Introduction: In the essay “Mother Tongue,” Amy Tan believes that everyone speaks different languages in certain contexts and are labeled based on the way they speak. The author is interested in how language is used in our daily lives” and uses language as a daily part of her work as a writer. Background: Throughout his life he recognizes his difficulties in applying correct English instead of the broken English used at home. He noticed how he spoke while giving a lecture on his book The Joy Club and realized that his mother, who was in the audience, did not understand what was being discussed. This was because he never used correct English in his home or when talking to his mother. Thesis Statement: It is your belief that the use of correct English and broken English is essential in communication depending on who you are talking to. The next time he noticed this in his English was while walking with his parents, he stated “don't waste money like that”. This is due to the language barrier in his household, which is only used by his family. Her mother grew up in China and spoke Mandarin, her English always seemed broken to anyone outside the family, making it difficult for her to tell when someone spoke correct English. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Topic Sentence: Amy assured everyone who met her mother that, even though her English seems "broken," it does not reflect her intelligence. Although people gave her mother this label because of the way she spoke, she rejected the idea that her mother's English was "limited." She highlights the fact that her mother also recognizes that her opportunities and interactions in life are limited by the English language. Evidence and Quotes: Amy Tan realizes that how you communicate within the family dynamic, especially for immigrant families, plays an important role in a child's growth. It allowed her to recognize that perhaps her family's language had an effect on the opportunities she was given in her life. For example, in his experience, he notes that Asian students actually perform better on math tests than on language tests, and he questions whether or not other Asian students are discouraged from writing or directed toward math and science. Comment: Tan changed her major from medicine to English and decided to become a freelance writer even though her boss told her she couldn't write. He eventually continued writing fiction. She celebrates not following the expectations people had of her due to her struggle with writing and language. With her mother's influence, Tan decided to write her stories for people like her, people with “broken” or “limited” English. In the essay, Mother Tongue, Amy Tan goes to great lengths to persuade readers of her experiences as a multicultural family that the effectiveness, and the price an individual pays by ensuring that his ideas and intentions do not change because of the way he speaks, is they use “perfect” or “broken” English. Tan also makes it clear to readers that "her mother's expressive command of English belies how much she actually understands." He uses many examples to take readers into his life experiences to discover this truth. She uses the first-person view throughout the essay and adds her first-hand knowledge of growing up with multiple languages spoken in the home. This was done to validate his argument and shed light on the importance of this issue in his life and culture. Topic sentence: exampleswhich he uses are when telling a story of his mother's difficulties with a stockbroker due to his “broken” English, Tan quotes his mother's words “Why didn't he send me the check, already two weeks late. So angry that he lied to me, losing me money.” Amy Tan did this to give readers an idea of how this particular situation unfolded and how her mother's English affected the outcome. The author's writing is also very emotional and a little angry throughout the essay, which makes her and her family very sympathetic figures. Tan's specific concern is being shunned by both white America and the Asian population. This further entrenches her, which puts her in an equally frustrating position from the perspective of Americans with stereotypical views of Asians. Many people in college thought she was strange because she majored in English instead of math. Individuals of Chinese descent are associated with math or science and this is due to the stereotypes Asians receive. This is based on studies conducted that the majority of Asians excel in math and science. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Evidence and Quotes: Amy also noted that many of her teachers also targeted math and science, and one former boss even told her that writing wasn't her strong suit and that she should focus more on its account management skills. Comment: The author states that “maybe they also have teachers who are steering them away from writing and towards math and science, which is what happened to me.” Topic Sentence: The author used the nonfiction essay form to discuss how language has played an important role in her life. This also allowed her to show readers how her relationship with the English language and with her mother has changed over the years. In her essay, Mother Tongue Amy Tan describes numerous incidents that helped shape her views as a writer. The use of the first person recounts her experiences with her mother and how her mother's use of the English language influenced her upbringing, such as a story her mother once told her about a guest at her mother's wedding “Du Yusong has business as a fruit stand. Like the off-road guy. He is Du as Du Zong – but not the people of Tsung-ming Island... That man wants to ask Du Zong's father to welcome him as his family. Du Zong's father didn't despise him, but he didn't take him seriously, until that big man became a mobster. Now she is an important person, very difficult to invite her. Comment: She may have chosen to focus on this type of sentence structure because it gave readers a sense of awareness of her life and also to make it easier for them to understand the factors that shaped her writing style. Concluding Paragraph: In conclusion, after reading Mother Tongue, it became evident that her mother played an important role in the author's life. However, after further reading, I determined that it could have appealed to a specific group of people. He is also explaining his history to the people who read his works, as much of his literature seems to be influenced by his view of the English language. Amy Tan goes out of her way in the essay to provide snippets of how she overcame many people's perception of her, since she didn't do as well with English-related studies as she did with Science or Math. Cited Tan, Amy. 'Native language.' Wake Tech English 111. 1990. 275-280. IntroductionShould follow a.
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