She has to tell people her mothers english is broken or fractured. Her mother relies on and trusts tan to talk to the doctors about the cat scan. Why ones intelligence is unrelated to their ability to speak english in mother tongue, tan writes about the awareness and discrimination about unbroken english compared to standard english. The piece has a strong depiction of the asian american struggles through the adaptation of the english language. I have not read any of her novels although i have a couple. Sep 06, 2011 in mother tongue, amy tan conveys all three methods of rhetoric, ethos, logos, and pathos. A summary of amy tans mother tongue freebooksummary. What she is hears is her mothers english coming out of her mouth. Amy tan born february 19, 1952 is an american writer whose works explore mother daughter relationships and the chineseamerican experience. Hasham mahmood english 1030, section 37 september 17, 20 summaryresponse assignment in the essay mother tongue by amy tan, tan claims the idea that we speak different languages to communicate with each other and that our intelligence is judged by the way we speak. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of mother tongue by amy tan. Jun 21, 2017 mcgee of 303 and lectures on amy tans mother tongue, a.
Students may conclude that tan and her mother did not have a close relationship if they. Mother tongue is an essay by amy tan describing her life with her mother in america. Essay on amy tans a mothers tongue 973 words bartleby. I have chosen mother tongue by amy tan because she directly touches on the social and cultural differences that many people experience through language alone. At the beginning of the piece we are told about the different types of english she would speak with her mother and with everyone else. I knew i had succeeded where it counted when my mother finished reading my book and gave me her verdict. I have read a couple of her books and even got to meet her at a book signing. The main idea of amy tans mother tongue is the limitations that imperfect english can impose in society and the richness that such english can bring to writing. Tan describes her mothers english as broken or fractured 40. The novel explores the unique situation of the asianamerican immigrant.
Tan has written several other novels, including the kitchen gods wife, the hundred secret senses, the bonesetters. Describe sandra cisneros and fathers expectations of her b. She was reflecting on her past experiences with her mother and those that interacted with her. Jan 25, 20 after reading amy tans essay mother tongue, i have come to several conclusions. I cannot give you much more than personal opinions on the english language and its variations in this country or others. Amy tan is an accomplished fictional writer with five books in her name among other literary works. Amy tans a mothers tongue the purpose of amy tans essay, mother tongue, is to show how challenging it can be if an individual is raised by a parent who speaks limited english 36 as tans mother does, partially because it can result in people being judged poorly by others. Throughout most of my life, my great grandparents were around. Amy tans mother tongue amy tans\mother tongue language. Her essay talks about how you have to write to your. I cannot give you much more than ersonal o inions on the.
Amy describes how we speak differently to family compared to how we speak to people out in public. Mother tongue is a personal essay by the american novelist amy tan. What are words tan uses to describe her mother s english. After reading amy tans essay mother tongue, i have come to several conclusions. In amy tans mother tongue, tan describes how language has changed her life in so. It is an invitation to see english as a variety of ideas and expressions of oneself. What do language tests not have the ability to measure, according. Its said amy thought her mother s english was a burden. Amy tan is an asianamerican writer whose works focus a lot on relationships between mothers and daughters. Reflecting on amy tans essay mother tongue in amy tans work mother tongue, the author explains that in some situations, she hears herself say things like not waster money that way 54. Her mother is the audience reader for the joy luck club, a book about motheranddaughter relationships. Amy tan born february 19, 1952 is an american writer whose works explore motherdaughter relationships and the chineseamerican experience. Amy tan gained immediate popularity and garnered high praise from critics with her first novel, the joy luck club 1989. Amy tan, the author of the book mother tongue, wanted to use her writing skills and opportunity through this book to make readers realize how not being a native american, as she and her mother were not, can hamper how a person deals with daytoday situations.
