Novelist Amy Tan, in her essay “Mother Tongue,” addresses the language barrier that her mother had that limited her prosperity. we are informed about the difficulties her mother experienced because of the way she spoke english and the prejudice she faced although,She did not think her mother’s language was a problem but to others it somewhat hinders her ability to excel in her everyday life. Throughout out the story, Tan explains the different Englishes that she comes across. First, when she is at home with her family she approaches that “limited english” then there’s the “standard english” that she was taught. Tan’s purpose is to share with others the experience that she had growing up with her mother that did not speak English precisely, and how her mother was treated in a different manner. All through the story Tan mother stayed true to herself as Tan described the different views her mother apprehend. Tan executed her message in “Mother Tongue” by adopting an informal and nostalgic tone to those who have families with a second language that creates difficulty for them to succeed. Her effectiveness in the essay includes the use of symbolism, pathos, and logos to illustrate her mother’s experiences throughout her life.
Tan opens her discussion by acknowledging that she is not a “scholar of English or Literature”but then says “I’m a writer” this contrast allows the audience to see how Tan is not very sturdy in English but she still compare herself to be a writer. She
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Several points are made throughout the novel, proving that the town was very poor. The author states, “There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County.” (Lee 5). What the author means by this is that the town was so distraught by the depression that there was absolutely nothing to do because no one had money. The author also states, “Are we poor, Atticus?”
The quote “so easy to read” stood out to me the most. Communication is always the function of one language. What Tan’s mother express is
Amy Tan’s essay, “Mother Tongue” focuses primarily on her awareness and relationship with all of the different forms of English that she grew up with. She explains that while giving a speech to a large group of people, there was a specific factor that was distorting her focus. Although she has given this speech to a large audience before, she realizes that the offsetting factor was indeed the fact that her mother was present in the crowd. Tan becomes completely aware of how differently she speaks based on who she is speaking to and who is around to hear her. Despite the fact that Tan’s mother does not speak proper English, it is clear that she undoubtedly comprehends what she is reading or listening to. Because Tan grew up listening to her
I enjoyed reading “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan. Tan states, “I was made keenly aware of the different Englishes”. This quote resonated with me because my grandma’s English is different from my English. My grandma came from Mexico and learned how to speak English. However, English was my native language. As a result, our English sounds different when we speak it. Just like Tan and her mother, when I speak English to my grandma it is more of a “broken English”. In other words, my English is not the same as if I were to be speaking to a professor. I tend to speak this way to my grandma because it is how we connect with one another. Tan also states, “that the language spoken in the family, especially in immigrant families… plays a large role.” Reading
To begin, Tan’s lede easily grabs the reader's attention. “I am not a scholar of English or literature. I cannot give you much more than personal opinions on the English language and its variations in this country or others” (350). She talks about herself not being a professional in literature, making the reader want to know more about her topic. Even if her short stories are about her, she doesn't only talk about herself. She includes her mother and her mother's thoughts, allowing the reader to know what is happening.
Critically acclaimed author, Amy Tan, in her essay “Mother Tongue”, considers cultural standards and preconceived notions propagated by society in the terms of language. Tan explores the perceptions behind those who speak in ‘broken English’ and the validity of all forms of self-expression by revisiting past experiences in her own life with her mother. She adopts a sincere and emotional tone in order to expose audiences to the discrimination many immigrants face in society on a continual basis. Ultimately, through the use of devices such as definition, comparison and contrast, and her masterful command of language; Tan expresses her central claim that all of her ‘englishes’ are deserving of recognition and respect.
