Polly Barton's 'Fifty Sounds' Explores Language and Identity Through Japanese Onomatopoeia

Polly Barton's debut book 'Fifty Sounds' examines language's role in shaping identity through Japanese onomatopoeia. The work won the 2019 Fitzcarraldo Editions Essay Competition. Barton, a translator known for introducing Japanese female authors like Aoko Matsuda, Tomoka Shibasaki, and Misumi Kubo to English readers, structures her book around fifty sound-symbolic Japanese words. Each chapter title features an onomatopoeic term with creative translations, such as 'chira-chira' described as 'the sound of the mighty loner.' Barton arrived in Japan at twenty-one as a language teacher before becoming a translator. Her narrative blends memoir, essay, philosophy, and linguistics, addressing topics from Wittgenstein's language theory to social etiquette comparisons between Japan and England. Personal experiences include reflections on her relationship with an older Japanese lover referred to as Y and the emotional challenges of navigating cultural differences. The book explores themes of self-consciousness, privilege, and the visceral aspects of language acquisition. Published by Fitzcarraldo Editions, the softcover retails for £12.99.