In the story “Mother Tongue” Amy Tan tells the story of her mother and how her use of English within the family affected her early in life. She describes how that limited use of English had the potential to affect Tan’s choice of careers and her influence on literature. She begins by describing how she assumed the role of translator for her Asian born mother‚ who spoke with “broken English.” She describes situations where she assumed the role of translator for her mother. She was thrown into adult
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Stephanie Li Professor Pines Rhetoric 101 8 October 2011 Word Count: 1394 Rodriguez’s Transformation: Developing a “Sociological Imagination” In his essay‚ “The Achievement of Desire‚” Richard Rodriguez informs readers that he was a scholarship boy throughout his educational career. He uses his own personal experiences‚ as well as Richard Hoggart’s definition of the “scholarship boy‚” to describe himself as someone who constantly struggles with balancing his life between family and education
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Mothers Tongue Amy Tans "Mother Tongue" is a look into the way some people‚ look to language as a way as a sign of how educated you are. According to Amy she did not realize how we use different languages or different tones when we are engaging in conversation with others. When you are talking with friends or close family you would use different dialect or slang‚ then if you were talking to your boss or teacher. The tone of your voice can also show’s that if you are louder this might mean
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Many people speak different languages‚ but every person speaks their language in two forms. As in the story "Mother tongue" by Amy Tan. The children start to use this strategy to make others feel comfortable‚ and not be judged by others. This language comes naturally to those who use it. There are some appropriate moments to use each English‚ and there are moments that are not so appropriate. For example‚ if you speak to any adult in a not proper way‚ they might think you’re not as educated. Sometimes
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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
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There are three important messages that we all can understand and learn from in Amy Tan’s "Mother Tongue". Firstly‚ and most importantly‚ Tan wants to convey the message that words are more than just words and sometimes we must read between them to fully understand their meaning. Another message conveyed in this essay is that just because someone is using "broken" English‚ does not mean they do not fully understand what is going on. Finally‚ another important message is that standardized tests only
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Amy Tan’s story “Mother Tongue” starts by the affirmation that she is not a scholar of English or literature. She is just a writer and the person who understand the power of language. From Tan’s observations from her daily life‚ she realizes that there are different types of English that she uses. The first time Tan notices the difference is when she gives a speech on her book “The Joy Luck Club” using academic English‚ the one that she never uses to talk with her mother. The second time is when
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Amy Tan: Mother Tongue 1. Tan starts with speaking to a group that had her mom in it. This provided details of how she felt with the way all speak in different situations. Another situation was when she described her having a conversation with her mom on the phone. Her mom uses very broken English and I felt like I was standing there listening to both sides of the conversation. I made me remember times talking with my grandma and a couple of her saying. When Tan uses “tell him front of his boss
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Based on Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” it is evident that language has an affect on our lives. Language defines the type of person I am generally and it has had an affect on my choices as well as my lifestyle. Depending on my friends‚ family‚ and others I talk to my choice on language tends to vary. My decisions in life‚ sometimes‚ are influenced by the language I use and my surroundings. Language has become my way of seeing life in a different perspective. In Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” she discusses the
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on the daily basis that we unknowingly switch up on. Some are based on the people that we are around and others are in the area or even situation that we may be in. we rarely notice when we change from one form to another. In Amy Tan’s article “Mother tongue” she shows how her mother’s unique English led her to go through many trials and obstacles and was overlooked by many. In this essay‚ I will show how some of the issues that Amy Tan talks about in her article can be applied to my everyday life
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