Amy Tan is a writer whose family migrated to California from China in the late 1940’s. Being raised in a house with immigrant parents whose english was not their first language, made a noticeable  imprint in her life. In her short writing, “Mother Tongue”, Tan describes the different “Englishes” she has been exposed to. She speaks of the english used at home as “broken” or “fractured” (77) english, but comes to realize that those terms are not the best way to describe the language spoken at home. She argues the english used between her mother and her is just “simple”(80) english. The fact that her mother doesn’t fully construct her sentences, doesn’t mean she lacks knowledge. In fact, Tan’s mother is a successful business woman, who understands everything but its not capable of deliberately express herself in a “proper” American English, but in a Chinese English.  The title “Mother Tongue” refers to not only her mothers “simple” english that is understood clearly within her household, but she also refers to mother tongue as to each individuals personal use of language. Each person lives life differently, as well as uses language differently. We all have our own habits and lifestyles and sometimes use some phrases that won’t be  understood outside of the family nucleus. Giving importance to the tone and languages used in different scenarios, Tan describes her relationship through language with her mother. The purpose is to make this fact stand out. Language is used to communicate, but there’s not only one proper form of communication. Being raised in a family whose english was the second language, Tan notices where her strengths and weakness in education were. She mentioned not having any trouble with math and science due to these subjects being universal, unlike english, always being her weakness. Amy Tan wants to make her audience such as immigrants and Americans and her mother (since her goal was to allow her mother read her book and understand it), aware that no matter how “broken” a language can be spoken, as long as its understood, it should not be considered “broken”.  She argues that there should be no limitations or discrimination for those who speak “simple” english. Tan speaks of the “simple” english spoken at home being helpful within her carrier. As a writer Tan says, she wants to bring a different approach. She uses her mother and the language they speak amongst each other to “capture her mothers intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms if her speech and of her thoughts.” (80)

My experience with english is similar to Amy Tan’s experience, except i learned the language when i was 10 years old while she was born in California. I definitely speak better than my parents “simple” english, but they can still defend themselves in a conversation. There are definitely a few different “englishes” I use. At home i mostly speak english with my siblings, which ends up being a mixture of english and spanish, something i would never do outside my house. At work i use very proper english, even though my accent won’t allow me to pronounce every word correctly, and with friends its a more informal language.

Amy Tang argues in “Mother Tongue” that there are different variations of English used, and one not deemed perfect can limit society’s perception of that individual. Tang introduces us to her life story, growing up with her Chinese immigrant mother, and almost having to translate for her when speaking to others, as the level of respect they gave her mother was low. It wasn’t that she didn’t know English, quite on the contrary Tang tells us, however, the words just didn’t flow into perfect sentences, and therefore people considered her dumb. Tang relives a scenario in which her mother had gone to the hospital after a CAT scam revealed a benign brain tumor, and rightfully wanted an explanation of the results. The problem was, the hospital felt less of a need to fully take care of her and told her the results were lost and to come back another time. However, when Amy contacted them, they apologized profusely and assured they would fix this wrong. To others in society, the level of English one speaks is also a measure of their intelligence. Tang writes this piece with her mother in mind as her audience, because the stories were all about her, and she says it would be fitting. Though she normally converses with her mother in “broken” English, she knows her mother understands her, so her perfect English is not a problem. In fact, Tang says she wrote her book with input from all the Englishes she knew as a child.

When I think of broken English in my history, I think of the time when my family used to have a maid when we were little kids. Trying to speak Spanish with her was very hard, but half of that elementary use of Spanish came out as English anyways. So it really eventually became a mixture of a mutually understandable language. Looking back, I can’t help but laugh.

In her short piece, “Mother Tongue”, Amy Tan explains that she is the daughter of immigrants who fled the Chinese Revolution, and for that reason grew up in a home where English was not the first language. She then describes her relationship with her mother, specifically in regards to the way that her mother’s “broken” English directly impacted her, almost to the effect where it could have “limited her possibilities in life” (79). She mentions this effect in relation to her performance on different achievement tests, such as the SAT’s or IQ tests, where it was clear that English was not her “strong suit”. She then shifts to show how her mother’s broken English even impacted her own self (the mother), like in the way people perceived (and sometimes disrespected) her due to her lack of perfect English. But despite the difficulties the mother faces or the challenges that she herself faced, Tan states “my mother’s English is perfectly clear, perfectly natural…. Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery. THAT was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed things, made sense of the world” (77).

She argues that her mother’s version of English, is not a “broken” English, but rather a “simple” one who’s substance/context is nothing short of the substance/context of a first-language English speaker. Her versions of English between her and her mother (the English she spoke to her mother, and the English her mother spoke to her) were just an example of the multiple “Englishes” she grew up with. The rest, she states, are her “translation of her [mother’s] Chinese”, her “perfect English”, and “what [she] imagined to be her translation of her [mother’s] Chinese if she could speak in perfect English”. Despite all these languages, she states to her readers (which I would say are people who can relate to dual-language homes or perhaps readers who are children of immigrants) that her goal in writing her stories was to envision her mother and in doing so, be able 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” (80). Through experiences that she shares with the readers, Tan shows a growing appreciation for the version of the English language she grew up with.

