Typical Americans

2 Pages 624 Words

DIALECT (TYPICAL AMERICANS)
Dialects in this novel generate serious amount of emotion for readers who know
Chinese culture well. Gish Jen¡¦s technique of translating Chinese dialogue with
increasing amounts of English language thrown in, helps to put us in Helen and Ralph'
minds as they journey between languages, cultures, and ways of thinking.
The dialects have gained insight for non-Chinese and acquaintance of Chinese.
For instance, in China, a person¡¦s character is believed written on face and palms. That is
why humans are born with unique appearances and fingerprints. Those experts who read
one¡¦s character and fate by looking at their hands are called sheng xi. On the other hand,
feng shui, literally means wind and water. It is an ancient Chinese study of the natural
environment. Feng shui can determine the best or most favorable location for anyone and
assist that person to avoid their worst or least desirable location in any environment.
Throughout ancient China, classical feng shui was a closely guarded discipline used as a
tool to ensure the good health, wealth, and power of the imperial dynasties. ¡§Ralph and
Helen joked about hiring a feng shui expert to determine a propitious day for the grand
opening.¡¨ (Pg. 237) Only Chinese expression can bring out the ideas of the traditional
Chinese knowledge.
¡§Do you know that saying, about a wife¡¦s ankle? Being tied to her husband¡¦s?¡¨

(pg.65) Helen is talking about an old Chinese myth about ¡§red strings¡¨. Once upon a

time, there was an old man called Moon Old living on Moon. Moon Old is one of the

gods in Chinese myths. His red strings determine love. By tying his red strings

between the ankles of two persons, their destinies become intertwined as well; the effect
is that they will be repeatedly meeting each other wherever they may travel. The string

will never vanish after the connection is made. Nothi...