As the title of the story, amy tans essay mother tongue focuses on the use of english language by her mother, which she stated as broken english. Students may conclude that tan and her mother did not have a close relationship if they support this opinion with valid examples. Sep 18, 20 hasham mahmood english 1030, section 37 september 17, 20 summaryresponse assignment in the essay mother tongue by amy tan, tan claims the idea that we speak different languages to communicate with each other and that our intelligence is judged by the way we speak. Tan shows logos, or logic, by her analogies to her mother as. Amy tans mother tongue language is a powerful tool that can either bring people together or set them apart from each other. Amy tan tan, amy contemporary literary criticism essay. Mother tongue, by amy tan mother tounge essay writing. Amy tans mother tongue the essay written by amy tan titled mother tongue concludes with her saying, i knew i had succeeded where i counted when my mother finished my book and gave her understandable verdict 39. Comparecontrast essay and outline nobody special on. She loves writing and thinks about how language influences everything. The short story mother tongue by amy tan addresses the reality that the inability to communicate effectively and see the different perspectives of those around us can hinder the flow of society and often block us from new ideas and potential. A rhetoric and reader for writers, edited by marjorie ford and jon ford, 7th ed. She also grew up to be ashamed of her mothers poor speaking skills.
I cannot give you much more than personal opinions. And by that definition, i am someone who has always loved languagetan 76. Michelle blay september 16, 2014 summary and claim of mother tongue amy tan complains of how her literacy on the english language was affected by the obstacles that she had to encounter of how others were judging her and her mom in her essay mother tongue. At the beginning of the piece we are told about the different types of english she would. In mother tongue, amy tan expresses the limitations caused by the use of imperfect english in society and her struggles to revitalize it into her life and her writing. Cite sources in apa, mla, chicago, turabian, and harvard for free. Jun 21, 2017 mcgee of 303 and lectures on amy tans mother tongue, b. In tans essay she quotes her mothers speech to demonstrate her mothers broken english, it was a very trivial story but the thing that is worth looking at was her mothers grammar. The purpose of amy tan writing this essay was to explain to people her love for language in and of. A summary of amy tan s mother tongue free essay example. Comparecontrast essay and outline nobody special on this page. Mother tongue, written by amy tan provides a description of the forms of english languages adapted by different individuals during their. We use language to communicate with others, convey our emotions, solve everyday problems, prevent the outbreak of war, and educate us in such ways that require communication. Dont judge a book by its cover or someones intelligence by her english.
Now customize the name of a clipboard to store your clips. Be sure to consider the anecdotes regarding tans giving a speech, the stockbroker, the cat scan, and tans experience with the sats. Why people perceived amy tan s mother as an uneducated person conclusion. As a fictional author, tan is amazed by language and. Her novel the joy luck club was adapted into a film in 1993 by director wayne wang.
Reflections on amy tans mother tongue, essay sample. By saying this, amy is proving that even though her mother does not know much about the english language, she still feels that her mothers opinion on her. 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. At several points in her essay, tan relates anecdotes.
To do this, you can use intext citations which point your reader to the exact source on your works cited list, as well as the location within that source. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Both of them were right off the boat from sicily, italy. How the broken speech of her mother has had an influence on her life. Mother tongue is a personal essay by the american novelist. And by that definition, i am someone who has always loved language. Have students discuss amy tan s essay in small groups, using these discussion questions. If the authors name is included in a signal phrase, you only need to cite the page number in parentheses. Nicole recenello diana amaya kevin driscoll nimra ali karina arjona keneth blazo amy tanmother tongue summary what i am not in the article mother tongue, amy tan emphasizes the idea that we all speak different languages unconsciously and that we are categorized by the way we. Her novel the joy luck club was adapted into a film in 1993 by director wayne wang tan has written several other novels, including the kitchen gods wife, the hundred secret senses, the bonesetters daughter, saving fish from drowning, and the valley.
