Showcasing the Use of Language in Things Fall Apart (Essay Example)
Writers of those third world countries which were previously in the hands of Europeans keep debating about one particular issue. Here, they ask themselves if they should keep writing in their native tongue or use the language of their previous colonizers. Some of them even argue that while writing in your native language, you become more imperative as cultural meanings and subtleties tend to get lost during translation. Hence, by using ‘new’ languages, they can’t really describe their form of culture.
Deciding On the Language to Use
Interestingly, Chinua Achebe maintains a different view. Through 1966 essays re-produced in his amazing book called Morning Yet on Creation Day, he highlights some key points. First, he says that through use of English, Africa gets a new voice. Therefore, he recommends the African Writer to use English in a manner which portrays the message in the best ways. However, the writer should not change the language to a point where it loses its value as a means of international communication.
The writer should also try to fashion out the English language which is universal and can talk about his much-needed experience. Of course, Achebe achieves his goal by carefully introducing proverbs, Metaphors, speech rhythms and catchy ideas into his English written novels.
Despite this, he agrees with a good number of other African writers when it comes to writing for a social purpose. Unlike a majority of western artists and writers who create art just for the sake, many of those found in Africa write having one purpose in mind. Here, they try to re-create their national cultures after the colonial era. This is something Achebe notes in his 1964 statement which is also published in the same book, Morning Yet on Creation.
It’s important to mention that the African people did not come across the term culture from their European colonizers. Instead, their communities were not mindless, but constantly had a rich philosophy of great value and depth together with poetry and most importantly, dignity. It’s such dignity which the people of Africa lost during the colonial period and now need to reclaim. To attain his goal of sharing the African culture with his international audience, Achebe started the African Writers Series which was merely a collection of African literature. He used a publishing firm called Heinemann.
Impact of Using English
Achebe represents depths and complexities of every African Culture to all readers of other cultures as well as to those who share the same morals and principles. By using English since childhood, he can reach a greater number of people as compared to writing in the Igbo language. Besides, those who write in the native tongue should eventually allow their work to be translated into English. In doing so, writers from other cultures can understand all that you’re trying to talk about.
However, even by using English, Achebe faces a tough problem. How can he showcase the African culture and heritage in a language that does not fully describe it? So, this is a key task in his book, Things Fall Apart where he confronts the lack of understanding and knowledge between the colonialist and his Igbo culture. In his book, an Igbo asks a white man how he can refer to Igbo customs as bad when he doesn’t even speak the same language.
Understanding the Igbo culture is only possible if the foreigner can understand the Igbo terminology and language. Achebe solves this huge issue by adding several elements of his native language in his book. He makes use of words, concepts, and rhythms using English to further explain the African culture. Achebe goes out of his way as he tries to bridge the existing and large cultural divide.
He merges Igbo vocabularies in his book easily so that the outsider understands the different meanings of the phrases used in their specific context. Of course, some words are untranslatable for instance egwugwu, ogbanje, chi, and obi. However, Achebe highlights them in a way that helps non-speaking Igbo readers to identify and relate to these interesting Igbo customs.