>> Then evaluate her message. -talking to her mom "My mother was in the room", Tan quotes a "terrible line" she once wrote "That was my mental quandary in its nascent state." What argument is Tan making here about language and its - eNotes She reads the Forbes report, listens to Wall Street Week, converses daily with her stockbroker, reads all of Shirley MacLaine's books with ease--all kinds of things I can't begin to understand. 2. She had cashed out her small portfolio and it just so happened we were going to go to New York the next week, our very first trip outside California. Eden Meirow is a full-time copywriter and part-time freelance writer. Tan is very attached to her mothers English to the point that she doesnt want to refer to it as broken. To her it symbolizes home because its the English she grew up with. Here is the text: http://www.umsl.edu/~alexanderjm/Mother%20Tongue%20by%20. Amy Tan "Mother Tongue" How do you want to study today? "How Poetry Comes to Me" TPCASTT // Gary Snyd, "Common Ground" TPCASTT // Judith Ortiz Cofer, SpringBoard English Language Arts: Grade 10, myPerspectives: English Language Arts, California (Grade 9, Volume 1), Glencoe Literature Course 4: The Readers Choice. Indeed, her mother read drafts of her work. The "different Englishes" talked about in the essay range from perfect to broken english. She says even her husband started speaking this kind of English together and that it has come to represent intimacy. 3. Accessed 2 May 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. You should know that my mother's expressive command of English belies how much she actually understands. And when the doctor finally called her daughter, me, who spoke in perfect English -- lo and behold -- we had assurances the CAT scan would be found, promises that a conference call on Monday would be held, and apologies for any suffering my mother had gone through for a most regrettable mistake. Amy Tan born in 1952 in California to Chinese immigrants. What motivates her to make such an argument? How could I go about writing four pages about the essay "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan, citing two or more different authors to support my claims? She goes from being ashamed of her mothers speakingfeeling that other people will judge her familyto being proud of the rich culture behind her mothers English. I didn't see, I heard it. Review terms and definitions. Like other children of immigrants to America, the perceptions of her language abilities almost limited her career path in math or science, yet Tan eventually realized her own American Dream of becoming a full-time writer. Answers will vary widely, depending on students' personal experiences, situations, and viewpoints. 8, Tan)". ~"iW]JL^kP(K/N\' |! It is the simple difference between theory and practice. But they seem just as bad, as if everything is limited, including people's perceptions of the limited English speaker. By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University). Some say they understand 80 to 90 percent. Students may conclude that Tan and her mother did not have a close relationship if they support this opinion with valid examples. Why? Identify the message of Tan's essay, "Mother Tongue." -speech-like; "I was giving a talk to a large group of people." Amy Tan's essay "Mother Tongue" is a wonderful tale that addresses the substance of languages and how language is not only a tool of communication, but a sociological tool of measuring individual worth. Illustrate your observations with examples from Tan's essay, your own experience, or others you know. And Tan drew on all the Englishes, plural, that she knew: the broken English her mother used, the simple English Tan used when talking to her mother, the watered-down Chinese her mother used, and her mothers internal language which conveyed her passion, intent, imagery, and the nature of her thoughts. As the second generation of Chinese immigrants, Tan faces more problems than her peers do. Edit. Tan even says that her mother was one of her draft readers for her own book series. Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery. Although Amy Tan was born in the United States, her writing is shaped to a great degree by the immigrant experience. It is not simply, as she first thought, that one type of English is correct and the other incorrect. b. Tan refers to how much language impacts/changes our lives. Tan, by contrast, used standard English what used to be referred to, in loaded phrases, as correct or proper English and was thus able to succeed in getting herself, and by extension her mother, taken seriously by others. 1 2 . What is so terrible about that line, -she wrote sentences that she thought to be wittily crafted sentences, sentences that would finally prove that she had mastery over the English language Discuss how this is present in her writing of "Mother Tongue. This text is a great starting point for discussions on culture, language and more. Respect for making big celebration, he shows up. What is the context of Mother Tongue? I've been giving more thought to the kind of English my mother speaks. Use Tan's ideas about different kinds of English from "Mother Tongue" as a basis to consider the kinds of English you encounter every day. Her first novel, The Joy Luck Club, is a collection of related stories told by four mothers and four daughters and was later turned into a film. Do you agree or disagree with Amy Tan's conclusions about standardized tests? Chinese way, came only to show respect, don't stay for dinner. "The S, The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses. 2)? Amy Tan, in full Amy Ruth Tan, (born February 19, 1952, Oakland, California, U.S.), American author of novels about Chinese American women and the immigrant experience. She began writing fiction in 1985, and after several false starts trying to find her own style and idiom, she began to write with her mother in mind as the ideal reader for her stories. She points out that her mother is intelligent and reads things which Tan herself cannot begin to understand. 