Different forms of language and their different roles in daily life always fascinate her. For the following example, this usually means citing the author and page tan 40. In the essay mother tongue by amy tan shows how english does not have only one type, but a variety of ways to be used and understood. In this essay ive compared rhetorical analysis of amy tans mother tongue with james baldwin if black english isnt a language, then tell me, what is. Amy tan tells the story of how she becomes to have a strong natural love for language. Mother tongue is about the authors struggles with her linguistic identity, her mothers fractured or broken variation of english and the relationship with her mother. In her essay mother tongue, although she says that she writes with her intended audience being her mother, i believe her audience is other writers, possibly ones that also come from an immigrant background. In mother tongue, amy tan conveys all three methods of rhetoric, ethos, logos, and pathos. In mother tongue, tan writes about the awareness and discrimination about broken english compared to standard english. For ethos, or credibility, tan makes personal references to her mother and factual events, as well as a description of her own accomplishments, which give credibility to her and her work. Praised for its authentic dialogue and its rich portrayal. People were telling her how her english was not as valuable because her knowledge came from her mother, a second language speaker. The main aim of the study is to point out of cultural racism that is present all over the world.
I like how amy makes it clear in her writing that she is not at all ashamed of her mother or the way she speaks. Mother tongue by amy tan key points and summary emmanuel. Amy tans mother tongue link to story amy tan is speaking of writing her book joy luck club theres a scene below, so in that sense it works as a good example of a literacy narrative in that tan writes about writing something. Mcgee of 303 and lectures on amy tans mother tongue, b. Thoughts on mother tongue by amy tan happinessequalsoutlook. Mcgee of 303 and lectures on amy tans mother tongue, a. As i was reading mother tongue i picked up on the reflective tone amy tan was using to convey the message to her readers. Amy tans story mother tongue 631 words 123 help me. I know most have to deal with the relationship between chineseamerican daughters and their mothers. In tans essay she quotes her mothers speech to demonstrate her mothers broken english, it was a very trivial story but the thing that is worth looking at was her mot. Apr, 2017 in the essay mother tongue by amy tan shows how english does not have only one type, but a variety of ways to be used and understood. Amy tans books focus on family relationships, especially those between mother and daughter, and.
Amy tan has ethos on the subject of english and how it is used in a variety of tongues because her mother is chinese and immigrated to california. This handout describes an assignment in which students write a literacy narrative exploring their use of different language in different settings. How do they further her argument first, you must identify what her argument is. Amy tan is a first generation american born to chinese immigrants. Tan elaborates this idea by scrutinizing her mothers language, her own use of english and societys response to different peoples english usage. The author is no genius or scholar when it comes down to english, but she loves language. Mother tongue, by amy tan home is where the heart dwells.
A threepenny consulting editor and a major american poet, frank bidart is the winner of numerous poetry prizes. Amy tan explains in her story about her love of literature and how her mothers broken english has inspired her to write. Citation machine helps students and professionals properly credit the information that they use. Amy tanmother tongue by nicole lianna recenello on prezi. What are words tan uses to describe her mothers english. When and where was mother tongue by amy tan written. Amy tan explains how culture may effect what you do and enjoy in life. I thought by just reading the first paragraph that i was able to make a strong connection with amy tan and her essay.
I cannot give you much more than personal opinions on the. She holds a bachelors degree in english and a masters degree in linguistics 1973 from san jose state university. Clipping is a handy way to collect important slides you want to go back to later. Jun 01, 2011 amy tan is a first generation american born to chinese immigrants. She grew up taking phone and making phone calls for her mother. This is because she grew up in a home with her chinese mother who spoke english that was. Mother tongue by amy tan meet your next favorite book. She is interested in all kinds of language and how it influences everything. However, after further analysis, i see she could have been targeting specific groups. Amy tan s mother tongue language is a powerful tool that can either bring people together or set them apart from each other. Jan 17, 20 once amy used her proper english to speak to the doctors, they agreed to do their best to find the cat scan and apologized for any inconvenience they may have caused her or her mother. Her mother had a brain tumor and her father and brother both died of brain tumors. How amy tan was able to break others expectations of her iii.