Be careful with your words, they're dangerous! In Obasan words are not just vehicles for communication. They can wound, they can heal, they can create new things, and they can tear those new things down. So all of the characters in the novel are very precise with the words that they use. That's probably why, with the exception of Aunt Emily, almost no one says very much of anything at all.
Questions About Language and Communication
- Do you think the novel would be different if Naomi and her family didn't speak Japanese? Why or why not?
- Why, given the circumstances in this novel, do the characters choose silence as their preferred mode of communication?
- Is language primarily a force for good or a force for bad within Obasan?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
In Obasan, language is a strong and powerful weapon that should be wielded carefully.
Language is dangerous, and it's better to be silent than speak in Obasan.