How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Ulla was speaking with Karla in a mixture of German and English that, by accident or intent, obscured the most interesting parts of her conversation. (1.2.63)
Lin doesn't speak German, and he takes it personally when Ulla (German) and Karla (Swiss) speak in their native language. Whether it's an "accident" or intentional, the mix of languages will become a part of his everyday life living among the exiles in Bombay.
Quote #2
"And there are two hundred dialects and languages spoken in the city every day. Two hundred, for God's sake! It's like being in the centre of the world." (1.2.88)
Can this be true? Well, we checked, and it would seem to be true. So the statement that living in a Tower of Babel like Bombay would be like living in the center of the world makes lots of sense. How could you forget you live in a global community when you can't understand the grand majority of what's being said around you?
Quote #3
"What kind of politics?"
"Oh, regional, language-based, ethnic, us-against-them," he replied, sneering cynically as he ticked each characteristic off on the fingers of his left hand. (1.2.156-157)
Politics can be an idealistic field that allows people to find mutually beneficial solutions to problems, or it can be used as a tool to create division. One of the most natural ways to divide groups up is by what language they speak. As Didier points out, it's a widely-used tactic by Indian political parties.