“What Language Is That?” by Uwem Akpan (2008)

 “What Language Is That?” by Uwem Akpan (2008) is a beautifully crafted short story that follows the Japanese rhetorical structure ki‑sho‑ten‑ketsu: introduction, development, twist, and conclusion. In this story, the Change (ten) occurs when Selam, the protagonist, is suddenly forbidden to play with her Best Friend because they belong to different religions. Selam’s family is Christian, while her friend’s family is Muslim.

At first, the girls are not even allowed to look at each other from their verandas across the street. But one day, Selam opens the curtain and sees her friend standing outside. Her friend gives her an awkward little wave, and Selam mirrors it. Then her friend blows her a kiss, and Selam returns it. That small exchange restores her confidence and gives her the emotional strength to agree to move to Addis with her parents.

The story contains no unnecessary words, sentences, or scenes. It is an excellent model of short‑story economy.

What I learned from this story is that the “Change” should be as dramatic and consequential as possible, so the reader immediately worries about what will happen next.

Here is a vivid description of their silent veranda conversation:

“Slowly, Selam lifted her hand and waved to you as if the hand belonged to another person. You waved back slowly, too. She opened her mouth slowly and mimed to you, and you mimed back. ‘I can’t hear you.’ She waved with two hands, and you waved with two hands. She smiled at you… She gave an imaginary friend a peck.” 

The author is a Nigerian. He won the Commonwealth prize. His works are a New York Times bestseller.