1 0 obj And it was perhaps the first time she had heard me give a lengthy speech, using the kind of English I have never used with her. Do you agree that family members have the greatest effect on a child's intellectual development? She talks about the challenges her mother faced with her limited English. -allows Amy to go in to saying how she was effected by her mother's tongue. indiiigo. I came up with the idea that the author's claim is that one's use of language does not indicate their amount of knowledge or worth, but I am not sure if I am thinking of the right answer. "9 [5 Tan seems to love and respect her mother despite her language boundaries. Get started for free! She then contrasts this with a moment when she was walking down the street with her mother and she used the more clipped, informal English she naturally uses with her mother, and her husband. She says this because it could have impacted her in developing the English skills that were expected in school. Finally, she wraps it up nicely with a note about how she now uses those various forms of English in her career. b. Tan, her husband, and her mother go out together. Tan uses an example of her mother going to New York to yell at her stockbroker, after not receiving her check from cashing out her portfolio, to show us that even though her language skills were sub par, she could still very effectively communicate her feelings and ideas. That man want to ask Du Zong father take him in like become own family. Students are most likely to conclude that Tan and her mother do have a close relationship and should support their opinion with at least three of the following examples: a. Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. Tan uses points from her personal life and from her work to show that there is no need to separate one's language and identity. 7. -Informal - conversational; "So you'll have some idea.." Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery. Though Mother Tongue is a very short narrative, its rich in content. -however, later she decided that she wanted to capture what language ability tests can never reveal "her intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her thoughts. Still, she said, the hospital did not apologize when they said they had lost the CAT scan and she had come for nothing. Mother Tongue Quiz Flashcards | Quizlet You may also wish to discuss some of the emotions that a king in battle might be feeling. She alludes to several instances where people, even a doctor, would not take her mother seriously because of the way she spoke. (Hint: Think about how she defies modern language standards and refuses to call her mothers language broken or limited without putting those terms in quotation marks.). That was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed things, made sense of the world. d. infraction, Identify the following term or individuals and explain their significance. But Tans language, or tongue, has been shaped by her actual mother, whose first language (or mother tongue) was not English, but Chinese. Explain the meaning of Tans title and how it relates to her own identity as both a Chinese American, a daughter, and a writer. She majored in English at college and began writing as a freelancer. Already a member? Its not about how long a story is, but rather about its content. /CA 1.0 While my English skills were never judged as poor, compared to math, English could not be considered my strong suit. Why does she divide the essay into three parts? endobj When writing about becoming an English major in college, Tan said that she had always been rebellious. 20 terms. She struggled with tests which asked students to pick a correct word to fill in the blanks in a sentence because she was distracted by the imaginative and poetic possibilities of other words. Like others, I have described it to people as 'broken" or "fractured" English. Stephen Crane Amy Thompson Amy Tan Anne Tan 2. When this occurred, everyone was much more cordial with Amy than with her mother: promises were made and apologies graciously extended. 1. three subjects In Amy Tan's short story "Mother Tongue," explain the essence of what "mother tongue" signifies in the story. ". Even though language is not an object you can hold, Amy Tan still uses language to symbolize different, more ambiguous concepts. Each story holds a key to understanding her main argument points. Who is the intended audience for "Mother Tongue"? Tan was born on February 19, 1952, in Oakland, California. ", how did amy describe her mother's english, math and science (precise and exact answers). Mother Tongue, by Amy Tan - OlyPen -uses quotes to give an example of her mother's English Finally, Tan highlights the absurdity of writing a book about the relationships between mothers and daughters which her own mother could not understand. Flashcards. Tan does a great job incorporating several different tones into such a short piece. However, Tans mothers English also symbolizes the limitations of immigrants in America and the challenges they have to face to be accepted. I am not a scholar of English or literature. Answers will vary but should include points similar to the following: a. Tan includes the story to give readers an example of just how her mother's English sounds and how expressive it is. What strategies does she use to make this How did Tans teachers identify her when she was in high school? After youve written your literary analysis, and you dont feel very confident in it, pass it along to one of the Kibin editors. She is motivated to make this argument to explain her method as a writer and her intellectual, literary, linguistic, and personal progress in uniting her two identities and to show that these identities need not be separated. Latest answer posted March 29, 2020 at 1:00:09 PM. [/Pattern /DeviceRGB] 2. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. b. eruption Chinese custom. This is the sociological aspect of language. while growing up, what assumption did Amy Tan make about her mother because of her mother's language skills? She says it provides imagery and emotions that standard, grammatically-correct English cannot. What are some good things Andrew Carnegie did? 1. w !1AQaq"2B #3Rbr (para. How would you describe Tan's attitude toward her mother? 