Mother Tongue Summative Task Part One
Mother Tongue Summative Task Part One (Questions One and Two)
1. Discuss the significance of the following statements in the essay:
a) “And I use them all—all the Englishes I get up with.”
Point Form:
This statement is important because it tells the reader how important the dialect of her mother is to her.
It also shows the reader how all the dialects and languages you listen to affect the way you speak.
It highlights the differences in our speech patterns and the different dialects we use in different situations.
It also bring to light her diverse background in English and he ability to use a wide variety of dialects. This makes her seem more qualified.
Is dialect the right term?
Full Answer:
Before the group discussion, I believed that the statement “And I use them all—all the Englishes I grew up with” (Tan, 1), was significant because it shows the …show more content…
reader how important the dialect of Amy Tan’s mother is to her. Additionally, it brings to light her diverse background in a variety of English dialects; making her opinion seem more valid. It also shows the reader how the dialects we listen to everyday change the way we think and speak in the future. This belief is proven by Tan when she says, “But I do think that the language spoken in the family, especially in immigrant families which are more insular, plays a role in shaping the language of the child (P4). On top of that, my personal experiences prove Tan’s point; in the past, I have seen the dialects of developing children change when they spend a lot of time with someone new or even from reading a lot from one author. In addition, the statement also highlights the differences in our speech patterns and the different dialects we use in different situations.
b) “It has always bothered me that I can think of no other way to describe it other than ‘broken’ as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness and soundness.”
Point Form:
This Statement is significant because it shows the reader that she doesn't see her mother’s language as broken.
It shows how she believes that simplicity isn't necessarily bad.
Additionally, it shows how Amy Tan does not think that the kind of ‘broken’ language used by her mother needs to be fixed.
Full Answer:
At first, I believed that the statement: “It has always bothered me that I can think of no other way to describe it other than ‘broken’ as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness and soundness” (Tan, 2-3), is significant because it shows the reader that Amy Tan doesn't see her mother’s language as broken.
Additionally, it shows how she doesn't believe that simplicity is bad when it comes to language (Tan, 6), furthermore, it shows how Amy Tan does not think that the kind of ‘broken’ language used by her mother needs to be fixed. I believe this because Amy Tan says the following about a piece of text she wrote trying to preserve the nature of her mother’s English, “I wanted to capture what language ability tests never reveal: her intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms of her speech, and the nature of her thoughts (Tan, 6). To do this she had to keep her language simple, consequently, her resulting story didn't have as much flowery language, it was a very good book for her mother to read because it was easy to understand (Tan, 6); showing the value of
simplicity.
c) “I’ve Heard other terms used, ‘limited English’, for example. But they seem just as bad, as if everything is limited, including the people’s perceptions of the limited English speaker.”
Point Form:
This statement is important because it shows that people who speak in ‘broken’ English should not be perceived as less intelligent or capable of understanding, furthermore, the statement demonstrates one of Amy Tan’s key messages in this personal narrative essay.
This statement clearly shows the separation in her mind between understanding a language and articulating your thoughts in that language.
Full Answer:
Initially, I believed that the statement: “I’ve Heard other terms used, ‘limited English’, for example. But they seem just as bad, as if everything is limited, including the people’s perceptions of the limited English speaker” (Tan, 3), is significant because it shows that people who speak in ‘broken’ English should not be perceived as less intelligent or capable of understanding, furthermore, the statement demonstrates one of Amy Tan’s key messages in this personal narrative essay. The statement demonstrates the message that those who speak in simple or ‘broken’ English often understand just as well as those who are able to fully articulate themselves. In addition to that, the statement also clearly demonstrates the separation between understanding a language and articulating your thoughts in that language in Amy Tan’s mind.
d) “Fortunately, I happen to be rebellious in nature and enjoy the challenge of disproving assumptions made about me.”
Point Form:
This is significant because it shows a problem with our society. Which, according to Amy Tan pushes Asian students into math and science fields (Tan, 5).
This statement also makes the reader consider the potential outcome of Tan being less rebellious. Which could have resulted in her abandoning what she loves and continuing into a math or science field.
This statement forces the reader to ask questions like: if she was less rebellious where would she be now or what would I be reading if she hadn't gone on to write this essay.
