In "Mother Tongue," Amy Tan explores the complexities and nuances of language, specifically the variety of English that she was raised speaking: "broken English." Through the lens of her personal experience, Tan illustrates how language can both empower and disadvantage individuals, particularly those who are not native speakers or who speak a non-standard form of a language.
At the beginning of the essay, Tan describes her mother's "broken English," which she characterizes as a "kind of English that is hard to understand." This language, which is influenced by her mother's Chinese heritage, is often viewed as inferior or wrong by mainstream society. Tan recalls instances where she has felt embarrassed or ashamed of her mother's English, particularly in situations where she has had to interpret for her mother or where her mother's English has been viewed as a deficiency.
However, as the essay progresses, Tan begins to see the value and beauty in her mother's unique way of speaking. She reflects on the ways in which her mother's "broken English" has actually allowed her to communicate more effectively in certain situations, such as when she was negotiating with a car mechanic or a store clerk. In these instances, her mother's unconventional way of speaking has given her an advantage, allowing her to convey her thoughts and needs more clearly and effectively.
Furthermore, Tan explores the ways in which language can shape and influence an individual's identity. She reflects on how her own language and writing style have been influenced by her mother's "broken English," and how this has impacted the way she is perceived by others. She notes that when she writes in a more standard form of English, she is often viewed as more intelligent and competent, but when she incorporates elements of her mother's "broken English" into her writing, she is often viewed as less educated or credible.
In conclusion, through the exploration of her own experiences with "broken English," Amy Tan highlights the complexities and biases surrounding language and how it can both empower and disadvantage individuals. She ultimately argues for the value and beauty of diversity in language, and the importance of celebrating and embracing linguistic differences rather than viewing them as deficiencies.
Analysis of "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan
Often, these questions are in the form of fill-in-the-blank sentences or analogies, which assume all test-takers have a universal experience. It seems Tan was successful in it, having heard her mother, with her limited skills, saying that her quite complicated book is easy to read. Include your own experiences as relevant. In overall, Amy Tan wants to show that she was just a normal, average student who work her best to have a good grades which would lead her into success in her future. She has a Master of Arts degree in English from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in advertising from Marquette University where she also minored in marketing and psychology.
Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” Analysis and Self
She knows that this simple English is the same language that helped her understand the world, helped her formulate her views, and helped her learn to express herself. My analysis will be divided into 4 separate parts including intended audience, main claim, purpose and situation. Both of my parent are from Vietnam and they did not know that much of English. She is an avid pleasure reader, and she is a woman who is on top of her financial situation, in part, because she reads Forbes and the Wall Street Journal. I agree because Amy never stated she had any …show more content… She stated that her mother "reads Forbes report, listens to Wall Street Week, converses daily with her stockbroker" Tan, 2006, p. Themes: Two Worlds Tan is stuck between two worlds.
"Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan: Overview and Analysis
The second thought related to the topic is that people with limited language proficiency may still demonstrate a high level of intelligence in other spheres. Without Amy learning the descriptive language that her mother used, Amy would be less expressive of herself and not as vocally involved in the Similarities Between 'Se Habla Espanol And Mother Tongue' 641 Words 3 Pages Amy felt somewhat similar to how Tanya did. In the essay, Mother Tongue, we see an article about Amy Tan contemplating how her background affected her life and her education, held her between two worlds, and brought her shame, but ultimately, she learns to embrace her background. She claims to have struggled with analogies and other types of grammar questions on exams because English did not seem simple and precise to her. Throughout her life she recognizes her struggles applying proper English instead of the broken used in her home.
