Transitional Phases "Mother Tongue" written by Amy Tan shows the many differences between immigrant families and non-immigrant families. Amy Tan describes the difficulty of growing up in a Chinese home and the transitions that she had to overcome to "fit in" to an American society. Personally‚ the transition between living above the Mason-Dixon line and then moving below it‚ was similar to that of Tan’s situation. Even though mine and Tan’s experiences vary from cultural and ethnic backgrounds
Premium English language Second language United States
After reading “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan‚ I have realized how many variations of English that are actually used today. When I am writing a essay‚ or speaking in front for a audience‚ I try to sound very formal. I use words I normally don’t. But more importantly‚ I structure the way I write or speak differently. Most of the time‚ I don’t focus on the words I put in my sentences‚ or how I structure them‚ I just say it. Like Tan‚ I speak differently with my family compared to when I am speaking to my
Premium
Growing up‚ Amy Tan went through a time when she felt embarrassed and disappointed in who she was and where she came from. But as she got older she realized that she should have nothing but pride in her culture and what makes her who she is. Therefore‚ Amy Tan wrote the short story “Fish Cheeks” to explain to readers how she was able to overcome shame about her heritage and how she became proud and thankful for it. Amy Tan was able to move her short story along by using transition sentences. They
Premium Amy Tan English-language films United States
Richard Rodriguez was born on July 31‚ 1944‚ in San Francisco‚ California‚ to Mexican immigrants Leopoldo and Victoria Moran Rodriguez‚ the third of their four children. When Rodriguez was still a young child‚ the family moved to Sacramento‚ California‚ to a small house in a comfortable white neighborhood. "Optimism and ambition led them to a house (our home) many blocks from the Mexican side of town.… It never occurred to my parents that they couldn’t live wherever they chose‚" writes Rodriguez
Premium United States Education Family
Amy Tan Mother Tongue: In the short story "Mother Tongue" by author Amy Tan‚ she speaks of her mother’s English as "broken English" because her mother came from China and spoke as though she was unintelligent. Growing up Amy knew two languages. When she spoke to her mother she used elementary style words and spoke as though she did not know the language‚ while in front of fluent English speakers‚ she spoke eloquently with an impressive vocabulary. Amy becomes uncomfortable with the word broken
Premium English language Second language Amy Tan
In the article “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan‚ she tells her personal story of how she overcomes her own language obstacles. After I read this article‚ I have different feeling and opinions on the languages that I am speaking. I used to think that language is just a tool or form of communication that allow me to communicate with other people. Personally‚ I speak
Premium Second language Linguistics English language
Amy Tan’s short story‚ “Mother Tongue” is an admirable tale that discusses the implied meaning of languages and how language is not only a device of communication‚ but a social tool of measuring an individuals’ worth. Tan’s purpose was to show us how language separates‚ unites‚ or isolates those who don’t speak the common way as well as others. The differences between us and others do not make anyone less of a person. She tells us the different circumstances and struggles when her mother had been
Premium Brain tumor Second language Meaning of life
Limited English In Amy Tans’s short store "Mother Tongue"‚ readers are introduced to Tan who is the daughter of a Chinese immigrant mother. While in school‚ Tan always excelled in mathematics and science‚ but felt she had a disadvantage with English and Literature. This disadvantage was caused because her limited English she had to use with her mother. As a young girl growing up Tan was embarrassed because of her mothers poor English "I know this for a fact‚ because when I was growing
Premium Amy Tan Second language English language
The Struggle of Being Yourself Amy tan born in 1952 she lives in Oakland‚California. Her parents fled from China’s Communist revolution and settled in the United States ("Meet the writer"). She wrote her first novel in 1989 it was called "The Joy Luck Club" it was a best seller for nine months (Werlock). Tan believed she was born in the wrong family because her mother was impossible to be pleased (longnecker). In the story of "Two Kinds" Amy Tan whose life is reflected in the Uses the
Premium Amy Tan The Joy Luck Club United States
Jomelyn Belcher Antonio Rivera Mother Tongue Mother Tongue‚ written by Amy Tan‚ is a short story about her family. Amy’s family is Asian Americans‚ whom came to America later in their lives‚ the reason why they do not speak English very well. In her short story‚ Mother tongue‚ She emphasizes the idea that we all speak different languages without being consciously aware‚ and that we are categorized by the way we speak. Amy Tan said that she begin to realize the unusual differences that goes on with
Premium English language Second language Family