Why don't her kids know English, in the letters they made it seem as if they were teaching the African kids English. It even more bitter sweet. She's reunited with her children but Celie can't carry on a casual conversation due to the language barrier. You would think they'd teach the kids English, they weren't planning on residing in Africa forever.
shareI was just going to come here and ask that same question. It made no sense that Celie's children didnt speak English as well as the african language.
I know of only one duty, and that is to love... Albert Camus
I've questioned that for the longest time. Depending on where they were in Africa, you'd think they would be able to speak several different languages including English. Maybe they did that for dramatic purposes to show how long it's really been since Celie's children have been in Africa. Did they ever mention what country they were in? I don't remember.
There's nothing like you and I baby.
If you look at the envelopes, they were sent from Rhodesia, although I don't think it was mentioned.
shareThe kids were portrayed as being "better" because they were raised in Africa
The bright colors, the smiles, the warmness (at the end of the movie)
So it makes sense that they wouldn't be taught English
No it doesnt
I know of only one duty, and that is to love... Albert Camus
But Nettie, Samuel, and Corrine were American and obviously had enough time to teach them English. African children were taught English in school anyway so it would make sense that the spoke both English and "African" but I understand they did that to show how long it's really been since Nettie and the children have been out of America.
There's nothing like you and I baby.
Their not speaking English spoiled the reunion a little for me.
in the book the children spoke English and learned the new language.
They were there to teach the tribe and English was one of the lessons.
So there was no reason, at all, for them not to be able to greet their long lost mother without needing an interpreter
doo doo doo dooda dooda
Celie says at one point in the movie that her children are in Africa learning English and other languages. Maybe their English was not strong and they preferred to speak in the language of the country they grew up in when they met her. No biggie in my mind as they were only on scene for seconds.
shareI think it was intended to be symbolic, that her children had returned to their pre-slavery roots. In the book, the kids were bilingual and spoke English.
shareWhy?.. I was born in Kenya, where Swahili (an artificial language made up of combined tribal dialects) is the primary language, and English the second. East and South Africa use English as their Lingua Franca, but West, SW, central and Northern African countries are more likely to speak Portuguese (Mozambique, formerly Portuguese West Africa), French (Zambia, Zaire, CAP) or Arabic-the only peculiar exception is Nigeria, which is split French/English North/South. And who says they ever intended to leave the dark continent?..
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe...