Mother Tongue by Amy Tan – Key Points and summary. And through the essay, Tan wants to send a powerful message of how we ought to view people by their beautiful side, but not by their shortcomings. My family's language background is English. The principal method of organization Amy Tan uses in “Mother Tongue” is that of comparison and contrast. English is the window to the soul, so there is more than one type of English as long as you keep an open mind. Are you some sort of an accountant With some Shah Writing account books Where you need a new pen Every other day he asked. Being a Chinese American, she explores the history of her family and the assessment given to her and her mother by others judging from the level of proficiency in English they had. Too bad even Bill Bryson couldn't make this terribly entertaining. ", Will 5G Impact Our Cell Phone Plans (or Our Health?! The Mother Tongue Bill Bryson Snippet view - 1990. The method Tan uses to tell her story was an insightful approach because it allows everyone to relate to what she was talking about. Writing is a dynamic undertaking as it takes different styles and approaches in presenting arguments, as well as in the choice of language to convey ideas. (Linguistics) the language first learned by a child. This can open opportunities for the individual but, as Carolyn Savage explains, continuing to develop the mother tongue is vital to enhance learning. July 18, 2016 July 19, 2016 Emmanuel Mason. She spends a great deal of her time thinking about the power of language –“the way it can evoke an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth. Tan confirms this train of thought when she affirms her mother’s tongue “was the language that helped shape the way she saw things, expressed things, made sense of the world” (Tan 4), which asserts the power of language. Amy Tanr's Mother Tongue focuses on the prejudices of Amy and her mother. It is difficult to practice speaking in English when you can’t practice it at home as most of your family members will not be speaking to you in English. ("Contrastive analysis," 2015). Our editors will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+! There are different … Continue reading "Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” as a Literacy Narrative" All her life, Amyr's mother has been looked down upon because she did not speak proper English, Amyr's purpose behind writing this short essay was to inform and express her beliefs and new discovery of the language of intimacy and talk about [...], Mother tongue takes a firm hold on oner's mind from the very beginning. Mother-tongue interference refers to the influence of the native language of the learner on her/his acquisition of the target language. Throughout the essay, Tan uses simple and easy to read English, however at the same time we are able to understand the complexity of her argument. At the beginning of mother tongue she explains her love for language. The title of the essay itself is a pun: it describes both the non standard English that Tan's mother, a Chinese immigrant, uses and the native speaker's English, the "mother tongue," in which Tan herself is fluent. n. 1. In mathematics, she “scored in the ninetieth percentile or higher” (Tan 5). Language ability tests may cause the misconception that English is a right-or-wrong subject, whereas in reality, it’s a shockingly unsolidified field of study meant to reflect the flexibility that is an individual’s mentality. Whereas in English, she only scored “in the sixtieth or seventieth percentile” (5). That is why Mrs. Tan taught her daughter that spoken English is a reflection of one’s truest self. About the author (1991) Bill Bryson is the bestselling author of At Home, A Walk in the Woods, The Lost Continent, Made in America, The Mother Tongue, and A Short History of Nearly Everything, winner of the Aventis Prize. She tells us this mother’s brief review is a proof of success of her writing. In Amy Tan's short story "Mother Tongue," explain the essence of what "mother tongue" signifies in the story. The Text Widget allows you to add text or HTML to your sidebar. 2. 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 is fascinated by language in daily life. Tan then explains all the difficulties she and her mother [...], TESOL ellipsis stands for Teaching English to speakers of other languages. A consequence of the ever-increasing popularity of international schools is the growth in the number of children learning in a language other than their first. However on my father's side I am Polish, yet I have never learned how to speak it or ever heard it from any of my family members on that side. Mother Tongue by Amy Tan, we are asked to consider how the language we grow up with affects us throughout our lives. 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. The use of repetition in this instance is to emphasize how, in her opinion, there is no right way or one way of speaking English. Through the use of casual analysis, repetition, and comparison, Tan suggests that the spoken word is meant to capture “her intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her thoughts” (Tan 6). "(Amy Tan’s Mother Tongue, 63). 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. 2020 © StudyDriver.com - Big database of free essay examples for students at all levels. Mother tongue is usually referred to as the first language a person is taught, however Tans use of the phrase is much more intimate in a sense that she feels that her English, or her mother tongue, is unique to her. Tan describes this English as a "language of intimacy" within the family but also notes how it diminishes status in public encounters. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Bryson lives in England with his wife and children. Amy Tan’s A Mother’s Tongue The purpose of Amy Tan’s 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 Tan’s mother does, partially because it can result in people being judged poorly by others. Section 1. Lately, I've been giving more thought to the kind of English my mother speaks. She opens the essay by considering her own public English, which tends to the formal and academic. Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014. Symbolism, structure, and tone are only a few literary devices you can use for your analysis, but they are the ones that’ll help you get the most out of your analysis. We have experts for any subject. Mother Tongue book. But to me, my mother’s English is perfectly clear, perfectly natural” (Tan 4). Read 10 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Moreover, she uses the words “broken”, “fractured”, and “limited” numerous times, these words suggest what other people may view her mother’s English. Get your own essay from professional writers. In some respect, math can be easier than English in that there is no subjectivity involved, if an answer is wrong, it’s wrong. Although her mother’s English may be “limited”, in Tans opinion it is not strike her as being wrong as so many people would think. Every glum and purposeful man picking up his wife from work in a dusty Volga sedan is my father. Irritated, he said I gave you one only the other day A new one, what have you done with it? Though “Mother Tongue” is a very short narrative, it’s rich in content. 16 students ordered this very topic and got original papers. ” She uses repetition in this instance to emphasize how, in her opinion, there is no right way or one way of speaking English there are different variations, in this instance the English with her mother is very different from how she speaks English to her teachers or classmates, this can refer back to the title of the text “mother tongue”. Presently, the world studies two major branches of English; British English and American English. Orders:19 We will send an essay sample to you in 2 Hours. Mother Tongue Mother Tongue : I approached a stem Swinging on a reed And asked him To give me a quill. In true sense it is intermingle with our lives and consciousness. This leads to a discussion of the different "Englishes" in Tan's life. In the Amy Tan's - Mother Tongue, she states that “she is someone who has always loved language. The term "mother tongue" refers to a person's native language — that is, a language learned from birth. The text, why do they say that our English is bad, focused on how there were still persistent errors in writing and speaking of Filipino students.You can consider the fact that for most Filipinos, English is not their mother tongue. ("mother tongue," 2015). Sometimes, the term " mother tongue " or " mother language " (or " father tongue " / " father language ") is used for the language that a person learned as a child (usually from their parents). In Mother Tongue Amy Tan, A chinese American novelist calls her motherr's English her mother tongue. It's my mother tongue. Tan can obviously understand her mother’s language because it is so deeply engrained in her life. One of the most prominent is her mother's "broken English." What we mean by the target language is the language the learner is aiming to learn (L2). This can prove to be difficult since students come from a multitude of backgrounds and life experiences. The language we are accustomed to hearing affects our thoughts and beliefs, which in turn influences the type of language that we use to express these ideas. (Linguistics) a language from which another has evolved. Tan belittles her mother’s thoughts simply because she could not express them perfectly. It’s not about how long a story is, but rather about its content. We can create an original paper just for you! All rights reserved. The story looks themes of shame, education, and living in two worlds. However, the essay ends by celebrating the range of Englishes in her life. The Mother Tongue (ISBN 0-380-71543-0) is a book by Bill Bryson which compiles the history and origins of the English language and its various quirks. Didn't find the paper that you were looking for? Mother tongue is usually referred to the first language a person is taught, … The piece has a strong depiction of the Asian American struggles through the adaptation of the English language. In some countries, the term native language or mother tongue refers to the language of one's ethnic group rather than one's first language. By revisiting past occasions where her mother spoke in “broken English”, Tan explains how people developed preconceived notions of her mother’s intelligence based solely on how fluently she spoke. At the beginning of mother tongue she explains her love for language. Every old woman cooing to her grandson is my dead grandmother. In her essay “Mother Tongue,”Amy Tan raises these issues of linguistic dominance. Every young man cursing the West with his friends over a late morning beer in the Summer Garden is me. “Some say they understand none of it, as if she was speaking pure Chinese. She also explains the different types of English she would speak with everyone else and with her mother. 16 students ordered this very topic and got original papers. She also explains the different types of English she would speak with everyone else and with her mother. Mother tongue is usually reffered to the first language a person is taught, however I think Tans use of the word mother tongue is much more intimate in a sense that she feels that her English or her mother tongue is unique to her, and that the variation of English she speaks to her mother is her mother tongue. In "Mother Tongue," Amy Tan describes how all of the Englishes that she grew up with, normal English and "mother tongue" English, has shaped her first outlook of life. By evaluating how the opinion of her mother was affected by her mother’s English, Tan realizes that she, too, forgot the true objective of the English language – to reflect one’s personality in its entirety. If you need help faster you can always use our custom writing service. Amy Tan's essay "Mother Tongue" discusses the … 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. Tan then discusses how her mother's lack of English skills might have limited her in her early years, especially when it came to standardized English tests. She tells how her stockbrokers and doctors ignored her mother's imperfect English, but responded promptly when Tan herself made the same requests in standard English. No, I don’t work for a Shah Reading an early draft of a story, Tan realizes that the English she is using is far too academic. 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. Personally, math is an easier subject for me because there is no room for debate when achieving an answer. Rhetorical Analysis of “Mother Tongue” written by Amy Tan “So easy to read”(p.4). Since the English language is [...], I was born in Maywood, IL at Loyola Hospital and I was raised in Westchester, IL. 'Mother tongue' is an interesting English expression. Importance of first language Of late, the English teaching industry has developed this acronym which is associated to learning, teaching and examination and also certification of the English language. Mother Tongue 1199 Words | 5 Pages. You can use a text widget to display text, links, images, HTML, or a combination of these. A mother tongue is a language a person or child speaks at Pages: 5 (1250 words) “Mother Tongue” Analysis Pages: 3 (783 words) Analysis “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan Pages: 2 (388 words) Are We Losing Our Mother Tongue Pages: 2 (311 words) The Importance of Mother Tongue in Psychotherapy Pages: 9 (2590 words) However, she comes to a revelation that quality of expression has no relation with quality of thought. She realizes this when her mother attends one of Tan's lectures. Throughout the story Amy highlights the consequences she and her mother faced because of speaking [...], In her article Mother Tongue, Amy Tan explained how her family background, her mother broken structure of English has affected her life in overall which led her into struggling of finding her own identity. Tan expresses this when saying she wanted to capture what language ability tests cannot reveal about her mother. Mother-tongue refers to one's native language or parent language. She resolves to write using the range of English that she has used in her life, creating a vibrant story that eventually became the bestselling novel "The Joy Luck Club. Like many languages, English has a number of gender-specific terms that don’t refer to gender-specific ideas and concepts. When a writer crafts a text, the purpose is to inform or persuade the audience on a given topic, or provide answers to a given issue. Also called a first language, dominant language, home language, and native tongue (although these terms are not necessarily synonymous). Mother tongue is about the struggles that the author has with her mothers broken English. This example has been uploaded by a student. But you can one from professional essay writers. Is the Coronavirus Crisis Increasing America's Drug Overdoses. In Amy Tans essay “Mother Tongue”, Tan reveals how she was sculpted into the successful writer she is from the struggles of language speaking her mother had to face. ), The Secret Science of Solving Crossword Puzzles, Racist Phrases to Remove From Your Mental Lexicon. Amy Tan suggests a shift in the approach English writing be taught and made to aid in avoiding language speaking barriers. Amy Tan ends her essay, “Mother Tongue” with this short and even grammatically wrong sentence. The hospital staff failed to pay her mother the respect that was due solely based on the premise that she couldn't speak good enough English (as per their standards). Tan confesses that “she was ashamed of her English” (Tan 4). Mother tongue commonly means the language first learned by a person, but for the author, Amy Tan, it has special meaning. Summary: “Mother Tongue” “Mother Tongue” explores Amy Tan’s relationship with the English language, her mother, and writing. Amy Tan, Communication, English Language, Human Communication, Language, Mother Tongue, Semiotics, Empathy, English Language, Language, Mother Tongue, Perception, Reasoning, Sat, Stereotypes, Communication, English Language, Human Communication, Language, Learning, Mother Tongue, Semiotics, Amy Tan, English Language, Language, Mother Tongue, Behavior Modification, Communication, English Language, Epistemology, Language, Learning, Second Language, Autobiography, Communication, English Language, Grammar, Human Communication, Language, Semiotics, Syntax. Communication problems effect people’s day to day lives as it subjects some to low self-esteem and being taken advantage of. A Chinese woman who has a hard time joining one and two of the English language. In my opinion, for every student to succeed in English standardized testing they have to be trained to read and interpret each question in the identical manner. Background & Summary of Mother Tongue Amy Tan is an Asian-American writer whose works focus a lot on relationships between mothers and daughters. Although she had some concerns about her motherr's English and her life throughout the story, but in the end she realized [...], Mother tongue is about the struggles that the author has with her mothers broken English. 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. As a baby [...]. Hopefully, in the end we find joy Ultimately, Tan makes use of casual analysis, repetition, and comparison to send her message and make it loud and clear. 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. This is a text widget. Tan elaborates this idea by scrutinizing her mother's language, her own use of English and society's response to different people's English usage. That was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed things, made sense of the world. Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery. Discussion Questions for "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan 1) What point is Tan making with the example of her mother and the hospital? So, Bill Bryson + cheap equals insta-buy for me, apparently. Tan then explains all the difficulties she and her mother [...] The three main points in the article “Mother Tongue” are listed below: In the first section, it talks about- Amy talks about how her vocabulary was different at home than at school (because of her mother’s background and bad English speech ). By recalling some of her own academic statistics, Tan compares her results in the SATs in math and English. 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