The Dynamics of Kimberly Chang’s Post-colonial Identities through

Abrogation and Appropriation in Jean Kwok’s Novel Girl in Translation

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• Jean is Chinese Diaspora, moved from Hong Kong to America when she was five years old.

• Jean graduated from Harvard University, majoring English and American literature. She continued her study to get MFA in Columbia majoring fiction (Jeankwok.com).

1. Jean Kwok’s First Novel, published in 2010.

2. AWARD:• American Library Association Alex

Award (2011)• Chinese Library Association Best Book

(2010)3. A story of Hong Kong girl named

Kimberly Chang. She moves to the United States, to pay the debt to her aunt and to get better life in the United States.

Jeankwok.com

Jeankwok.com

Statement of the Problem

How are Kimberly Chang’s dynamic Post-colonial identities revealed through abrogation and appropriation strategies in Jean Kwok’s novel Girl in Translation?

Method of the Study• Close Reading Found the issue• Analysis:1. Elaborates the impact of British Colonization towards

Kimberly2. Indicates the reason why Kimberly Chang becomes a

Chinese Diaspora in the United States3. Analyses Kimberly Chang’s use of language and it

divided into three phases and finds her dynamic Post-colonial Identities

• Conclude the findings.

Theoretical Framework

AnalysisThe Analysis of this study divides to three sub analysis:

1. The Impact of British Colonization towards Kimberly

Chang

2. Kimberly Chang as Diaspora in the United States

3. Kimberly Chang’s Post-colonial Identities through

Abrogation and Appropriation in the United States;

First Phase: Unhomeliness

Second Phase: In-between-ness

Third Phase: Hybridity

The Impact of British Colonization towards Kimberly Chang

Kimberly Chang as Diaspora in the United States

Kimberly Chang’s Post-colonial Identities through Abrogation and Appropriation in

the United States

1. LanguageCantonese and English

2. Post-Colonial Identities(Dynamic through Three Phases)

First Phase: Unhomeliness

• It starts from her first arrival in America• Uses Cantonese to other Chinese Diasporas

• Still attaches with her origin (homeland)

“Ma,” I whispered, “is it safe?” (5).

Second Phase: In-between-ness• Uses Cantonese to other Chinese Diaspora

• Uses English to American

• The attraction between her homeland and her newland pulled her like “magnet”

Ma, I’ve always wanted to. The other kids—you don’t know all the things they do, the freedom they have. I don’t ask, because you always say no.” (23).

“You want to live out the rest of your life in Chinatown?” (272).

“May you have the strength and health of a dragon,” Ma said softly in Chinese. She looked in her shopping bag and pulled out a short wooden sword she’d bought from the kung fu store in Chinatown. She gave it to him. His broad face shone with pleasure as he ran his finger over the carvings on the handle.“She say, ‘Good health,’” I said, not knowing how to translate it further. (Kwok 92).“May you have the strength and health of a dragon,” Ma said softly in Chinese.“She say, ‘Good health,’” I said, not knowing how to translate it further. (92)

Third Phase: Hybridity

• It takes from the epilogue (it sets in 12 years later)

• Uses Cantonese and English

• Accepts her homeland and her new land

“Mr. Ho, I am afraid it’s more serious than that. Pete has concertation on the aorta, which is a congenital heart defect.” I pulled over the large plastic model of a heart that I kept on my desk. I saw the boy under the table watching us as well Mr Ho was blinking at me. Even though we were speaking Chinese, I could tell he hadn’t understood a word. (287).

“Hey, where are you going?” I asked in Chinese.“I’ve got baseball practice! Mom, I’m going to be late.” His Chinese, although not quite as perfect as his English, was excellent. ......Then we both switched into English and chanted together, “I love you, give me a whack.” We gave each other a high five. “Have a great day, and I’ll be back.” (299).

Conclusion• Colonialism will have impact on Colonized people. The impact of

British Colonization which occurred in Hong Kong is Political, Economic, Cultural, and Social factor.

• Kimberly Diaspora. Kimberly uses Cantonese and English in everyday life.

• The use of Kimberly’s language is used to reveal her Post-colonial identities which are dynamic and fluid.;

1. At the first phase, Kimberly’s language shows her attachment with Hong Kong.

2. The second phase shows that Kimberly’s language indicates the attraction between her homeland and new land which puts her in a gray area.

3. The third phase is Kimberly’s language shows her acceptances of her new land and her determination not to leave her home land.

Work Cited• About Jean. n.d. Web. 29 October 2013

<http://www.jeankwok.com/author.shtml>.• Ashcroft, Bill, Gareth Griffith and Hellen Tiffin. The Empire

Writes Back: Theory and Practice in Postcolonial Literature. London: Routledge, 2002. Printed File.

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• Daviz, Jodi. "Identity." 2007. Jodidavis.com. Web. 6 June 2014 <http://www.jodidavis.com/pdfs/excerpt_identity.pdf>.

• Girl in Translation, Jean Kwok - 9781594487569. 4 March 2010. Video. YouTube. Web. 29 October 2013.

• Gold Mountain. 2011. Web. 30 May 2014 <http://ccs.library.ubc.ca/en/stories/viewItem/2/0/31>.

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