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Post by makayla on Jul 31, 2015 20:51:31 GMT
Mother Tongue is the expression of the struggles of a young woman struggling with her Asian mothers lack of English speaking intelligence. Amy Tan explains being an Asian-American writer and having to speak one way to her mother and another way when she speaks real English. It is almost like a whole different life. She cannot depend on her mother for advice or help because her mother is not highly intelligent. Her mother is more dependent on her then Tan is on her mother. Tan becomes a writer and starts out with non-fiction. She writes easy for her mother, something her mother would understand. She proves to be a very well Asian-American writer. After her mother reads her work she says "so easy to read" I believe this is a well example of the relationship between Asian parents and children living in America who are more intelligent in the English language. It is a struggle because they cannot depend highly on their parents but they learn to live with it.
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Post by tymartinez88 on Aug 24, 2015 5:26:10 GMT
In "Mother Tongue" written by Amy Tan, Tan explains the use of language and that language isn't only a form of communication, but a tool of evaluating your worth. Tan states that language is strange-- not only her own but her mother's "broken" and "grammatically incorrect" English. The lingo her mother speaks is different than American English, and most of her hardships are created through her improper use of English. Tan utilises many English tools such as diction. She carefully applies words like "fascinated","observation" and "achievement." These words are positive and sounds as if Tan is interested in speaking for her mother. Tan remains positive and even sees hope in her, "You should know that my mother's expressive command of English belies how much she actually understands. She reads the Forbes report, listens to Wall Street Week, converses daily with her stockbroker, reads all of Shirley MacLaine's books with ease- all kinds of things I can't begin to understand." This quote says that Amy's mother, even though her English is unsettled, her actions and knowledge of the language prove otherwise and reflect a rather positive side of her. Amy would often pretend to be her mother on the phone so people would take her more seriously. For example, the hospital denied her request of a CAT scan because she would've needed to "schedule another appointment." She refused to leave and eventually called Amy to resolve the problem, being that her English was better and persuasive. The hospital was MUCH more flexible with Amy; promises were made and apologies were given. This is just stupid. The doctors are refusing service to a woman because she isn't fluent. They can't understand her so they overlook all the possible options of assistance and just push her to the side. I completely disagree with the hospitals actions toward her and then Amy goes ahead, fluent in English, and persuades the hospital to schedule a CAT scan. Tan makes her mother out to be vulnerable and feeble. But also caring. She read Amy's first book that got published "The Joy Luck Club." Her decision to read this book is courageous because she is leaving behind everything she's ever known about "her" English and reading modern English, and to make it better it's her daughter's words. It's her daughter's feelings and interpretations. "I knew I had succeeded where it counted when my mother finished reading my book and gave me her verdict: "So easy to read."" This quote is important because her mother despite the constant criticism and ignorance she cares enough. I respect her mother because even though English is challenging for her, she read the book and actually understood it. Amy's mother is brave. Going to a country not being 100% with the language is difficult. But with help from magazines and her daughter she is getting better. The title "Mother Tongue" means first language. Tan is saying that her mother's language (mother's tongue) is difficult to understand, but it is a large part of who she is. She is special, despite the langauge she uses and how she uses it.
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Post by mishellsanchez on Aug 27, 2015 5:30:02 GMT
When you find a piece of literature that you can relate to, often, you are drawn to the author and feel like you are understood by someone else, even if it is just a story. I myself experienced this connection in the essay written by Amy Tan called Mother Tongue. Tan goes on to explain to the audience that the english language, has many forms; some born and reared in an english speaking country might have perfect english, and then there could be people who have parents who have not grown up with the language therefore have, what some might call it, broken english. She also proceeds to explain that the english language can determine how people are treated. I feel that the purpose of this essay is to never forget where you came from, in other words, your roots. Tan tells about her lavish books in which she has mastered the english language, but later goes on tells us that she always goes back to her simple english, the one she grew up with. I find that this was an important essay to read, especially for people like me who have parents that speak broken english, because Tan redirects the audience to her saying that even though at first she felt limited by her mother's limited english, she found a way to break the expectation people have on Asian-Americans, being that they are often drawn to careers in the mathematical and engineering field-even if Tan's best subject was math- and became a successful writer. Growing up in an environment where two different types of english are inflicted upon you should not limit you, as it did not Amy Tan, but instead inspire you to go beyond, to grow as a person, to expand ones tolerance to those who may have difficulty doing, in this case speaking, what may come naturally to others. Language is simply one form of communication and should not be the indicator of how people are treated. In Tan's case, and in many other cases as well, her mother spoke broken english, and when she spoke to a professional, she would repeatedly get the same treatment, she would be treated less than a person who spoke clear english. All are created equal therefore all should be treated equal, a person should not be feel diminished by their inabilities, whether it be physical or any type of disability for that matter, rather should be given patience because they are making an effort to associate. I too have witnessed this situation, sadly several times, and many times is done as a result of personal differences. "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's tongue. Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery. That was the language that shaped the way I saw things, expressed things, made sense of the world." I can relate this passage once more to my own mother, I can understand her clearly, without difficulty, even if others cannot. I have grown up with the "broken" english my whole life and it really does effect certain aspects of my life, but I wouldn't want it any other way, in a way speaking several types of english has shaped me into the person I have become.
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Post by Tom on Aug 31, 2015 0:17:06 GMT
Mother Tongue is about a woman whose mother does not speak fluent english. Amy Tan talks about how when she speaks with her mother she must speak one language and with everyone else another. Tan starts to become a writer and begins with easy to read books so that her mother could read them without struggling. One thing that bothered Amy Tan was how much people underestimated her mother because of the way she spoke english, but you can not judge someone for the way they speak their second language or the way they speak at all because someone can sound like they are not the smartest but in reality they can be. I know someone who just seems clueless and like they are brain dead but when they get to school and you see how much smarter they are then people you would not believe it.
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