Bear vs Dragon by Marcela Ferreira

We have an interesting and fascinating blog about language and whether humour is translatable from author, Marcela Ferreira.  While the book will make you laugh, this blog will make you think!

 

Bear Vs Dragon is my third picture book, but my first official ‘funny’ book. The story is about conflict, resolution and friendship, with a handful of very silly insults thrown in for good measure – salmon farts anyone?

Writing funny is great. You see, in my experience, when you write for children, the pressure to be inspiring, to teach, to guide, to create wonder and promote critical thinking can be daunting. But when it comes to entertaining, to try and make kids laugh…well, that is no pressure at all. It is literally a laugh.

But writing in a second language does bring the age-old question: will I cut it against native speakers? And does sense of humour even translate?

The truth is I love writing in English and feel much freer doing so than when writing in Portuguese – I wouldn’t dare try now! Certainly not in a professional capacity…. especially as my reliance on google translate has become borderline embarrassing.

Though as true as that may be, my mother tongue hasn’t abandoned me. My writing is often cut abruptly by a word I cannot summon in English, whilst its Portuguese counterpart looks on knowingly (within my mind) – a paradigm of perfection, if only I was writing in Portuguese. It’s extremely frustrating.

I recently read a blog from trilingual author Eleonora Balsano, who talked about the complex relationship between language and the self. And I was so relieved: it’s not just me then!

Finally I could voice my fears without feeling overdramatic: does choosing to write in English mean turning back on who I am? What if I feel less confident in writing Portuguese (I do), what does that say about who I’ve become since moving to England? Eleonora talked of ‘straddling’ languages and cultures, and I found myself nodding intensely to the image of a cowboy straddling a great big bull as it spun and twisted wildly on itself trying to dislodge him off his back.

This all sounds very negative, but its not. I truly believe that anyone that can master multiple languages is at an advantage. Because to master is to understand – another’s history, culture, humour and nuances. It is to truly empathise.

Besides, we are not all that different. Universal themes are universal for a reason. Friendship, love, fear, grief – we all experience it regardless of culture, or what language we speak. We might approach these from a different angle, but surely this can only enrich our experiences.

So if writing is your passion, use it. If it is your ambition, go for it. Being bilingual is a superpower. It might not help you fly, but it will help you grow as an individual. It will still throw you off your saddle now and again (if only I could write in rhyme!), and when it does, just make sure you get right back up on that bull.

Because it really can take you to some very cool places. Like having you story about a Bear and a Dragon calling each other silly names being published by none other than Oxford University Press.

If that isn’t cool, then I don’t know what it.