Strategies Syntax Tone Tan uses syntax to differentiate her and her mother's different type of English She switches from her speaking to different occasions she remembers when her mother was speaking "We were talking about the price of new and used furniture and I heard myself These personal experiences give Tan credibility to create an argument on the English language. "Sex, Lies and Conversation: Why Is It So Hard for Men and … Tan elaborates this idea by scrutinizing her mother's language, her own use of English and society's response to … Louisiana State UP, 2013. Critical Analysis Essay I have chosen “Mother Tongue” for the subject of my essay. 11th ed. Philadelphia: Chelsea House,…. Amy Tan's writing style is characterized by her depiction of Chinese American mother and daughter relationships. Too bad even Bill Bryson couldn't make this terribly entertaining. “Mother Tongue” explores Amy Tan’s relationship with the English language, her mother, and writing. each story is an aspect that we have never heard before. The Mother Tongue is the story of the evolution of the English language, from its humble beginnings as a Germanic tongue to what it has evolved into over the centuries. "Mother Tongue" Questions on Rhetoric and Style 1. But now you have to do a literary analysis on it–and suddenly its short length seems like more of a burden than a blessing. "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan tell us how the writer can developed her English well even though she lives in the middle of family who speak "broken" English. I am not a scholar of English or literature. At still other points, the author uses the third person, usually to describe historical events in an objective way. I am a writer. this is Amazing! In essence, this paper seeks to analyze the essay Mother Tongueby Amy Tan, in … It is based on these reasons that some important aspects of language will be analyzed in this paper. Tan believes that everyone’s mother tongue is important and essential in life because it makes each individual special and unique. How do people react to Mrs. Tan's English ? The book is written from a variety of perspectives. [Threepenny Review 1990; 1989.] Ed. The general argument made by Tan in "Mother Tongue" is that the different types of language that she speaks helps contribute to her identity. For example, in James Baldwin's "If Black English Isn't a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?" In this passage, Tan is arguing that different forms of the English language can be used for the same purpose, which is to communicate with others in a community. The McGraw-Hill Reader: Issues across the Disciplines. This information is rather useful smile emoticon Thanks smile emoticon By the way, DigitalEssay.net provides efficient writing services smile emoticon, Wow! This strengthens her argument because her argument is about the different types of languages that she uses in her life, not about the formal English that everyone learns in school. In her story "Mother Tongue," Amy Tan describes her relationship with her mother, who speaks "broken" English. In some cases, the author uses the first person to describe his own experiences. Each novel is a small piece to a puzzle that is Tan's life. Unlike most of the other literature you’ve read for class, “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan is short and pretty easy to breeze through. Ed. Mother Tongue In Amy Tan's short story "Mother Tongue," explain the essence of what "mother tongue" signifies in the story. ‘Mother Tongue’ is your native language. Mother Tongue By Amy Tan Silvia Hoxha & Mikayla Cox Class Discussion Textbook Q's 1-5 Literary Elements 1. Mother Tongue, by Amy Tan AUDIO VERSION OF THIS STORY. Background & Summary of Mother Tongue. Gilbert H. Muller. Tan’s mother tongue is her mother’s language (a mix of Chinese and English), and she is PROUD of it! Lamb, Robert P. The Hemingway Short Story: A Study in Craft for Writers and Readers. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Mother Tongue. The general argument made by Tan in "Mother Tongue" is that the different types of language that she speaks helps contribute to her identity. Amy Tan describes her relationship with her mother, who speaks “broken” English. Essentially, Amy ending up changing her style of writing because of her mother, who changed Amy's perception of language. Tan, Amy. Print. It is the first language you heard or spoke when you were a child. Tan makes her arguments in a way that is easily understood. Tenley Williams. "Mother Tongue." 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. Tannen, Deborah. She claims that "the power of language... can evoke an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth" (396). he mentions that language ", is the most vivid and crucial key to identify: It reveals the private identity, and connects one with, or divorces one from, the larger, public, or communal identity" (Baldwin), one may speak the same language, but in such a way that one's antecedents are revealed, or (one hopes) hidden" (Baldwin). Therefore, I conclude that society plays a major role in how we create our identities based on language. Societies' ability to run smoothly, efficiently and benefit as many people as possible, hinges greatly on communication and how effectively it is used. Mother tongue, written by Amy Tan provides a description of the forms of English languages adapted by different individuals during their migration to the United States of America and their adjustment to the American culture. The shift of perspective gives the book a very personal and informal tone while still allowing it to cover general ideas in a semi-scholarly way. 2), in order to allow the audience to see how she will talk of her experiences with language and … It is generally accepted that in teaching and learning processes, the child’s mother tongue is of utmost importance. Tan not only uses personal experiences in her essay, but she also broadens it in order to relate the essay to people who do not exactly relate to her. “Context” refers to the larger frame of reference into which a text fits. “Aria: Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood”: Questions... Amy Tan opens her essay by writing "I am no a scholar o English or literature" (396) and then contrasts this statement in the next paragraph by stating "I am a writer" (396) in order to establish the background that she has with the English language. More specifically, Tan argues that the way people speak a language can either connect or dissociate them from society. The main idea of Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue" is the limitations that imperfect English can impose in society and the richness that such English can bring to writing. She talks about this in order to establish her own struggles with the English testing when she says "the answers on English tests were always a judgment call" (400). Critical Analysis Essay I have chosen “Mother Tongue” for the subject of my essay. From enhancing simple things like general communication to creating a viable environment for social, economic, political and economic growth, language and literature have become very crucial tools in the growth of human life through constant progress. What is the context of “Mother Tongue”? 