There is just no way around it. Whether verbal, signed, or written, language is just how we communicate. So if, like Pnin, your skills are less than optimal, the world is going to look like a much more difficult place to exist.
In Pnin, the title character's difficulty with English not only makes it hard for him to communicate, but it almost makes it impossible for him to connect to the other characters. In this novel it's not just a way of transferring ideas, but the fundamental way in which people are able to relate with one another.
Unfortunately for poor Pnin, this means that he's not invited to the party of life in America, and is basically excluded from all social events. That just goes to show, words are pretty darn important.
Questions About Language and Communication
- Why do you think Pnin was easily able to acquire French, but he is having such difficulty with English? Why is his progress so different from that of Liza and Eric?
- How does Pnin's language difficulty handicap him in communicating with other people? Are there any instances where it is actually an advantage? If so, when?
- Pnin isn't the only character in the novel to have difficulty with language. Who else struggles with languages? Why and how do they struggle?
Chew on This
Language is just a confusing tangle that does nothing but cause trouble and misunderstandings in Pnin.
Characters in Pnin are able to communicate with one another despite their linguistic difficulties.