Chapter 7 - by Intikhab Amir

"Language"

Immigrants resist their integration into their adopted country’s culture. They do so, in their effort, to conserve the social and cultural values of the area they belong to. Deep down, in their heart, they know the possible consequences that they may face because of their resistance to getting assimilated to the new culture. It leads them to face segregation. The adherence to their old ways, make them as ‘outsiders’ and ‘others’ for the host population.

However, they soon realize that conserving their culture in the adopted country might not be an easy task. It appears to them as a distant reality once they realize that their children are exposed to outside influences.

Choy makes this point explicit in the seventh chapter of the Jade Peony. Jung’s father tells his mother, Poh-Poh, “Stop all this die nonsense,” … “Your old ways are not the new wars. Your grandchildren have to live the new ways.” This shows that parents want to see their children succeed in the new place. That cannot be possible without integration into the new culture. They also realize that it would not be possible for them to protect their children from the outside influences.

In this respect, language plays an important role. Learning a new language sets the course the second-generation immigrants’ integration into the new country. They learn the new way of life, join the cultural mainstream, the second-generation immigrants open window of opportunities and get jobs by their command over the new country’s language. Frank found it easy, like any other English-speaking Chinese, to get better job. Frank went to Seattle to sign up with the U.S. Marines, who were welcoming English-speaking Chinese.