Comments on: The Allophone Writer

By: Alison Layland

Alison Layland — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 10:29:26 +0000

I really relate to what you say, especially about it being liberating. I started creative writing when we came to live in Wales and I learned the Welsh language – partly kick-started through having a Welsh tutor who was also a fantastic creative writing teacher, but mainly because writing in another language opened the creative doors for all the reasons you and Gill James say and because somehow it felt like a “safety net”, a different world. I write mainly in English (my native language) now, but spent many years with Welsh as my “creative” language.

By: Gill James

Gill James — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 14:58:56 +0000

I can relate to this. I used to teach languages and dared student to write creatively in their new language as a way of becoming more confident. It was about making the most of what you know.
I gradually realized that it also helped them to free up their mother tongue.
Interestingly, too, what is a cliche in one language can actually work very well in another because it is fresher.

By: E J Frost

E J Frost — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 11:40:29 +0000

This is a wonderful explanation of the difficulties – and pleasures! – of writing in a foreign language. Thank you so much for sharing.