When you’re walking around in New York City, you’re likely to hear many different languages, from English and Spanish to French, Chinese and Hindi. Some of the people speaking these languages are tourists from different countries. They come to New York to visit the Statute of Liberty and the Empire State building. Others are immigrants who live here or second-generation immigrants who were born here but learnt the language from their parents and their parents’ friends.

Jhumpa Lahiri’s Writings About Second-Generation Immigrants

In her novel, The Namesake, Jhumpa Lahiri, a popular Indian-American writer, tells the story of Gogol Ganguli, a second-generation immigrant whose parents moved to the U.S. from India.  Lahiri obviously draws on her own experiences because she is also a second-generation immigrant who nonetheless retains strong ties with her home country.  She visits India often, either to stay in touch with extended family or for inspiration for her work.

First Languages, Second Languages et al

The works of a writer such as Lahiri don’t require translation services because she writes in English even though she has admitted that it is, technically her second language.  The language she learnt first at home was Bengali.  Still, it is a fact that for many people around the world, the language they first learnt at home doesn’t remain the language that they are most comfortable in.  Being educated in English and exposed to mostly English speakers throughout their lives, many of those from former British colonies become more comfortable in English.

Yet, the English they speak is different from the English spoken in the U.S. or even in the U.K.  They use British spellings such as “colour” and “realise” but, as time goes on and Hollywood becomes ever-present, they find it easier to understand the American accent.  Plus, they also have their own slang and often include words from their native languages into English.

Translating from English into English

If you’re trying to sell products in countries such as these, you might need translation from English to English! Translating American English into English English is no mean feat. Similarly, you might need to translate into Indian English, Australian English and English spoken in various African countries. Not every writer is as easy to read as Jhumpa Lahiri whose works require no explanation. For others, you will need to take into consideration the nuances of the English spoken in that part of the world.

Contact us for translations that take into account the particularities of languages spoken around the world.