian culture, if they had not encouraged me to participate in dance programs, singing programs, and other Nepali culture groups, I would know nothing about my homeland. I would feel just like Robin Swift in Babel, probably worse than that.

By nurturing their mother tongue, children not only gain a deeper understanding of their own culture but also develop valuable skills such as empathy, adaptability, and intercultural competence. They learn to appreciate diversity and understand the importance of preserving languages and traditions for future generations. There are so many studies that have been done to show the positive impact of multilingualism. In an article study done by linguists from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages published in 2017, they found that quote "Far from the stereotype that exposure to multiple languages in infancy complicates language and cognitive development, the new findings suggest that individuals benefit from that exposure, with greater openness to other languages and to new learning itself. At the other end of the lifespan, in old age, the active use of two or more languages appears to protect against cognitive decline" end quote. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/flan.12271  

Similarly, Sustainable Development in a Diverse World (SUS.DIV) researched the benefits of linguistic diversity and multilingualism, stating that quote "The death of a language is a significant loss because they imply a loss of inherited knowledge. Cultures are transmitted through languages and languages also reflect the history of the people who have used them. Linguistic diversity is not less important than ecological diversity" end quote. They further go on to state that quote "A language is a crucial part of the heritage of a specific community, shapes and builds its identity in the same way as its physical heritage does. Therefore its existence needs to be valued and preserved as we do with the cultural and environmental heritage of a region" end quote. I enjoyed reading the research they did for this study, I think it is worth giving it a skim. I have linked both articles in the description of this episode. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=b02ae3746ce0ea1fd2c709a4fa7928a106610862

(Additional source to include in description: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SDE/World-Languages/BenefitsofSecondLanguage.pdf )

So, as we navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world, let us not forget the importance of maintaining our mother tongue and passing on our cultural heritage to the next generation. In doing so, we honor the voices of our ancestors and ensure that their stories continue to resonate in the hearts and minds of future generations.

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Before I end this episode, I would like to share a quote from Babel. It is a moment where the main character understands the question he has been trying so hard to answer all along, additionally, he is then able to understand that there can never be one language that can be used to understand everything that the world and life itself have to offer. Quote "Translation was impossible... the realm of pure meaning they captured and manifested would and could not ever be known. How could there ever be an Adamic language? The thought now made him laugh. There was no innate, perfectly comprehensible language. There was no candidate - not English, not French - that could bully and absorb enough to become one. Language was just difference. A thousand different ways of seeing, of moving through the world... a thousand worlds within one. And translation, a necessary endeavor however futile, to move between them" end quote.

As always, I thank you for joining me in this conversation. I felt it necessary to use research as a source of credibility to support my main claim that we need to conserve our mother tongue, country, and traditions as much as possible; and the best way to do that is to teach our kids, our younger and future generations the importance of their origin languages. I don't think research studies are needed all the time to convince us, I think it's pretty obvious that the reason your kid doesn't understand your native tongue is that they have not been placed into that environment because they have been encouraged to learn a new culture and a "better" language as some people like to say.

Ghar ma English bolchan bachha haru, ama bau le rokdainan, jhan ajhai english ma jawaf farkauchhan. Ani tei baccha thulo bhaye pachi, bau ama le sodhchan eh launa mero baccha le nepali bolnai jaanena kina hola.

Sikauna paryo ni ta, sanai dekhi sikauna paryo. Ghar ma nepali bolna encourage garyo bhane pachi samma nepali bolna sakchhan. English bolna aileko jamana ma thulo kura hoina hai, yo kura janna jaruri cha. Aafno sanskriti, bhasa, dharma, ra parampara sikauna parcha ani matrai tikna sakcha.

The world is beautiful BECAUSE of its diversity, let's do our part in keeping it diverse. Your culture and origin are as important as every other person's.

Thank you. My socials are linked below and I will meet you again in another episode.