The overall aim of this paper is to approach the question of linguistic and cultural translation and its influence on the configuration of distinctive cultural spaces in Yelin's collection Shulamis: Stories from a Montreal Childhood. The main character of this collection struggles between worlds—which are, to a certain extent, symbolised by the use and allusion to English, Yiddish and French—in search of her own linguistic and cultural identity. Thus, the confrontation of different spaces and the need to translate one's experience becomes a significant element in Yelin's writing. The stories in this collection present Canada's spirit of respect and equitable treatment for all cultures and identities while showing the difficulties immigrants had to face as well as the dangers of acculturation. In this paper, we examine the construction of different cultural spaces from a theoretical perspective which considers the importance of some cultural and linguistic processes associated with code-switching (Poplack, 1984; and Myers-Scotton, 1993 and 2006), giving due attention to the phenomena of linguistic and cultural translation (Bhabha, [1994] 2006; Tymoczko, 2000; and Trivedi, 2005). Also, we look at the position of Shulamis Yelin as a writer who wishes to translate worlds for her readers.

This paper offers a preliminary study, which approaches the question of linguistic and cultural translation and its influence on the configuration of distinctive cultural spaces in Yelin's Shulamis: Stories from a Montreal Childhood. In this collection of semi-autobiographical stories, Yelin presents the different experiences associated with being born and raised in Montreal, a city which has been central to the process of Jewish immigration in Canada. The main character of the stories struggles between worlds in search of her own linguistic and cultural identity, which is, to a certain extent, defined in relation to the use and allusion to English, Yiddish and French. Throughout the collection, the confrontation of different spaces and the need to translate one's experience becomes a significant element. Yelin's stories present Canada's spirit of respect and equitable treatment for all cultures and identities while showing some of the difficulties immigrants had to face as well as certain dangers of acculturation. In this paper, we examine the construction of different cultural spaces from a theoretical perspective which considers the importance of some cultural and linguistic processes associated with code-switching (Poplack, 1984; and Myers-Scotton, 1993 and 2006), giving due attention to the phenomena of linguistic and cultural translation (Bhabha, [1994] 2006; Tymoczko, 2000; and Trivedi, 2005). Also, we will be looking at the position of Shulamis Yelin as a writer who wishes to translate worlds for her readers.

Commonwealth Literature Journal, Cultural Identities, Cultural Translations, Code-Switching, Linguistic Processes, Religious Celebrations, Cultural Mediators, Cultural Dimensions, Intercultural Societies, Montreal Society, Communicative Tools, Intercultural Communications.