The Great Linguistic Divide

[blazeofglory]

Today the west has commercialized and commoditized everything.

Great novels , pieces of literature come from the western hemisphere only.

There are great writers in other countries but they do not write in English and the depths of their writing cannot be fathomed by westerners at all except through translations.

Can we think about a time when this linguistic divide will be evened up?

I think it remotely.

[PeterL]

No, the situation probably will remain as it is until after the Plague, when it will tilt more toward English.

[MANICHAEAN]

Blaze of Glory
Interesting question, and not just related to literature. It saddens me to revisit counties in Europe I knew in my youth and to see the international blandness that has formulated itself in: architecture, cuisine & literature. Luckly not entirely if you get out of the big cities.
I'm reading a lot of Balzac at the moment, first in English, & then using that education in French that was drummed into me, to appreciate it the second time round in the native version.
If you don't mind me asking; being based in Nepal, do you read writers like Parijat in translation or have you managed to acquire a linguistic fluidity there?

[blazeofglory]

Blaze of Glory
Interesting question, and not just related to literature. It saddens me to revisit counties in Europe I knew in my youth and to see the international blandness that has formulated itself in: architecture, cuisine & literature. Luckly not entirely if you get out of the big cities.
I'm reading a lot of Balzac at the moment, first in English, & then using that education in French that was drummed into me, to appreciate it the second time round in the native version.
If you don't mind me asking; being based in Nepal, do you read writers like Parijat in translation or have you managed to acquire a linguistic fluidity there?

I am basically a reader and writer In Nepali. I cannot be fully expressive in English in the degree and manner I am in Nepali. I read texts written in English avidly and hungrily. I do definitely find myself more at home with Nepali when it comes to creative writing. That said I do not mean that I do not like English and am very poor at it. Since I do read texts unremittingly in English I do therefore have reserved my space in the English community as well. But still I could do excel in Nepali.

I do switch over from one language to another frequently, and when I do writer or speak through English I am interfered by Nepali, for the whole environment I am in is resonant with Nepali. The spurt of the moment and throb of the soil can find a better expression through Nepali in my case.

Of course I do read Parijat in Nepali, an icon in Nepali literature. My main point of concern is when I have lots of things to say and the things get better said thru Nepali it saddens me when I become compelled to write in an alien medium with the motive to go across wider audiences or international communities

I am very excited to know that you have read Parijat

[MANICHAEAN]

Blaze of Glory
I was introduced to Parijat by Nepali ex Gurka's that I have worked with for many years. The biggest trait of her personality that comes through for me was her humanity. She seems to draw attention to the very simple things in life, love & the spread of emotion. Her novel "Blue Mimosa" (Shirisk Ko Phool); do you think it was an inspiration from the pain & suffering she sustained when paralyzed from the age of 26?

[Virgil]

Unfortunately smaller linguistic cultures are at a disadvantage, and have been so since the beginning of time. Danish writer Karen Bixan (also known as Isik Dinesen) had to write in English rather than her native Danish to get published. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Blixen. The problem is having a market large enough to support the infrastructure of publishing. But I think with the new technologies such as computer and internet, it has brought the cost of publishing down considerably. This allows for cheaper publication and more publications for the smaller markets. I think the situation has gotten better over time, not worse.

[blazeofglory]

Blaze of Glory
I was introduced to Parijat by Nepali ex Gurka's that I have worked with for many years. The biggest trait of her personality that comes through for me was her humanity. She seems to draw attention to the very simple things in life, love & the spread of emotion. Her novel "Blue Mimosa" (Shirisk Ko Phool); do you think it was an inspiration from the pain & suffering she sustained when paralyzed from the age of 26?
There was a combination of things, and of course one strong factor was her deteriorating health conditions.

[Maximilianus]

I cannot be fully expressive in English in the degree and manner I am in Nepali. I read texts written in English avidly and hungrily. I do definitely find myself more at home with Nepali when it comes to creative writing. That said I do not mean that I do not like English and am very poor at it. Since I do read texts unremittingly in English I do therefore have reserved my space in the English community as well. But still I could do excel in Nepali.
Even so, you write as someone who is very skillful in English. I've read many of your posts and I always encounter a word/phrase very seldom used by the masses, so your English literary background seems to be surfing on its right course. Of course, a language is a complex unit of knowledge that represents the very idiosyncrasy of often more than one nation, so we never stop learning that what we once commenced.

Unfortunately smaller linguistic cultures are at a disadvantage, and have been so since the beginning of time. Danish writer Karen Bixan (also known as Isik Dinesen) had to write in English rather than her native Danish to get published. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Blixen. The problem is having a market large enough to support the infrastructure of publishing. But I think with the new technologies such as computer and internet, it has brought the cost of publishing down considerably. This allows for cheaper publication and more publications for the smaller markets. I think the situation has gotten better over time, not worse.
That's true, not every language has been having a proper support in the literary market. Let's hope for better times and changes on their way!

[blazeofglory]

Even so, you write as someone who is very skillful in English. I've read many of your posts and I always encounter a word/phrase very seldom used by the masses, so your English literary background seems to be surfing on its right course. Of course, a language is a complex unit of knowledge that represents the very idiosyncrasy of often more than one nation, so we never stop learning that what we once commenced.

That's true, not every language has been having a proper support in the literary market. Let's hope for better times and changes on their way!

You have inspired me beyond measure. In fact I have no one to give me feed back and I had no good educational background at all. But I admit that I have an undefeatable passion for writing. I do write regularly both in English and Nepali simultaneously. This is a great passion to go across international communities thru exchanges of ideas. I am of course at great advantages with this privilege of knowing English. I feel at home with all nationalities, and feel that I am part of all of you spiritually, physically and universally.

[Virgil]

You have inspired me beyond measure. In fact I have no one to give me feed back and I had no good educational background at all. But I admit that I have an undefeatable passion for writing. I do write regularly both in English and Nepali simultaneously. This is a great passion to go across international communities thru exchanges of ideas. I am of course at great advantages with this privilege of knowing English. I feel at home with all nationalities, and feel that I am part of all of you spiritually, physically and universally.

I appluad you Balze. That is very disciplined of you. I wish you the best. :)

[Maximilianus]

You have inspired me beyond measure. In fact I have no one to give me feed back and I had no good educational background at all. But I admit that I have an undefeatable passion for writing. I do write regularly both in English and Nepali simultaneously. This is a great passion to go across international communities thru exchanges of ideas. I am of course at great advantages with this privilege of knowing English. I feel at home with all nationalities, and feel that I am part of all of you spiritually, physically and universally.
I'm glad you feel inspired!!
I feel very similarly about writing and languages.

I appluad you Balze. That is very disciplined of you. I wish you the best. :)
I applaud you too, blaze. Go on like that and best of lucks!!