English Language and Amy
Rhetorical Analysis: “Mother Tongue”
Amy Tan Amy Tan, the Author of “Mother Tongue” very well makes the point across about cultural racism without showing any anger or specifically pointing out racism; Amy makes the reader realize how really not being American can affect how well you could handle everyday situations. The fact that this story was written by an immigrant, and provides real life stories about her mom and herself struggling in America, makes this novel a wonderful eye opener. The story focuses on the prejudices of Amy and her mother. All her life, Amy’s mother has been looked down because of the fact that she did not speak proper English. This story describes how she uses rhetorical strategies to make her argument, while also criticizing cultural standards. The story states that the Amy Tan writes of the different Englishes she uses in her life and illustrates the innumerable ways that people express themselves, depending on who they are with, and their needs. The audience Tan is trying to reach are people that are ignorant of the fact that people like Amy’s mother who speak “broken” English most of the time know they are taken advantage of, and struggle more with social interactions. This story could be intended to immigrant people that have to take care of their parents or simply other members of their family. This novel is also designed to people who like Amy have a “language of intimacy” with their family. Amy sometimes had to help her mother out with dealing with important people by pretending to be her and speaking proper English. Her mother would be telling her what to say like “why he don’t send me check, already two weeks late. So mad he lie to me, losing me money.” Amy states that she would be very embarrassed when in this situations because she would be speaking proper English, unlike her mom. She would say the same thing but in proper English like “Yes, I am getting rather concerned.
Amy Tan Amy Tan, the Author of “Mother Tongue” very well makes the point across about cultural racism without showing any anger or specifically pointing out racism; Amy makes the reader realize how really not being American can affect how well you could handle everyday situations. The fact that this story was written by an immigrant, and provides real life stories about her mom and herself struggling in America, makes this novel a wonderful eye opener. The story focuses on the prejudices of Amy and her mother. All her life, Amy’s mother has been looked down because of the fact that she did not speak proper English. This story describes how she uses rhetorical strategies to make her argument, while also criticizing cultural standards. The story states that the Amy Tan writes of the different Englishes she uses in her life and illustrates the innumerable ways that people express themselves, depending on who they are with, and their needs. The audience Tan is trying to reach are people that are ignorant of the fact that people like Amy’s mother who speak “broken” English most of the time know they are taken advantage of, and struggle more with social interactions. This story could be intended to immigrant people that have to take care of their parents or simply other members of their family. This novel is also designed to people who like Amy have a “language of intimacy” with their family. Amy sometimes had to help her mother out with dealing with important people by pretending to be her and speaking proper English. Her mother would be telling her what to say like “why he don’t send me check, already two weeks late. So mad he lie to me, losing me money.” Amy states that she would be very embarrassed when in this situations because she would be speaking proper English, unlike her mom. She would say the same thing but in proper English like “Yes, I am getting rather concerned.