The Meaning of the Universe in Translingualism
Translingualism is mushroom. Whether you are a writer, a cook or a business owner, translingualism is your tool to keep your clients’ attentions and differentiate your products in this post-modern Metaverse.
Translingualism is beautiful. A wild flower burgeoned out of intercultural communications and the desire for a more inclusive Earth.
Cultures that hailed to be monolingual are in fact riddled with translingual Deja Vus! Japan is one such example. Half of the Japanese characters (the Katakanas) are made to convey words imported from other countries.
Chair in Japanese can be written in
- 椅子 Chinese Kanji
- チェア (English lone word that share the same pronounciation as ‘Chair’).
We can freely use (1) as well as (2) as we see fit. Howdy to culture hodgepodge!
The same word can have different meanings in different cultures. In Japan, it is normal to use the word “謝罪” for a minor offense in day-to-day life. However, the same word “謝罪” is used in cases of committing an irremediable crime in China. This may well be one of the many reasons why Japan is China’s perennially in the top 3 favourite travel destinations pre-covid and hopefully post-covid. Tourists visiting Japan felt treated like royalties descended from Buckingham Palace.
Translingualism does not signals death of formality and professionalism. Translingualism augments and enhances what is already here. We are at the best moment in history to employ translingualism because our audience is more receptive to new cultures than ever.
Translingualism is a tool for success. It differentiates. I once added the Japanese Onomatopoeias “kira kira” (Shiny Shiny) in my mandarin essay for a highbrow Chinese megazaine.
Translingualism has to start and end with “humbition”, a terminology coined by Penn GSE Faculty, Dr. Kenneth Bond.
I am constantly Mari Kondo-ing.
Could I convey the same message in less?
“…remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had” (Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby).
I am mindul in using my power of translingual privileges. For example, mixing English in Chinese can be a gentrifying and prideful action. One may be implicitly gaining social recognition but in fact tarnishes their own credibility as a good human.
May we always strive to use every privilege we have in life, translingualism included, to lift others up.
