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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Mohammad Solaiman English 220 Instructor Biggie November 26‚ 2012 A Forked Tongue It is claimed that the pen is mightier than the sword; however‚ the tongue wields a power that bests them both. The power of words‚ which like a snake‚ is able to slither through one’s ears and deeply lodge its fangs into the heart‚ slowly sending its venom seeping through the veins. The ability of the tongue –which gives shape and life to words—has the power to elate and bring joy‚ as well as confuse and destroy
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My response is on “Mother Tongue” which is the story of Amy Tan’s successful mother and her struggles with societies views on different dialects of English. The main idea of this story is that society may take a somewhat offensive stance on accents and dialects and assume many things. I agree with this idea for the pure fact that‚ yes people do judge people based on certain things‚ that is just how animals work. Is it unhealthy to stereotype people? Of course. Is it natural of humanity? Undoubtedly
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After reading the narrative “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan. It can be said that it is an engaging 1st person narrative where the author utilized some of her different memories to connect with the audience. At times explaining her feelings of sadness and embarrassment to strengthen her points. Thus‚ creating an emotional piece that had me connected with every sentence. I experienced a sense of empathy. The narrative started at the present time with a memory where the writer found herself speaking to a
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Language: a method of communication that is used in a particular group or community. Prior to reading How to Tame a Wild Tongue‚ I always assumed that languages are what keep people connected. However‚ after reading Anzaldua’s article‚ I was exposed to a new perspective regarding language and identity. It was Anzaldua’s Chicano language that distanced her from other Americans and Latinos around her. Compared Amy Tan‚ who did not relate to her mother’s “broken English”‚ Anzaldua embraced her Chicano
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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
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English 112 14 March 2014 What is Your Tongue? Language is developed to allow people to interact in communities and it allows oneself to create an identity. In “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan‚ she writes about how her mother’s broken English‚ and about the extent that it affected her language. She writes this piece in a method that is easy to understand‚ and she simply expresses her personal opinion: That whenever someone doesn’t speak proper English they are susceptible to criticism and bad treatment
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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
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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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uneasy having to adapt to a completely new culture and learn the English language. During this journey‚ the individuals’ cultural identities might fade away as well as losing their efficient fluency on their native language. In Amy Tan’s‚ “Mother Tongue” and Richard Rodriguez “Aria: A Memoir of A Bilingual Childhood”‚ both authors experience the difficulties of language barrier and adjusting to a different lifestyle in order to develop as an individual in the United States. Having a cultural identity
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