Preview

Hunger Of Memory Richard Rodriguez

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
330 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Hunger Of Memory Richard Rodriguez
As I began reading the first chapter of ‘Hunger of Memory’, I noticed that the author, Richard Rodriguez, in a satisfied tone, defined his private family as alienated in a public society. A society in which intimacy has a very much different meaning than what he presumed. This notion was primarily based off linguistic differences that, from his point of view as a small child, build a pleasantly intimate bond that kept his family close. Very far distant from the un-intimate world.

In the middle of the chapter, Rodriguez writes “... children lose a degree of “individuality” by becoming assimilated into public society” (Rodriguez 26). Although Rodriguez was addressing the ideas of bilingual educators ( with whom he adamantly disagrees), this
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Human Bonds In Lois Lowry's The Giver
    • 685 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Human Bonds In Lois Lowry's The Giver

    Imagine shutting away the memories in one’s mind; covering them with a cloak, never to be seen again. The brain could spend hours searching, tearing itself apart before adapting and becoming numb to the feelings and moments from the past. This is the case for the numerous communities in Lois Lowry’s The Giver. By masterfully twisting together the idea of the the community’s lack of wisdom, the suffering of the Giver and his trainee, Jonas, and finally the lack of human bonds, Lois Lowry writes a tale of loneliness and heartache. Through words, she proves to the reader that memories are meant to be shared.…

    • 685 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Summary Of Emergent Bilingual By Garcia
    • 119 Words
    • 1 Page

    Summary Of Emergent Bilingual By Garcia

    Furthermore, analysing the emergent bilingual definition offered by Garcia represented a fundamental concern in the article. Garcia presented her definition to introduce the role that home language and culture can do for foreign language learners. However, Turnbull indicated that Garcia’s definition is restricted to young foreigners who are who are learning English in the United States schools. In addition, Turnbull disagrees with the term ‘late bilingual’ which describes foreign language learners older than teenagers. Turnbull claimed that all foreign language learners around the world are entitled to be emergent bilinguals rather than minorities children in the United States. Furthermore, the perception of emergent bilingual should involve…

    • 119 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Richard Rodriguez Diary
    • 664 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Richard Rodriguez Diary

    The nights were colder than usual; the wind pierced his very skin and etched his bones. He tossed and turned restlessly in his mahogany bed. There was nothing but silence; the usual orchestra of crickets were quiet tonight. “This is the coldest it has ever been since I moved to Trinidad” Chavez whispered to himself in anger. Frustrated Chavez crawled from his bed and walked out to the veranda.…

    • 664 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Aria By Richard Rodriguez
    • 1509 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Aria By Richard Rodriguez

    Although Rodriguez concluded his recollection of childhood on a positive note, he does not fail to distinguish the anxiety that overwhelmed him when the comfortable, private language of Spanish disappeared. His audience understands that children in fact do struggle when faced with such drastic changes within their life, as they are placed in a new atmosphere. Supporters most likely witness the situation themselves, or know and understand the statistics of the number of bilingual students succeeding in an unfamiliar environment remains considerably low. Bilingual supporters project the idea of carrying the children’s personal Spanish language within the learning and education environment with hopes of making the kids feel more at ease. But Rodriguez proves the exact opposite, as children feel as if their world shuts down when their private, comforting language stands distorted.…

    • 1509 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Richard Rodriguez English As A Second Language Summary
    • 1381 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Richard Rodriguez English As A Second Language Summary

    In his early childhood, Spanish was his exclusive language used by his parents, siblings, and family. He perceived this language as a “private language”, the language that gave him comfort. It was his family language, which was used in safety of his home, apart from a strange world of “los gringos”. “To hear its sounds was to feel myself specially recognized as one of the family, apart from los otros” (329). English, on the other hand, was the language little Ricardo associated with strangers, and it was only used in the outside world. Richard felt intimidated by it, because he knew quite well that his English was poor. “My words could not extend to form complete thoughts. And the words I did speak I didn’t know well enough to make distinct sounds” (328). Rodriguez felt that he didn’t belong in the outside world. He was awkward comparing to native English speakers. He lacked confidence and he struggled to master “public language”. “I remained cloistered by sounds, timid and shy in public, too dependent on the voices at home. And yet I was a very happy child when I was at home” (330). He was also embarrassed by his parents’ heavily accented, ungrammatical…

    • 1381 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down Language Analysis
    • 1253 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down Language Analysis

    If you turn over a permission slip or handout from a public school in Southern California on the backside you will find the same English words translated into Spanish. The act of translating the paper for the “child’s” wellbeing only provides a false illusion to the parent’s that the need to learn English is trivial. In reality it actually hinders the immigrants’ chances of success by denying the full language immersion in English that is needed to thrive in America, not just survive. And once one group of immigrants is catered for, it unjustly secludes others of equal treatment. The responsibility of speaking English falls on the shoulders of every immigrant. The lack of a shared proficiency in the English language…

    • 1253 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Aria by Richard Rodriguez
    • 1412 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Aria by Richard Rodriguez

