Short Writing Assignment #1

1&2.) In the article “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan she goes about how her mother has difficulty gathering her words together to formulate a sentence, how her mother was never taken seriously because of the way she spoke, as well as just because one may not speak proper English does not give one the right to look down upon another. Throughout the article Tan focuses on all those certain key points and clarifies how ashamed Tan must have felt, despite her embarrassment the message behind this article was that one may lack proper English skills, motoring skills, etc. it does not give one the right to judge, stereotype another person because one may excel somewhere else besides the English department. However, in the article “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” Gloria Anzaldua expresses the side of the Chicano world and how difficult it was for Chicanos to have equal rights and to be accepted by others due to their inability to accept some ways of the American culture. In both of these articles, the author explains the consequences of foreign language speakers, immigrants, one had to face in an American society. How they differ is Tan actually seems to accept parts of the American culture while Anzaldua seems to reject all forms of the American lifestyle, Anzaldua is sour that she has to be forced this certain lifestyle rather then accept the American culture.

3.) I can relate to both of these articles because being raised in a Hispanic household I was taught to respect my culture and to never lose side of where I am from. Not only was it hard growing up learning two languages but also trying to adapt away how one talks to their family and to their peers was rather difficult. Though just like Tan I came to the middle and accepted parts of this American culture and lifestyle. Furthermore, like Anzaldua I never lost touch to my Hispanic side and took pride of where I come from. One has to find the balance between the cultures and the language to form one’s identity.