At first I thought it was very clear to think Tan’s title for this piece was very fitting, as she essentially spoke abut her mother tongue. But when I gave a little more thought to it, I realized that there was no single mother tongue language that she spoke about. Broken or simple English does not even constitute an actual language. However, it seems to me that Tan was able to put all the “Englishes” she grew up with into perspective and appreciate them as much as anyone would appreciate the value in their native language, or mother tongue.

I loved reading this piece and though I would not describe my parents’ proficiency in English as “broken” as Tan would, I was still able to connect with much of what she had to say. I was able to relate with how Tan described the impact the broken English had on her and with how Tan described how the “broken” English impacted her own mother. I grew up in a home with three languages, Farsi, Hebrew, and “simple” English. I was definitely able to relate to the stories Tan described in which the mother would say a string of English words, and how Tan would have to put them together in a clear, coherent matter. I also connected with how Tan would use a simpler English when speaking to her mother, sometimes without even being so conscious of doing so! I also felt that I was able to relate with how Tan described the impact the “broken” English had on her mother, how people would look at her differently. This resonated with the occasional frustration I see my mom go through when she can’t seem to find the right words to say what she means to say.

Like Tan, growing up with several “Englishes” posed a possible challenge, not just for herself (or myself) but for her mother (and my mother and father too). However, regardless of the challenges, I can, just as Tan did, proudly state my gratitude and appreciation for those several languages we grew up with.

Amy Tan’s basic argument is that there are multiple “versions” of English, and that these different versions denote more than just differences in ability to speak English.  A certain accent, or way of speaking English can become a part of one’s cultural identity and serve as a bridge to the past and a marker or continuity.  Tan makes this argument through the personal story of her mother and her mother’s broken English.  Tan’s mother was a Chinese immigrant who spoke “broken” (Tan isn’t a fan of the term “broken”) English throughout her entire adult life.  Tan reflects on the way that this made life more difficult for her mother, but also how it helped form her identity in America and her family’s identity in America.

I definitely speak different versions of English depending on who I’m around.  If I’m at work and talking on the phone, I try to sound very mature and professional and most people on the other end of the line probably think I’m close to 30.  With my friends, however, it’s very clear that I’m just a (relatively) young and unpolished kid.

These different versions of English certainly form different identities I hold.  I’m the young pseudo-professional when I’m in the office, speaking at mature as possible.  With my friends, I’m my laid-back and easy going self, not making a huge effort to impress anyone or act professional.

Growing up in a household where English was a second (and difficult) language, Amy Tan witnessed firsthand the effects that her mother’s Chinese background had on her success and opportunity. Ms. Tan saw how her mother’s “broken” English lessened her confidence, created a divide between her and other people around her, and caused a great deal of frustration when just trying to get things done. The fact that she could not speak as well as other people limited the perception others had on her mother’s capabilities. Tan realized that her mother was not given the same thought or respect that she should have been due to her “imperfect” English. She recognized quickly that in society seemed to use one’s English-speaking level as a measure of their intelligence. This is more than unfair.

To prove just how much of an influence one’s English-speaking ability has on people’s view of their intelligence, Amy Tan gives multiple personal and surrounding experiences where one -either her mother or another person in the same situation- had been made to feel inferior because of their proficiency in English. One example that had a huge impact on both Amy AND her mother’s life was the fact that, since her she had so much trouble speaking to people over the phone, Amy had to pretend to be her mom every time she was supposed to be on a phone call. She had much better luck and a better response from whomever was on the other line when she did so. Amy also pointed out how in school Asians in particular scored so much higher on math exams but for the majority did not do so well in English. This doesn’t mean they can’t write! But because it’s not the language spoken at home for many individuals they struggle with the logistics and proper grammar behind it all. She was even discouraged, herself, from pursuing writing because she was told she could not do it. Look at her, now.

“Mother Tongue” is a bit of a play on words, in my perspective. It tells of both one’s native language, and literally of Amy Tan’s mother and the specific manner and way in which she spoke English and how it affected her life.

“Mother Tongue” speaks to those who cannot understand what Amy or her mother are going through. It teaches those who have never known what it’s like to be segregated from society around them because of their struggle with the language. It encourages people to be more understanding, to be a better listener, and to respect those who in this sort of position because although they may not be able to express it in the same way, they are just as smart and capable as anyone else.

The many “Englishes” that Tan writes and speaks with allow her to communicate to a wider audience. It includes more than just those that can speak “proper” English. By writing the way she does, Amy can be understood by people like her mother, people who can completely understand concepts and stories but have a hard time when they are in English. Amy, unlike those in her past, wants to bring people together with her language and stop dividing people by their levels of coherence. No longer will she let her mother feel inadequate or left out.