    In the memoir Aria, by Richard Rodriguez, he boldly argues that one must choose the “public” language so as to belong, or be part of, or be accepted and be able to find your true identity. I have to agree to some degree, for I find if you are not part of the “public” language it’s like driving the wrong way on a one way road, or better yet; freeway! Growing up in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood, I can’t say I felt like a foreigner. My parents arrived in “gringolandia” as they affectionately call it (United States), around 1977. I was 3 years old, my younger siblings where soon to follow. I can sympathize with Richard in some cases. We also use the “private” language at home. When I got enrolled in school, luckily most of my classmates also brought their “private” language along with their school lunch bags filled with “burritos” or “tortas”.…

    • 1412 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Compare and Contrast
    • 944 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Compare and Contrast

    Rodriguez argues in his essay, whether bilingual education is appropriate for school. Rodriguez states that “It is not possible for a child, any child, ever to use his family’s language in school” (Rodriguez 60). I would think that the author would enjoy going to school speaking his primary language, or family language while being challenged with a new language. In his opinion, he believes it is not okay for a student to learn in a language spoken at home. As a premature English speaker in Catholic School, he was shocked with how Americans pronounced and spoke in their language. The way it made him feel about English brought out his belief about bilingual education. He went to a catholic school where all his classmates were children of American families. This means they were all fluent in English, while Rodriguez started school only knowing fifty five words. He stood out as the odd ball of his class. Rodriguez’s improper knowledge of English made him stand out as the kid that was behind.…

    • 944 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Why Latinos Need To Be Educated
    • 1167 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Why Latinos Need To Be Educated

    However, once their children are enrolled and start to attend school, they realize it will not be that easy for them. Their children start to live in two different worlds, one at school and another completely different at home (Eggers-Piérola,2005). In the case of the students that their primary language is not English, it is very difficult for them to follow their classmates’ pace of learning. On the other hand, the children who were born in the United States but have Hispanic parents, sometimes they have difficulty communicating with their non-English speaking parents at home. In occasions, teachers are not able to understand Latino students’ cultural backgrounds.…

    • 1167 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Relationships In Toni Morrison's This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona
    • 877 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Relationships In Toni Morrison's This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona

    The relationships we see within Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif” and Sherman Alexie’s “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” are very complex, however, whether we’re examining a mother and daughter, or two childhood friends, it is clear our theme deals with the security and solidarity of relationships.…

    • 877 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hunger of Memory 2
    • 645 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Hunger of Memory 2

    The theme of separation is an important development in the novels Hunger of Memory and How the Garcia Girls lost their Accent. The novels deal with separation differently. For Hunger of Memory by Richard Rodriguez, the separation allows Richard to move from the private world to the public world. Here, separation is a movement for a solution, which is citizenship. In How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accent by Julia Alvarez, the separation is an effect from Antojo.…

    • 645 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Latino Bilingual Education
    • 930 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Latino Bilingual Education

    Do Spanish-speaking immigrants have rights to bilingual education? With the increase of the Latino population in New York City during the 1960s caused the school system to be faced with a new issue of language rights. My topic of bilingual education is important because with the increasing presence of Latinos it brings an increasing number of Limited English Proficient Students to the country. Being a first or second generation Latino having a bilingual education makes a difference in one life by causing them to preserve part of their culture. My paper will focus on what exactly is bilingual education, it’s origins, the ways in which it is taught, the successes and failures and what the future holds.…

    • 930 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Spanish Language and Bilingual Childhood
    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Spanish Language and Bilingual Childhood

    One reason why this essay fascinated me was because I was able to relate to Rodriquez since I grew up in a bilingual home. This essay is like the journal of Rodriguez’s life. Reading about him made me open my eyes to see that I was not the only person going through problems between languages. I understood as Rodriguez says, “English was intrinsically public language and Spanish was intrinsically private” (453) because I remember feeling the intimacy and warmth of my parents communicating with me in our language at home. It was almost hard for me to hear my parents speak English because I felt as if they spend more time trying to figure…

    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Official Language Movement
    • 304 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Official Language Movement

    Many immigrants fear bilingual education because it is associated with disadvantage, alienation, and cultural deprivation. Many of them do not want to pass their native language on to their children because they consider English to be more socially and economically valued. (Linton, 2004)…

    • 304 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    “Bilingual/Bilingue” Explication
    • 700 Words
    • 3 Pages

    “Bilingual/Bilingue” Explication

    Movements for bilingual education rose in 1974 with the Equal Education Opportunity Act and Bingual Education Act, which ordered federally funded schools to meet special educational needs for students not proficient in English. Unfortunately, dropout rates and lack of English-language proficiency alarmed the states that these bilingual programs were not efficent. Because of this, arguments between English-only advocates and supporters of bilingual educations emerged. Articles such as the New York Times have proclaimed the failures of bilingual education. One cause could be the resistance of immigrants from English language acquisition, who hold tight onto their first language and culture. Despite this, studies show that generations following the immigrants increasingly became more fluent in English. The differences between immigrants and their following generations can be clearly seen in a brilliant poem written by a compassionate and hard working woman of the 20th century. Struggling to to accept her father’s way of separating English from Spanish, Rhina Espaillat, in her poem, “Bilingual/Bilingue”, shows a personal account of the realities of bilingualism and how it is possible to overcome language and culture barriers to learn a second language.…

    • 700 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More