Leave Your Name At The Border Analysis
Anna-Lisa Barrington
Professor Ita Yankovich
English 12
October 23, 2015
Exploring Language and Identity
Question: Language is more than words put together; it is a tool of communication. What does Amy Tan author of “Mother Tongue” and Manuel Munoz author of “Leave your name at the border” say is the importance of language to them? How do they differ on their lives?
Language is more than words put together; it explores the intimate use of language we share with family and peers which is how individuals distinguishes you and how you identify yourself. Can the use of Language categorize an individual character, by making someone feel: sure, confident and knowledgeable, …show more content…
Spanish was for privacy – and privacy quickly turned into shame.” This article shows traces of how some people appear to be so ashamed of their heritage, that they would try covering it up by using the English equivalent of their name instead of sticking with their birth name. Furthermore, Manuel does say “It was simultaneously the language of the white population and the path toward the richer, expansive identify of “American.” Talking about English as a language, by aspiring to appear more “American” and speaking “proper English” could get them a better paying job, or just better opportunities. Munoz quoted, “Spanish was and still is viewed with suspicion: Always the language of the vilified illegal immigrant, it segregated schoolchildren into English-only and bilingual programs; it defined you, above all else, as part of a lower …show more content…
Both Authors wrote about their personal challenges being from a family with different cultures from their surroundings. Tan and Manoz share similar aspects on how language has shaped their appreciation for their culture. Manuel is a bilingual Mexican American from a generation he explained that being able to speak Spanish was once thought of as a form of privacy, but it soon turned into a shameful ability. Because of his ethnicity, he has first-hand experience with the mispronunciation of Mexican names, like his own. More importantly, he lived with the everyday Anglicized pronunciations of his and many other Mexicans’ names. Even though “American” names are becoming more popular among other ethnicities, those struggles Munoz faced still challenge people today. Manoz feel it is important Americans would understand the importance of the Mexican-Americans’ names to their identities. He wanted them to give Mexican-Americans the respect they deserved as human beings, starting with using their real names. Even though he faced many struggles, Munoz felt lucky his parents named him Manuel. If he had been named something with an English way of pronouncing it, he believed he would not have discovered the “English language’s extraordinary power in even the most
Professor Ita Yankovich
English 12
October 23, 2015
Exploring Language and Identity
Question: Language is more than words put together; it is a tool of communication. What does Amy Tan author of “Mother Tongue” and Manuel Munoz author of “Leave your name at the border” say is the importance of language to them? How do they differ on their lives?
Language is more than words put together; it explores the intimate use of language we share with family and peers which is how individuals distinguishes you and how you identify yourself. Can the use of Language categorize an individual character, by making someone feel: sure, confident and knowledgeable, …show more content…
Spanish was for privacy – and privacy quickly turned into shame.” This article shows traces of how some people appear to be so ashamed of their heritage, that they would try covering it up by using the English equivalent of their name instead of sticking with their birth name. Furthermore, Manuel does say “It was simultaneously the language of the white population and the path toward the richer, expansive identify of “American.” Talking about English as a language, by aspiring to appear more “American” and speaking “proper English” could get them a better paying job, or just better opportunities. Munoz quoted, “Spanish was and still is viewed with suspicion: Always the language of the vilified illegal immigrant, it segregated schoolchildren into English-only and bilingual programs; it defined you, above all else, as part of a lower …show more content…
Both Authors wrote about their personal challenges being from a family with different cultures from their surroundings. Tan and Manoz share similar aspects on how language has shaped their appreciation for their culture. Manuel is a bilingual Mexican American from a generation he explained that being able to speak Spanish was once thought of as a form of privacy, but it soon turned into a shameful ability. Because of his ethnicity, he has first-hand experience with the mispronunciation of Mexican names, like his own. More importantly, he lived with the everyday Anglicized pronunciations of his and many other Mexicans’ names. Even though “American” names are becoming more popular among other ethnicities, those struggles Munoz faced still challenge people today. Manoz feel it is important Americans would understand the importance of the Mexican-Americans’ names to their identities. He wanted them to give Mexican-Americans the respect they deserved as human beings, starting with using their real names. Even though he faced many struggles, Munoz felt lucky his parents named him Manuel. If he had been named something with an English way of pronouncing it, he believed he would not have discovered the “English language’s extraordinary power in even the most