It is also a challenge to people to do what you love and prove the people who doubt you can wrong.
Full Answer:
Before the group discussion, I believed that the following statement: “Fortunately, I happen to be rebellious in nature and enjoy the challenge of disproving assumptions made about me” (Tan, 5), is significant because it shows a problem with our society. Which, according to Amy Tan pushes Asian students into math and science fields (Tan, 5). This statement also makes the reader consider the potential outcome of a less rebellious Amy Tan, which could have resulted in her abandoning what she loves and continuing into a math or science field. Furthermore, the statement forces the reader to ask questions such as the following: if she was less rebellious where would she be now or what would I be reading if she hadn't gone on to write this essay. Additionally, the statement also challenges people to do what you love and prove the people who doubt your abilities wrong.
2. How does Amy Tan view her “mother tongue”? Support your response with evidence from the text.
Point Form:
She views her “mother tongue” as an intimate thing between family. I believe this because she says “ It has become our language of intimacy, a different sort of English that relates to family talk, the language I grew up with” (Tan, 1).
She also views her “mother tongue” as a simple and yet elegant dialect. She also says that she understands it very clearly despite others not being able to understand her (Tan, 1).
To Tan her “mother tongue” was the language that “made sense of the world,” (Tan, 1).
Overall she views it in a very personal positive way.
Full Answer:
At first, I believed that Amy Tan views her “mother tongue” as an intimate thing between family. I believe this because she says “ It has become our language of intimacy, a different sort of English that relates to family talk, the language I grew up with” (Tan, 1). This sentence demonstrates her opinion about her “mother tongue” because she values it and only uses it with those closest to her. Additionally, Tan views her “mother tongue” as a simple yet elegant language that she can clearly understand despite the fact that many other people are unable he dialect of English. I know this because she writes, “Some say they understand none of it, as if she were speaking pure Chinese. But to me, my mother’s English is perfectly clear, perfectly natural. It’s my mother tongue” (Tan, 2). To Tan her “mother tongue” was the language that “made sense of the world,” (Tan, 1). Overall, she views her “mother tongue” in a positive and personal way.
1. Discuss the significance of the following statements in the essay:
a) “And I use them all—all the Englishes I get up with.”
Point Form:
This statement is important because it tells the reader how important the dialect of her mother is to her.
It also shows the reader how all the dialects and languages you listen to affect the way you speak.
It highlights the differences in our speech patterns and the different dialects we use in different situations.
It also bring to light her diverse background in English and he ability to use a wide variety of dialects. This makes her seem more qualified.
Is dialect the right term?
Full Answer:
Before the group discussion, I believed that the statement “And I use them all—all the Englishes I grew up with” (Tan, 1), was significant because it shows the …show more content…
reader how important the dialect of Amy Tan’s mother is to her. Additionally, it brings to light her diverse background in a variety of English dialects; making her opinion seem more valid. It also shows the reader how the dialects we listen to everyday change the way we think and speak in the future. This belief is proven by Tan when she says, “But I do think that the language spoken in the family, especially in immigrant families which are more insular, plays a role in shaping the language of the child (P4). On top of that, my personal experiences prove Tan’s point; in the past, I have seen the dialects of developing children change when they spend a lot of time with someone new or even from reading a lot from one author. In addition, the statement also highlights the differences in our speech patterns and the different dialects we use in different situations.
b) “It has always bothered me that I can think of no other way to describe it other than ‘broken’ as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness and soundness.”
Point Form:
This Statement is significant because it shows the reader that she doesn't see her mother’s language as broken.
It shows how she believes that simplicity isn't necessarily bad.
Additionally, it shows how Amy Tan does not think that the kind of ‘broken’ language used by her mother needs to be fixed.
Full Answer:
At first, I believed that the statement: “It has always bothered me that I can think of no other way to describe it other than ‘broken’ as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness and soundness” (Tan, 2-3), is significant because it shows the reader that Amy Tan doesn't see her mother’s language as broken.
