Course Description
Translingual Memoir refers to autobiographical writings that revolve around an exiled or émigré writer's enforced adoption of a new language and/or the writer wrestling with one's own and another linguistic and cultural personal identity. Students will critically read published works and produce memoirs of their own.
Athena Title
TRANSLINGUAL MEMOIR
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will: 1. explore the significance of the genre of translingual memoir to present-day research in bilingualism and second language acquisition and to present-day literature. 2. become familiar with a selection of recognized translingual memoirs and develop critical perspectives on these readings, including techniques for critical review. 3. deepen their understanding of the concerns exhibited and application of techniques deployed by writers of contemporary memoirs, including elements of description, characterization, dialogue, point of view, voice, language and style. 4. integrate the boundary between memoir, fiction, creative non-fiction, (auto)biography, diary, journals, and family histories. 5. investigate the influence of gender upon translingual memoir. 6. develop their skills as critical writers about literature, through analytical paper assignments, including an opportunity for revision. 7. produce an (auto)biographical memoir essay based on your own experience and/or interviews with a translingual individual. 8. become part of an active writing group that supports other translingual memoirists.
Topical Outline
1. Memoir, Fiction, Creative NonFiction, (Auto)Biography: Categories and Sense Making 2. Translingual Memoir and Documenting Multilingual, Transnational experience 3. Language Choice, Language Force, the Spoken and Muted Word 4. Code and emotional investment 5. Cultural identity and performance 6. Exile and the Imagination 7. Memoir: A Writing Workshop 8. Memoir: Critique and Revision 9. Memoir: Process, Practice, and Publication