In American, when I was young, my parents always seemed to be in mourning for something. Now I understand: it must have been the language.
In her book "In Other Words," Jhumpa Lahiri reflects on her childhood experience of growing up in America, where she observed her parents often appearing sorrowful. This sense of sadness, she later realizes, was likely tied to their relationship with language. The language barrier and cultural disconnect shaped their experiences and emotional landscape, influencing the way they interacted with the world around them.
Lahiri's insights illustrate how language can be a...