Additionally, it shows how she doesn't believe that simplicity is bad when it comes to language (Tan, 6), furthermore, it shows how Amy Tan does not think that the kind of ‘broken’ language used by her mother needs to be fixed. I believe this because Amy Tan says the following about a piece of text she wrote trying to preserve the nature of her mother’s English, “I wanted to capture what language ability tests never reveal: her intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms of her speech, and the nature of her thoughts (Tan, 6). To do this she had to keep her language simple, consequently, her resulting story didn't have as much flowery language, it was a very good book for her mother to read because it was easy to understand (Tan, 6); showing the value of
simplicity.
c) “I’ve Heard other terms used, ‘limited English’, for example. But they seem just as bad, as if everything is limited, including the people’s perceptions of the limited English speaker.”
Point Form:
This statement is important because it shows that people who speak in ‘broken’ English should not be perceived as less intelligent or capable of understanding, furthermore, the statement demonstrates one of Amy Tan’s key messages in this personal narrative essay.
This statement clearly shows the separation in her mind between understanding a language and articulating your thoughts in that language.
Full Answer:
Initially, I believed that the statement: “I’ve Heard other terms used, ‘limited English’, for example. But they seem just as bad, as if everything is limited, including the people’s perceptions of the limited English speaker” (Tan, 3), is significant because it shows that people who speak in ‘broken’ English should not be perceived as less intelligent or capable of understanding, furthermore, the statement demonstrates one of Amy Tan’s key messages in this personal narrative essay. The statement demonstrates the message that those who speak in simple or ‘broken’ English often understand just as well as those who are able to fully articulate themselves. In addition to that, the statement also clearly demonstrates the separation between understanding a language and articulating your thoughts in that language in Amy Tan’s mind.
d) “Fortunately, I happen to be rebellious in nature and enjoy the challenge of disproving assumptions made about me.”
Point Form:
This is significant because it shows a problem with our society. Which, according to Amy Tan pushes Asian students into math and science fields (Tan, 5).
This statement also makes the reader consider the potential outcome of Tan being less rebellious. Which could have resulted in her abandoning what she loves and continuing into a math or science field.
This statement forces the reader to ask questions like: if she was less rebellious where would she be now or what would I be reading if she hadn't gone on to write this essay.
It is also a challenge to people to do what you love and prove the people who doubt you can wrong.
Full Answer:
Before the group discussion, I believed that the following statement: “Fortunately, I happen to be rebellious in nature and enjoy the challenge of disproving assumptions made about me” (Tan, 5), is significant because it shows a problem with our society. Which, according to Amy Tan pushes Asian students into math and science fields (Tan, 5). This statement also makes the reader consider the potential outcome of a less rebellious Amy Tan, which could have resulted in her abandoning what she loves and continuing into a math or science field. Furthermore, the statement forces the reader to ask questions such as the following: if she was less rebellious where would she be now or what would I be reading if she hadn't gone on to write this essay. Additionally, the statement also challenges people to do what you love and prove the people who doubt your abilities wrong.
2. How does Amy Tan view her “mother tongue”? Support your response with evidence from the text.
Point Form:
She views her “mother tongue” as an intimate thing between family. I believe this because she says “ It has become our language of intimacy, a different sort of English that relates to family talk, the language I grew up with” (Tan, 1).
She also views her “mother tongue” as a simple and yet elegant dialect. She also says that she understands it very clearly despite others not being able to understand her (Tan, 1).
To Tan her “mother tongue” was the language that “made sense of the world,” (Tan, 1).
Overall she views it in a very personal positive way.
Full Answer:
At first, I believed that Amy Tan views her “mother tongue” as an intimate thing between family. I believe this because she says “ It has become our language of intimacy, a different sort of English that relates to family talk, the language I grew up with” (Tan, 1). This sentence demonstrates her opinion about her “mother tongue” because she values it and only uses it with those closest to her. Additionally, Tan views her “mother tongue” as a simple yet elegant language that she can clearly understand despite the fact that many other people are unable he dialect of English. I know this because she writes, “Some say they understand none of it, as if she were speaking pure Chinese. But to me, my mother’s English is perfectly clear, perfectly natural. It’s my mother tongue” (Tan, 2). To Tan her “mother tongue” was the language that “made sense of the world,” (Tan, 1). Overall, she views her “mother tongue” in a positive and personal way.