Thinking prompt #9: THE MUSIC OF OTHER LANGUAGES
Hi Everyone,
Many of us here speak, or grew up with, another language. For me that language is Spanish, my mother tongue, and I don’t write many sentences that aren’t suffused, consciously or not, with its rhythms and syncopations.
How can you privilege your languages to create new music that inflects and affects your poetry and prose?
Hint:
Spend 15-30 minutes a day reading in your other language(s).
This past week, I’ve started my work days by slowly reading GarcÃa Márquez’s EL CORONEL NO TIENE QUIEN LE ESCRIBE, often aloud. It’s extraordinary how much of a musical boost it’s giving my writing in English.
Please let me know how this goes!
Abrazos,
Cristina
So love this idea. I guess the universe is moving me in this direction. In a few months I'll have to do a reading of my work in Spanish. It's something I have to prepare for. The translator did a fabulous job and I love her language. But taking the language in is different than reading it out loud to a room full of people. I'm glad I have some time to practice--talk about working outside my comfort zone!
I love the idea of reading aloud before writing. I’m going to try it.