Bone: Language

In the novel Bone the main character’s family speaks Chinese, English or both.  In some instances it creates a language between characters, creating interesting dynamics.  Those who speak both are left to translate and sometimes omit things as they are translating.  I had always wondered if people did this as they translated, it was nice to have it finally admitted.  Leila says in the book that she did it with her Mah, when they were told about Ona’s suicide.  The job that Leila has she got most likely because she speaks Chinese and can communicate with the student’s parents.

In the novel, Leila occasionally uses Chinese words to describe things and how it in some ways can express a feeling English cant.  That or it has a stronger meaning when said in Chinese.  This brings up questions about how a language, in a way, can constrain us.  You can only think about something within the words that you know.  That feeling that you get, when you can’t find a word to describe something, is an example of this.  By knowing two languages you are able to expand you vocabulary in a sense that you have more ways to describe something.

I feel like the character speaks Chinese also for the culture that stands behind it.  Leila could have been the daughter of any number of immigrant families that could speak some language.  I think the writer picked Chinese (not only because the writer is Chinese) due to the rich heritage, and the material that could be incorporated and used within the book.