76-81. her stories illustrate her experiences as well as the journey of her mother. Everyone can relate to this because people in her audience has learned both subjects and usually they prefer one over the other or have strengths in one of those subject areas. Amy Tan. While her tone is sometimes humorous and captivating, it still clarifies some serious issues. In "Mother Tongue", the author has used certain rhetorical questions regarding the difference in performance of students, and provides the answers by exhibiting in her writing that "there are other Asian-American students whose English spoken in the home might also be described as 'broken' or … All of it starts from her desired and her motivation to learn, make all of things around her become something that can be learned and take a positive side of it. Amy Tan is an Asian-American writer whose works focus a lot on relationships between mothers and daughters. She claims that the difference between these two are that a scholar studies the English language and a writer is someone who "has always loved language" (396) and studies how it is used in her daily life. She has a hard time describing her mother's language in the essay, so she includes a short quote from her mother in order to help the audience understand the "broken" English that she uses and listens to in her everyday life. Tan uses pathos to portray to her audience how through her experiences with her mother and the Chinese language she came to realize who she wanted to be and how she wanted to write. So, Bill Bryson + cheap equals insta-buy for me, apparently. I am fascinated by language in daily life. She goes into further detail to try to connect more with her audience instead of her argument always connecting to a personal anecdote. I chose this essay because Amy Tan has a unique writing style which has tone that is clear and identifiable. What are words Tan uses to describe her mother's English? Tan describes how a hospital claimed to have lost her mother's CAT scan, but "when the doctor finally called her daughter, me, who spoke in perfect English- lo and behold- we had assurances the CAT scan would be found" (399). 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. Bill Bryson Writing Styles in The Mother Tongue Bill Bryson This Study Guide consists of approximately 29 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Mother Tongue. This Study Guide consists of approximately 29 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - Tan mentions how her experience are different form her mother's because she is able to speak the public language well, while her mother has a harder time communicating with others. In particular, she explores how … reveals the private identity, and connects one with, or divorces one from, the larger, public, or communal identity" (Baldwin). And by that definition, I am someone who has always loved language. The piece has a strong depiction of the Asian American struggles through the adaptation of the English language. The reader is sometimes engaged as part of the book and at other times is a more passive observer of the history that Bryson describes. Title: Mother Tongue, by Amy Tan - mother tounge Author: Heather Simon Created Date: 8/1/2013 6:09:07 PM What do language tests not have the ability to measure, according Amy Tan opens her essay by stating "I am not a scholar of English or Literature" (par. Thus, Tan's belief is that all forms of English, including her mother's "broken English," is powerful and a part of her personal identity. The ‘’Mother Tongue’ reflects on how many people are misinformed thinking that English can be a measure of intelligence; focusing on tans claim, she openly lets the reader gauge her mother lack of good education. If Tan chose to omit one of these anecdotes, her argument would lose some of its credibility because the anecdotes contribute to her ethos. More specifically, I believe that the way a person is seen in society is based on the language, and the type of language, that the person speaks. While her tone is sometimes humorous and captivating, it still clarifies some serious issues. Click here to find your hidden name meaning, "Mother Tongue" Questions on Rhetoric and Style. Amy Tan uses anecdotes throughout her argument in order to establish the ways that the different forms of English has impacted her life. This scenario pertains to Baldwin's argument because Tan's mother's identity was preventing her from fully becoming a part of society, and this identity was shown through her language. Bloom, Harold. I chose this essay because Amy Tan has a unique writing style which has tone that is clear and identifiable. She broadens this essay when she goes into detail about why she struggles with reading and writing versus math during testing. This nonfiction narrative essay was originally given as a talk during the 1989 State of the Language Symposium; it was later published by The Threepenny Review in 1990. Mother Tongue: The Struggles of Communication Communication is arguably the most essential and powerful part of everyday life. Writing Style. Find Mother Tongue discography, albums and singles on AllMusic Click here to find your hidden name meaning, Baldwin, James. In Tan's essay, she gives an example of how her mother's "broken English" (398) "divorces" (Baldwin) her from the community because others have a difficult time making sense of her twist on the language. They further her argument by giving examples of the way that the different types of English have both improved and hindered her and her mother in the United States. Mother tongue is the first language that a person learned. 2. 3. Essentially, Amy ending up changing her style of writing because of her mother, who changed Amoy’s perception of language. More specifically, Tan argues that the way people speak a language can either connect or dissociate them from society.