In her essay "Mother Tongue," Amy Tan discusses the complexities and nuances of language, specifically in relation to her own experiences as a child of immigrants and a writer. Tan argues that language is a powerful tool, shaping our perceptions and experiences of the world around us.
Growing up, Tan's mother spoke to her in a broken English that Tan refers to as "broken" or "fractured" language. This language was heavily influenced by her mother's Chinese heritage and was often perceived as incorrect or substandard by those who spoke mainstream English. However, Tan came to realize that her mother's language was not a hindrance, but rather a unique and beautiful form of communication. Through the use of storytelling and descriptive language, Tan's mother was able to convey deep emotions and convey complex ideas, despite her limited vocabulary.
As a writer, Tan struggled to find her voice and to balance the demands of mainstream English with the influence of her mother's language. She found that she was often judged and criticized for using unconventional grammar and syntax, and she struggled to find a way to write authentically while still meeting the expectations of her audience. However, she eventually came to embrace the power of her mother's language, using it to add depth and authenticity to her writing.
In conclusion, Amy Tan's essay "Mother Tongue" highlights the importance and diversity of language, and the ways in which it can shape our experiences and perceptions of the world. It also highlights the challenges that come with navigating different language communities and the importance of finding one's own voice and authenticity in communication.
Mother Tongue, by Amy Tan
If I don't receive the check immediately, I am going to have to speak to your manager when I'm in New York next week. The talk was going along well enough, until I remembered one major difference that made the whole talk sound wrong. Tan expresses how she thinks the language spoken in her home affected her academically and professionally. Some of her friends go so far as to say they understand none of what she says, and this is particularly interesting because Mrs. The differences between us and others do not make anyone less of a person. We were talking about the price of new and used furniture and I heard myself saying this: "Not waste money that way. But I do think that the language spoken in the family, especially in immigrant families which are more insular, plays a large role in shaping the language of the child.
Amy Tan's Mother Tongue: Summary
Her "mother tongue", and her mother's "mother tongue", are different as she grew up in the English-speaking world, and her mother grew up speaking Chinese in China. All of these Englishes needed to be represented because they were all a part of her life; they had all shaped her experiences; they were her family language. Your response should be 6-8 well thought out sentences. Yet, her mom had much better command in English than all that was ostensibly showed in her tale. Why are there few Asian Americans enrolled in creative writing programs? But I have noticed in surveys -- in fact, just last week -- that Asian students, as a whole, always do significantly better on math achievement tests than in English.
Mother Tongue Amy Tan
She tells us the different circumstances and struggles when her mother had been denied time and care for her broken English. So, even if Amy's mother does not speak the language within the required standards, the English she speaks is efficient, since it allows communication and that is what matters within a language. However, her spoken English is not at the same level. Tan, was shouting at his boss in her impeccable broken English. I believed that I would be less of a person.
Mother Tongue' by Amy Tan: English Makes Us Different: [Essay Example], 836 words GradesFixer
I became an English major my first year in college, after being enrolled as pre-med. She had cashed out her small portfolio and it just so happened we were going to go to New York the next week, our very first trip outside California. Support your answer with explicit textual evidence. The nature of the talk was about my writing, my life, and my book, The Joy Luck Club. 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.
“Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan Use the text to answer the following questions. List words in the text
Here's what she said in part: "Du Yusong having business like fruit stand. Furthermore, Stephen King, unlike Amy Tan, makes use of rhetorical questions to engage the audience further. Recently, I was made keenly aware of the different Englishes I do use. Both authors use the first and second-person pronouns, personal anecdotes, and word choices to engage the readers. And I use them all — all the Englishes I grew up with. She relates a story where she pretended to be her mother on the phone talking to her mother's stockbroker about a missing check. Fortunately, for reasons I won't get into today, I later decided I should envision a reader for the stories I would write.
Mother Tongue by Amy Tan Purpose Essay Example
And I use them all -- all the Englishes I grew up with. I started writing nonfiction as a freelancer the week after I was told by my former boss that writing was my worst skill and I should hone my talents toward account management. Still, she said, the hospital did not apologize when they said they had lost the CAT scan and she had come for nothing. One time it was a call to her stockbroker in New York. This work made me analyze the way I communicate with people and which words I use in different situations. My mother was in the room. Because of this, Tan is convinced that her standardized test scores were affected.
