A Tale of Monstrous Extravagance
Imagining Multilingualism
Published on 13. February 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
56 pages
978-1-77212-041-7 (ISBN)
Description
"Speaking one language, I submit, is like living in a house with one window only..." From his legendary birth in a snow bank in northwestern Manitoba, through his metamorphosis to citizen-artist of the world, playwright, pianist, polyglot, storyteller, and irreverent disciple of the Trickster, Tomson Highway rides roughshod through the languages and communities that have shaped him. Cree, Dene, Latin, French, English, Spanish, and the universal language of music have opened windows and widened horizons in Highway's life. Readers who can hang on tight-Highway fans, culture mavens, cunning linguists, and fellow tricksters-will experience the profundity of Highway's humour, for as he says, "In Cree, you will laugh until you weep."
Reviews / Votes
"...a humourous tour through the languages and communities that have shaped the playwright, novelist, and musician as a person." January/February 2015 -- Quill & Quire "An incomparable storyteller with a knack for exaggeration so deft you'll think he's telling the truth, Highway elaborates on how he added Dene, Inuktitut, Latin, English, French and some Spanish to his lexicon... Learning new languages later in life is difficult, but let the power of language broaden your world, Highway encourages. Appreciate that multilingualism can hold this stunning country together--and give your children this gift, too." -- Dianne Meili Alberta ViewsMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Edmonton
Canada
Publishing group
University of Alberta Press
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 228 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 7 mm
Weight
98 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-77212-041-7 (9781772120417)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Tomson Highway enjoys an international career as a playwright, novelist, and pianist/songwriter. He is considered one of Canada's foremost Indigenous voices. He is best known for his award-winning plays, The Rez Sisters (1986), Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing (1989), Rose (2000), and Ernestine Shuswap Gets Her Trout (2005), as well as his critically acclaimed novel, Kiss of the Fur Queen (1998). He lives in Gatineau, Quebec.