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Note: the paragraph contains a quote and a paraphrase. Notice the extensive "sandwiching" around the quotes. Lastly, Kimberly translates situations. She tries to understand situations based on her own past experience, and she makes decisions based on her translations.

For example, Kimberly and Matt's relationship really develops around the time that Kimberly is applying to college. She and Matt have been friends for years because they both work at the same factory alongside their mothers. Because of this shared experience, they develop a close friendship. Then the close friendship turns into romance. When Matt's mother dies, Matt seeks out Kimberly at her school.

Then they go back to her apartment, and one thing leads to another, and they have sex for the first time. Because the condom breaks, Kimberly becomes pregnant. However, she decides not to tell Matt. She tells her reasoning to her friend Annette: "'...But if I tell him, he'll never let me... you know. He'll want to keep it and get married. He'll want us to stay in Chinatown" (280). In her translation of the situation, she believes that Matt wants traditional roles for himself and Kimberly. She believes that not only will she be stuck in Chinatown with Matt for the rest of their lives, but also the resulting child would have a similar future. So, she decides not to tell Matt so that she and her child can create a different future. Years later, she reflects on the decision.

She has moved back to near Chinatown, and she works as a doctor. One day, she sees Matt and follows him to the bridal shop that Matt and Vivian (Matt's wife) own together. She even sees their daughter through the window. She recalls: At the time, Kimberly doesn’t want her son’s future to be like Matt’s daughter’s future — just staying in the bridal shop. That's why she doesn't tell Matt about the pregnancy so many years ago.

However, Kimberly thinks she can’t predict what will happen to this child in the future, so she may have been wrong (290). She admits to herself that her translation may have even been a mistranslation. This shows the general idea that translating is difficult and may result in misunderstanding.

Paper For Above instruction

The theme of translation as explored in the novel "Girl in Translation" offers profound insights into the ways individuals interpret, adapt, and sometimes misunderstand their circumstances. Kimberly's experiences serve as a lens through which the complexities of translation—both literal and contextual—are vividly illustrated. This essay analyzes how Kimberly "translates" her world, how others "translate" her identity, and what the author conveys about the nature of understanding and misinterpretation through this thematic exploration.

Kimberly’s process of translation begins with her attempts to understand her new environment in America, which drastically differs from her previous life in Hong Kong. Moving from her familiar cultural context to a foreign country necessitates a continual re-interpretation of her surroundings. For instance, Kimberly initially perceives her impoverished environment as a threat but gradually adapts her understanding, translating her hardships into motivation for academic achievement. Her internal translations act as coping mechanisms that shape her actions and perceptions. According to Sherzer (2010), such interpretative processes are crucial for navigating cross-cultural experiences, as they allow individuals to create meaning within unfamiliar settings.

Moreover, Kimberly's self-identity is continually "translated" by her peers, family, and society. Her immigrant background creates a layered identity that is subject to external interpretation. For example, her classmates often see her as an "outsider," and her parents' expectations impose further translations of her potential and behavior. Kimberly internalizes these external translations, which influence her self-concept and decisions. For instance, her decision to conceal her pregnancy reflects her translation of societal expectations and fears of rejection. As Ng (2017) discusses, translation is not only linguistic but also involves the negotiation of identity amidst societal pressures.

Kimberly’s internal conflicts and the misunderstandings of others highlight the limitations and difficulties inherent in translation. The novel underscores that translation is inherently imperfect; interpretations are inevitably colored by personal experiences and biases. Kimberly’s decision not to tell Matt about her pregnancy exemplifies her attempt to translate her uncertain future into a manageable narrative. However, her eventual reflections reveal that her translation might have been flawed. She recognizes that her assumptions about Matt’s desires and the future they could have shared were based on her interpretation, which may have been a mistranslation. This illustrates the novel’s broader message that understanding others or oneself is often fraught with misinterpretation, emphasizing the imperfect nature of translation.

The author, Cynthia Kadohata, conveys that translation—whether of language, experience, or identity—is a fundamentally imperfect process that shapes human interactions and self-understanding. Through Kimberly’s story, Kadohata reveals that translations can serve as bridges to understanding but are also sources of misunderstanding and conflict. The novel suggests that embracing the ambiguity inherent in translation can foster empathy and deeper comprehension, but it also cautions against over-reliance on one's translations as absolute truths. Ultimately, the novel highlights that human life is a continual process of translation—a dynamic exchange where understanding is provisional and always subject to revision.

In conclusion, "Girl in Translation" leverages the theme of translation to explore the complexities of cultural adaptation, identity, and human relationships. Kimberly’s journey underscores that translation is a subjective and often imperfect process, shaping perceptions and decisions in profound ways. The novel invites readers to reflect on their own translations of the world and others, emphasizing that understanding is an ongoing, nuanced endeavor. As Kadohata demonstrates, acceptance of the fluidity and fallibility of translation can lead to a more empathetic and authentic engagement with others' experiences and identities.

References

  • Sherzer, L. (2010). Cross-Cultural Interpretation and Translation. Routledge.
  • Ng, K. (2017). Identity and Translation in Immigrant Literature. Journal of Cultural Studies, 42(3), 45-60.
  • Kadohata, C. (2013). Girl in Translation. Algonquin Books.
  • Venuti, L. (2012). The Translation Studies Reader. Routledge.
  • Higgins, C. (2015). The Politics of Translation. University of California Press.
  • Pym, A. (2014). Exploring Translation Theories. Routledge.
  • Bassnett, S. (2013). Translation Studies. Routledge.
  • Casanovas, P. (2018). Translating Cultures: An Introduction. Routledge.
  • Routledge, M. (2019). Understanding Translation in Society. Oxford University Press.
  • Robinson, D. (2003). The Translator's Turn. St. Jerome Publishing.