Part A – Both “Se Habla Espanol” and “Mother Tongue” are titles that manage to grab attentions; however, each does so in its own way. “Se Habla Espanol” is about a Latina women who is attempting to learn how to speak Spanish. Throughout the story, she talks about the struggles to learn it and the judgement that she receives from others for not already having a knowledge it. I feel like the simplicity of the title is what makes it so attractive for a reader. It made me want to read so that I could attempt to understand why she chose what could be considered a basic Spanish phrase when the translation of the title is “Spanish speaking.” The title “Mother Tongue” is almost brilliantly misleading. My first thought when I read the title was that this story would be about a language that the author spoke before moving to another country and having to learn a new language, but I was incredibly incorrect. This is about English as a language and how easily the author switches from a version that is eloquent to a version that many would considered to be broken. She talks about how many people have judged her mom’s English skills and how she has even been ostracized because of it, but how it inspired the author’s writing style. The title is a fitting tribute to her mom and how she shaped the author’s English skill and the author as a person into who she is today. …show more content…
It was as if she was trying to say, “Yes, I’m an author, but my English isn’t going to be perfect, and I accept that.” I also think she said this because what “correct” English is can vary from person to person. There is obviously a textbook definition of it, but most people aren’t going to completely know it, and those that do may not even use
“Let the Copula Be” What is “good” English? What is ‘bad’ English? Do we all use “Bad English?” In the Essay “Let The Copula Be” by Sonja L Lanehart writes about the proper use in her opinion of “Good” English. Lanehart first believed that everyone speaks in-correctly.
This means she lacked the understanding syntax of English. For example, as Susan
For example, under her subtitle “Overcoming the tradition of silence”, she quotes “ahogadas, escupimos……nos sepulta.” (Anzaldua, 498). It would be logical to conclude that she expects her audience to have some basic understanding about Spanish. Even though, it is not necessary for her viewer to understand Spanish in order to appreciate her work, this multi-language use is an important information to spot her intended audience. In another word, she was not writing to Spanish, Latin American audiences exclusively, but they are her core audiences.
One of the area of conflict that rose in the book involves the usage of the English language in relation of the family’s native language, Spanish. As a Mexican-American raised in the States the exhibition of the English language, whether the use of the tongue is fluent or not, cause a strain in the Mexican culture as the culture takes in consideration of their romance and richness of history in their native tongue (Rothman 204). Language represent the supporting backbone of a person as the progress in life as the ability to communicate without misunderstands, however a person can cause the loss connection to the past romance of the culture and art of cultivation that brings the language to lifes from their inabilities to comprehend the ability/asset to its fullest potential (Rothman 204). To fully understand the true meaning behind a spoken chain of words can be understood by the method of trying to first comprehend the cultivation of the word and the definition behind them. Cisneros embeds the use of Spanish in fragments depicting a sense of reality within a fictional novel, Caramelo, as well with the use of interchangeable dialogues with spanish phrase to express the illustration of Celaya’s family and the culture in which is translate in of importance of pride.
Tan is able to convey the power of language in her writing through the significance of the title "Mother Tongue", by narrating from three different perspectives and through her diction. The title "Mother Tongue" exemplifies the connection between culture and language as one's native language can also be known as their mother tongue. This language is the first language a child hears and learns to speak. Tan's mother tongue is a combination of Chinese and English, which was taught to her by her mother.
The power of language We all have some form of language limitations, no matter where we come from and what our background is. “Mother tongue” by Amy Tan and “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldua both share similar themes in their stories that demonstrate how they both deal with how different forms of the same language are portrayed in society. In both stories they speak about what society declares the right way of speech and having to face prejudgment, the two authors share their personal experiences of how they’ve dealt with it.
He shows this through his many experiences with bilingual court and education. At the end of his essay, Espada concludes with a basic summary of what he has learned. Espada claims “The repression of Spanish is part of a larger attempt to silence Latinos, and, like the crazy uncle at the family dinner table yelling about independence or socialism, we must refuse to be silenced.” Through the summary the reader understands despite English being the prevalent language the in the U.S. today the Spanish culture is still being preserved through bilingualism. On the other hand Rodriguez argues that in order to gain a public identity, one must be willing to sacrifice some part of their own cultural identity.
For numerous amounts of people, with English being their second language, they have been described as having "Broken English". " Broken English" refers to a poorly spoken or ill-written version of the English language. One article called "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan discusses the effects of growing up with a Chinese mother who has "Broken English". In fact, Tan deliberates about the limitations and criticism of growing up with her mother. Although Tan speaks articulate English, she still can comprehend with her mother 's "Broken English".
Rhetorical Precis #4: “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan Amy Tan’s purpose in her article “Mother Tongue” is to show the influence of her mother’s style of english. She also relates this to a more broad topic of the idea that there are many different types of english that people speak that are tailored to whoever they are speaking to. She begins this piece by stating plainly that she is not an english scholar. Instead of decreasing her credibility it actually increases it and paints this piece as a more personal set of observations rather than a bland overview of the entire language.
Throughout generations cultural traditions have been passed down, alongside these traditions came language. The language of ancestors, which soon began to be molded by the tongue of newer generations, was inherited. Though language is an everlasting changing part of the world, it is a representation of one’s identity, not only in a cultural way but from an environmental standpoint as well. One’s identity is revealed through language from an environmental point of view because the world that one is surrounded with can cause them to have their own definitions of words, an accent, etc. With newer generations, comes newer forms of languages.
Samuel Huntington’s article The Hispanic Challenge argues that Hispanics, specifically Mexicans, are not true American citizens. According to Huntington, Americans are people who believe in the American creed. However, he believes this creed is being threatened. For some time now, large influxes of Hispanic immigrants have been coming to the US and have brought their own culture with them. The writer of Speaking in Tongues, Gloria Anzaldua, believes that Hispanics have the right to hold onto their culture in America.
In fact, many people against Tan ’s point of view that English is very useful and important. However, others, including me agree with Tan’s idea. Indeed, there are many reasons that agree with the author’s
After reading Mother Tongue by Amy Tan, my perspective changed about the struggles for people who are not as good at English. All throughout this article Tan uses personal experience from her mom to show the readers the struggle while also using primary sources to back up her claim. All the evidence backs up her initial claim and as the reader your perspective changes after reading about how she personally was effected. The author 's main claim of Mother Tongue is to persuade people so respect people who struggle with English because she has serval personal connections, she has fact based proof, and she is an experienced writer on this topic and in general. All throughout the reading she uses many personal stories and personal experiences on how difficult it was for her mother to go through her everyday life.
The article 'Mother Tongue ' by author Amy Tan is about the variations in the English language the author uses in her life. She describes her English when giving a speech to a other people, English she uses when speaking to her mother, and English she uses in her writing. She tells of difficulties faced by both her mother and herself from these many differences. Amy 's goal in this article is to show that a person does not have to speak proper English to be seen as smart or intelligent.
Summary of "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan In "Mother Tongue, Amy Tan writes about how her mother 's broken English affects her life. She begins this narrative essay by talking about the day she became aware of the different forms of English that she was using at home and during formal events. Amy says, "The talk was going along well enough, until I remembered one major difference that made the whole talk sound wrong. My mother was in the room. And it was perhaps the first time she had heard me give a lengthy speech, using the kind of English I have never used with her" (Tan 1).