5) The difference is in the application of the phrase, which is between general and specific. When she's not working, she's constantly trying to expand her creativity through music, writing, art, and animation. In one or two paragraphs, describe the personal experience that the writer had in "Mother Tongue", and the understanding she gained through her reflection about the experience. 3. An overarching theme of Tans novel is mothers emigrating to America in the hope that their daughters will have better lives than they did. Latest answer posted October 28, 2019 at 10:43:03 PM, Latest answer posted November 08, 2020 at 3:49:32 AM. What incident in "Mother Tongue" makes Tan aware of the different Englishes that she speaks? Tan talks about a few different types of English and in what situations she uses them, but each English form symbolizes something different to her. Two Kinds Summary - eNotes.com Amy Tan begins her essay by offering her personal opinions on the English language. Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery. So I never did well on tests like that. My mother was in the room. In Amy Tan's 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. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. In "Mother Tongue," do you think that Tan and her mother have a close relationship? Tan, Amy. Mother Tongue is an essay by Amy Tan, an American author who was born to Chinese immigrants in 1952. Tan was born in Oakland, California, two and a half years after her parents fled China's Communist revolution and settled in the United States. So mad he lie to me, losing me money. a) her mother was speaking that way on purpose just to embarrass Tan b) Her mother had an undiagnosed mental illness c) her mother's spoken language was imperfect, so her ideas must be imperfect d) her mother wasn't intelligent What is Tan's strategy behind including a lengthy, direct quotation from her mother (para. "Mother Tongue" // Amy Tan Flashcards | Quizlet In this connection, it is noteworthy that Tan chooses to focus on the school tests she undertook before concluding that her mothers broken style of English has been misunderstood not just literally (by some people whove known her), but in terms of the misleading perceptions of her it has led others to formulate. Tan grew up speaking the formal acrolect of English she learned at school and the more vivid, less correct variety her mother used. Mother Tongue questions & answers for quizzes and worksheets - Quizizz English Mother Tongue Deleted User 87 plays 15 questions Copy & Edit Live Session Show Answers See Preview 1. It is evident that Tan wants to avoid stereotyping in her essay. Symbolism, structure, and tone are only a few literary devices you can use for your analysis, but they are the ones thatll help you get the most out of your analysis. Language is a powerful tool, and our ability to use and understand it as humans is one of the main aspects that separate us from other species on Earth. She used all of the "Englishes" she grew up with, giving her more connection to her work, and with the audience as well. What does that phrase mean to you? The difference is in the application of the phrase, which is between general and specific. "Mother tongue," as it is used in the title of this piece, is a pun on the traditional idea. Why? How many subjects does Tan explore in the essay? Mother Tongue (by Amy Tan) Flashcards | Quizlet JFIF K K C Find examples of peopleincluding Tan herselftreating her mother disrespectfully. What argument is Tan making here about language and its connection to our identity in "Mother Tongue"? Tan believed that her mother's English reflected the quality of what she had to say-that the imperfections in her speech meant that her ideas were just as imperfect. Some say they understand none of it, as if she were speaking pure Chinese. Mother Tongue, by Amy Tan Comprehension 1. Other Quizlet sets. Our experts can deliver a "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan essay tailored to your instructions for only $13.00 $11.05/page 308 qualified specialists online Learn more Main text What is Amy Tans primary identity according to what she says in paragraphs 1-3 of "Mother Tongue"? How do each of these shifts in tone help move the reader along in the story? In "Mother Tongue," Amy Tan uses people's inclination to assume as a way of exploring the subject of identity. What is the context of Mother Tongue? defining her mother's tongue and other's interpretations of it (their reactions) -defining her interpretation, others interpretation, and how it influenced her writing structure 1st part -1-7 -awareness of the diff types of English -nature of her mother's English To what extent do you think that speaking a non- standardized English (through grammatical differences or an accent) "limits . C q" eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. What is the "associative situation" (para. The only way I would have gotten that answer right would have been to imagine an associative situation, for example, my being disobedient and staying out past sunset, catching a chill at night, which turns into feverish pneumonia as punishment, which indeed did happen to me. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. What Tan is classifying in this essay is the different kinds of English she uses. Her mother gave her praise that meant a great deal to Tan: I knew I had succeeded where it counted when my mother finished reading my book and gave me her verdict: 'So easy to read.'. Write a journal entry from the perspective of Richard the Lion-Hearted during the Crusades. << Every piece of literature, whether its an epic novel or a haiku, has some sort of structurewhich is simply the organization of the material. In "Mother Tongue," Amy Tan uses people's inclination to assume as a way of exploring the subject of identity. Mother Tongue Questions and Answers - eNotes.com 2. Mother Tongue. The McGraw Hill Reader: Issues Across the Disciplines. Along with her BS in marketing from Florida State University and MA in museum studies from Johns Hopkins University, she has spent the past 7 years learning how best to reach and teach people using the power of words. And all of the ethnic and regional accents in between. This shows how the way English is spoken affects how one is treated.
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