“Mother Tongue”

June 3

“Mother Tongue” Response Questions

1. What occasion caused Amy Tan to become “keenly aware of the different Englishes” she

used?

When Amy was giving her speech and using her English language as easy, then when she was talking to her mom and started using different language and normal to her boyfriend she realized then she was using the different languages often.

1.      The expression used in Amy Tan’s title, “Mother Tongue,” is also used in paragraph seven. What does this expression generally mean? What does it seem to mean in this essay?

Her mother’s tongue she is explaining the way she speaks and the language she’s speaks.  In the essay she is explaining it, because she is speaking for her mother and she uses different English language throughout the easy.

2.      Tan uses dialogue throughout the essay…why do you think she does this? What purpose does it serve? Which sentences of dialogue do you find particularly effective, and why?

She uses a dialogue throughout the story, because she is explaining the way she has learned the English language and how she is showing how her mother speaks and how she translates it.  I find effective when she has to use the phone for her mother and her mother says they take money, and she explains how she is concerned and needs to understand about the money in an English proper way.  Also at the end of the book when she talks about her mom says it’s a very easy book to read. 

4. In what ways did outsiders (like bankers and waiters) make judgments of Tan’s mother

because of her language? Do you think the judgments where deliberate or unconscious on their part? Explain.

I believe they find it hard to understand sometimes, but I don’t think they judge her for not knowing the language very well.  I believe they were deliberate, they try to understand and do what they think she says, but sometimes miscommunication happens

1.      Growing up, how was Tan’s perception of her mother influenced by the way she spoke?

Her mother couldn’t speak that well after coming to the U.S. and she wanted to learn and was interested in it, so it coming easy to her she learned and was able to help translate for her mother.  It gave her the opportunity to learn the different ways to speak English and a broader topic to eventually write her book that was easy for her mother to read.

ESSAY

You are what you say I believe shows people how you are and your personality to others.  When I was a child learning to talk I couldn’t say my S’s and I went to a speech therapist and they said I would grow out of it, which I did but my family was concerned.  So they would have to explain my lisp to other people and finally it went away and the issue was over with. People did have to think that I would have a speech impediment when I was older.  Growing up it took me awhile to talk, but once I started talked I never shut up when I was younger.  For example, driving down the road I would as my parents a million questions such as why?? What are those power lines, why are they there, why does that car have those wheels, just silly questions that I wondered about.  As I noticed my 4 year old nephew does as well.  I think I was just inquisitive, which I still am today.  Growing up as a elementary kid, our grammar wasn’t great, but I was there to learn and try to learn the proper way to speak English, and learn sentences.   Moving on to junior high you start to get an attitude and think you are 13 going on 20 and you kind of follow your friends and see and act how they do, not really caring. The language towards adults you are proper, but with your friends out to the movies you act however you want not really caring.  Moving on to high school, you begin to mature more.  You realize its important how to act around other people and the words and language you use.  When you go to friend’s parent’s house you act nice help clean up dinner and don’t cuss and act mature for your age.  Your language begins to get smarter and the way you act changes when growing up. 

            Being in college and seeing the difference from freshman to senior year is a drastic change.  Coming into college you are mature, but your 18 and want to be on your own when you don’t really realize how being on your own is and you want to be free, go out with all your friends whenever you want come home whenever you want.  You have to be responsible and be able to make it to class and on time to work to pay the bills.  Maturing in a responsible way in college and being a freshman changes your attitude to having fun with your friends and talking at parties.  You meet so many people and new friends.  The language is more about what are you going to school for where do you work are you from here.  Then moving on to middle years of college you turning twenty one and you still are having fun and do the whole bar scene and just want to have a blast.  Becoming older is more maturing and you realize you become more proper without even realizing it.  To adults and family and friends, you ask more questions and vise verso and carry on a conversation and are interested.  Rather than being 16 and not caring about anything but being able to drive and hang out with friends.  I believe the older you become the smarter your language gets, and the communication with one another becomes stronger.  Ending college, you begin to get over the bar scene and enjoy hanging out at home on the weekends or just hanging out at a friend’s house by the fire.  You don’t have to go out and drink, you can enjoy be just being you self.  As being older, I realize I have matured a lot in my day, and still will be maturing.  Once I get a career you have to grow up and make big steps in your life.  My language will still change and still become mature with time.

            Throughout life my language shaped me.  I have a little bit of slang and say

“y’all” and I don’t even notice it, so when I talk to people that don’t know me and I say it when I should be saying what are you guys doing, I say y’all and they catch me off guard and tell me you must have an accent, which I don’t at all that’s the most slang I use in that area.  I also played soccer and like to work out, so talking going to run and workout people understand me in that way.  My hobbies and explaining I like hunting, and being able to talk hunting with someone compared to someone that doesn’t have a clue, these languages and hobbies shape me.  As I grow older I become more mature and people see who I am.