How to Pronounce Knife

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 2020

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Download PDF

Summary

Background

Story Analysis

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Themes

Miscommunication and Silence

In “How to Pronounce Knife,” miscommunication is the result of failing to understand or share perspectives. Differences in appearance and language among other identifiers can and often elicit miscommunication. Language precipitates action, and action (or inaction) centers language, whether spoken or written. Joy’s family partakes in unspoken rituals, from spreading out a piece of newspaper as tablecloth to watching TV together before bed. This comfortable silence is communicated through action and body language. Likewise, Joy’s father advises against speaking Lao or even of Laos. This call for denial is meant to protect the family from outside scrutiny, but also contrasts with Joy’s mother, who claims important information should be communicated through speech—specifically, phone calls. As a result, whenever Joy’s teacher, Miss Choi, delivers important information in written form—specifically, through notes pinned to Joy— miscommunication ensues between teacher and parents, as Joy’s mother discards the notes. However, by the end of the short story, Miss Choi exhibits greater understanding of Joy’s family.

Both spoken and written language are important; however, silence also progresses the story and contributes to its meaning. Silence is often treated as truth, just as the “k” in “knife” is silent: An ironic example is the fact that Joy does not tell her parents about her vehement defense of her father’s mispronunciation of “knife.” Rather, this incident is withheld to protect her parents from shame or anger on her behalf. Furthermore, Joy does not tell them about having been ignorant of her school’s picture day—information that was likely included in one of Miss Choi’s discarded notes. She is unphased by her casual clothing on picture day, taking the miscommunication into stride. While this day and the “knife” incident could read as problems, they are written as moments that make Joy and her parents unique. The family as a whole is proud, regardless of what they may misunderstand. Overall, Souvankham Thammavongsa utilizes moments of miscommunication and silence to highlight characters’ differences, but also their humanity—flaws and all.

Assimilation and Belonging

Joy stands out at school, due to being seen as a racial “other” in her community: While her classmates are described as being of European heritage—blonde, blue-eyed, and wealthy—she comes from an Asian immigrant family with limited means. This contrast is a microcosm of Western society in general, which varies in acceptance of non-Western cultures. However, rather than attempt to assimilate, Joy’s family’s story is one of cultural pride and defiance of ridicule. This pride often ties into scent, with Joy’s father smelling of paint thinner after work, and Joy’s lunches—prepared by her mother—smelling stronger than her classmates’ cuisine—both smells being markers of belonging rather than assimilation. As for personality, Joy proves more direct and self-aware than other children, perhaps because she has had to defend her lifestyle from a young age. She appreciates her parents’ hard work, her father’s job and mother’s meals creating a safe haven from a society that actively “others” them.

While conformity offers comfort, it often threatens individuality. In the story, true belonging is not about assimilating but being accepted for who one is—being comfortable with who one is. At school, Joy smiles for a class picture despite not dressing for it; she challenges classmates who comment on her lunches rather than feeling ashamed for having a different palate. While not everyone extends grace to her, Miss Choi eventually notes Joy’s behavior and gains greater understanding of her family. The teacher bridges the “learning gap” between her and Joy—which is more a matter of communication than literal language—by offering a gift. Overall, “How to Pronounce Knife” is a story about starting a new life, and the difficulties and growth that come with it. While it is imperative that Joy learn a new language and be able to read well, it is also important that others empathize with people like her family.

The Weight of Internal Conflict

Joy frequently faces decisions that require considering adults’ feelings—specifically, her parents’ feelings. She often omits details and lies to “protect” them: She must decide whether or not to tell them why everyone at school is dressed up on picture day, and must do the same for her defense of her father’s mispronunciation of the word “knife” in class. Joy ultimately covers up both incidents to reassure her parents. While she genuinely takes pride in her family and culture, Thammavongsa frames this pride as weight. With her family being immigrants, she straddles two worlds—Laos and America, home and school—for her own sake and her parents’ sake. However, this position requires Joy, a child, to make decisions to protect adults—when this dynamic should be the other way around. While her parents do protect and support her in certain ways, Joy’s understanding of Lao and English means she ends up having to navigate situations and “translate” their outcomes for the family.

When Joy must choose a gift from Miss Choi’s velvet bag without looking, this relatively small decision elicits internal conflict—which is ironic considering the gift is a puzzle of a plane in flight, an image of freedom. Perhaps, this conflict suggests freedom comes at the price of having to consider many paths. While Joy takes no pleasure in withholding truth, she does so to maintain her sense of self, her pride, and spare her parents from shame or anger. She faces external conflicts like her classmates’ bullying, but internal conflicts are often ongoing and truly reveal a character’s humanity—flaws and all. Characters’ thoughts and feelings provide nuance, as external actions don’t always reflect one’s internal world. Overall, Joy and her family are not without agency: Despite facing challenges as an immigrant family and being “othered” by people in their community, they navigate various conflicts with grace. This is especially true for Joy, who is still coming of age.