Living in translation: Borders, language and community in NoViolet Bulawayos We Need New Names

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16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

NoViolet Bulawayos We Need New Names is one of a growing number of novels featuring characters from various African countries who migrate to the United States that ranges from Chris Abanis The Virgin of Flames to Teju Coles Open City, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies Americanah and Taiye Selasis Ghana Must Go, to name just some of the best-known examples. Drawing on Sandro Mezzadra and Brett Neilsons argument about the border as method and on Naoki Sakais theorization of homolingual and heterolingual address, this article presents a discussion of We Need New Names as a narrative shaped by the polysemic and heterogeneous figure of the border.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)711-722
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Postcolonial Writing
Volume51
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Nov 2015

Keywords

  • Africa
  • borders
  • community
  • homolingual and heterolingual address
  • translation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Literature and Literary Theory

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