She wants the audience to know right away that even though she is about to tell you the story of a difficult childhood, she did reach her goal in the end. After making this statement, Tan dives into her past and how she came to be where she is today. Her mother is the next most important point of discussion. Her mother influenced her writing style as well as her beliefs about her culture and heritage. ?Just last week, I was walking down the street with my mother, and I again found myself conscious of the English I was using, the English I do use with her? (Tan, 2002, p. 36). The broken up English her mother uses is the next issue Tan focuses on. ??everything is limited, including people?s perceptions of the limited English speaker? (Tan, 2002, p. 36). Lastly, she talks about her education and the role it had on her deciding what she wanted to do with her life. ?Fortunately, I happen to be rebellious in nature and enjoy the challenge of disproving assumptions made about me? (Tan, 2002, p. 39). By structuring the essay in order of importance, Tan reinforces her message that you can be anything you desire even with a different culture than the norm.
This strong exchange is large basis for argument of the misinterpreted attempts of each character. Tan herself is only trying to be do her best as her mother wants, even though her mother thinks that she is not trying as much as she really can.
The purpose of Amy Tan’s essay, “Mother Tongue,” is to show how challenging it can be if an individual is raised by a parent who speaks “limited English” (36) as Tan’s mother does, partially because it can result in people being judged poorly by others. As Tan’s primary care giver, her mother was a significant part of her childhood, and she has a strong influence over Tan’s writing style. Being raised by her mother taught her that one’s perception of the world is heavily based upon the language spoken at home. Alternately, people’s perceptions of one another are based largely on the language used.
The article, Prescription Drug Abuse: An Epidemic Dilemma, explains the significant increase in prescription drugs among youths, and drug-impaired driving. The research was conducted by Robert L. DuPont (it was published in 2010); his research produces useful knowledge since raises awareness of prescription drug abuse. Although the research article displays strengths, it also displays weaknesses.
In “Mother Tongue,” Amy Tan describes how her mother’s English impacted her views of the world as she was growing up, which made her experiences more valuable. With Chinese parents growing up in America, Tan noticed some issues her mother came upon with the English language, such as how society assumes that language and intelligence are equivalent of one another. Describing her mother’s English, she explains the struggles of others compared to herself as “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...vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery...that helped the way I saw things, expressed things, made sense of the
Not all people whose English as a second language speak it in the same way. This argument made by Amy Tan in her story, “Mother Tongue”. In this essay, she successfully uses all three of Aristotle’s rhetorical styles such as ethos, logos, and pathos. Tan also notably balances each part of the rhetorical triangle and ultimately led to creating a very effective and thought provoking essay.
Tan uses connotative diction to develop her attitudes towards her mother. As a child, Tan was “ashamed” of her mother’s English. But as she grew, she came to the realization that she, in fact, uses the same English her own mother uses. Her relationship with her mother strained due to the boundaries of language. Tan’s mother’s “broken” English causes tension and resentment from daughter to mother. Tan’s “regrettable” experiences, helping her mother with phone calls and appointments, led her to have a negative attitude towards her mother at an early age. As Tan grew up she realized the injustices found in the world, especially those directed at “broken” English. Her perception of her mother changes as she ages. When she is older, she is “conscious” of the struggles her mother faces. She exudes all respect to her mother, for her mother’s English was the most familiar “rhythm” she has ever come to know.
Tan had wrote the piece in a highly critical or upset tone. Tan never expressed aggression towards her mother's troubles and moved on. During her mothers problems troubles at the doctors she mentions “She did not seem to have any sympathy when she told them she was anxious to know the exact diagnosis, since her husband and son have both died of brain tumors” (Tan 1014). Tan brought up how the doctor had little care for her mother not in an aggressive manner but one of a disheartened or upsetting mood. Another example of Tan showing a disheartened tone was when describing how her mothers broken english was limiting her potential in the literacy field. “Asian-American students whose english in the home might also be described as ‘Broken’ or ‘Limited.’ And perhaps they also have teachers who are steering them away from writing and into math and science, which is what happened to me” (Tan 1015). Tan describes 2 separate problems caused by mother’s broken english to americans that were serious issues and only resolved when Tan would speak her english for her mother. She described in a more disheartened tone to match that of the reader. Reading about her troubles would touch the readers heart in a soft or upset mannar rather than being angry and likely drawing readers to not believer her