Although it is my first language, I can somewhat relate with Amy Tan’s described levels of “Englishes”. I can see how I shift my word choice and pressure on grammar depending on my environment. When I am with my friends, I use terms and speak more loosely than I would in more professional scenarios. For the most part, though, I believe I speak the same “English” wherever I am. I do, however, see what Amy is referring to when she writes about the many “Englishes” she speaks.

Emily Weiss

03.23.2016

In my opinion, what I gathered from what I read, Amy Tan’s argument is that there are many forms of english, and her mother’s form of english is no less legitimate of an english than others. Just because her mother does not speak the english that we do does not mean that her thoughts and opinions are not valid and real, and that in her native language she could be quite articulate, eloquent, well spoken, etc. She makes her argument by introducing her status as a writer and lover of language. She brings up the point that she uses many forms of english. English used with coworkers, english used with her mom and husband, maybe even a different english with friends. She then describes her mother’s english and how she struggles to describe it to people without using negative terms. Some people cannot even understand her mother’s english. However, her mother is quite well read and a functional member of society. Her Chinese is where her personality can be fully expressed, but just because her english was ‘limited’ that does not mean her thoughts were. Tan’s title, Mother Tongue, can be related in a few ways. First it is talking about her mother, and her mother’s languge and expressions. Second, it is talking about native language, how Chinese is her mothers native tongue,and English is Amy’s. Amy’s Chinese could perhaps be just as advanced or fluent as her mother’s english. However it will never take the place of the mother tongue. Tan wanted to open people’s eyes to the different types of English that are commonly spoken in America and other English speaking countries. She wanted to write something to bring justice to her mother, to shine light on a misunderstood woman, and others like her. People did not take her mother seriously, because she had poor english. However, had they spoken to her in Chinese, she would have come across as a much different person. You want to ask these judgmental people ‘i’m sorry, how many languages do you speak?’ I would love to see how articulate you sound speaking a language that isn’t your birth tongue in a land you were not born in. I believe her audience is, mainly, people like those who have judged Tan’s mother, or given her a hard time, and her mother herself. She writes with a conviction, she writes with purpose. She is trying to prove a point, she is trying to get people to understand. Tan divides her Englishes into the English she speaks comfortably at home with her mother and husband, and the English she speaks professionally, and often in her books. These matter because there is a certain English that is expected of you in the professional world, specifically in the writing field. Yet, the English she speaks at home with her mother, is so comfortable, and second nature to her. She does not even notice the transition, it is second nature. This was greatly important when she was writing her book. At first, she so wanted to prove how good her English was. How articulate she was, How wide her vocabulary was. Then she realized, she wanted to make a book her mother could read and enjoy, and she wrote that with her in mind. I speak a very different English in my papers, assignments, with my teachers, in job interviews, than I do with my family, with my friends. It is more ‘professional’ English, it is self conscious, it is neutral, it is polite. With my parents, I am more natural, but still self conscious. There are certain things I can say to my friends, that they wouldn’t approve of, or certain colloquialisms only my friends could reciprocate. I often review my boyfriend’s papers for classes, and feel a bit odd reading these words, knowing he wrote them. He sounds so well spoken, and professional, and serious, and just different. I know he knows these words, I know he is intelligent, yet he would never speak this way towards me, it just is unnecessary. Yet, there is a world inside of him that has this ability to speak and think in this way, and that is no less him than the him I know so well. I can understand possibly 70 percent of Spanish and some Russian but I am a shell of myself when I try to communicate in those languages rather than my own. I know that I lack the vocabulary and understanding. I cannot express a sense of humor as well, or sarcasm, irony, and charisma. I may not use the proper syntax and inadvertently sound less intelligent. This is a great disadvantage to non native speakers everywhere. If only people would understand this, the playing field would be more even.

Amy Tan shares her childhood memories of how the “English” that her mother spoke directly influenced the respect she received from others. She realized how her own way of speaking alters depending on the people she is surrounded by, whether it is her mother or her husband. I think her argument is that just because someone’s native language may not be English, it should not have an effect on the way they are seen and treated by others.

Tan recalls situations where she has had to speak on the phone for her mother impersonating her in order to be taken seriously by the person on the other line. Her mother’s “broken English”, or what she claims other people usually refer to it as, has held her back from accomplishing many things. She has even had trouble receiving her CAT scan that revealed a benign tumor; the hospital lost it and did not even apologize. After calling her daughter, Amy Tan, however, who spoke perfect English, the hospital assured her that the CAT scan would be found, there would be a conference call the next day, as well as apologized for the “suffering [her] mother had gone through.”

“Mother Tongue” directly relates to Tan’s argument because it captures not only her own mother’s language, “broken English”, but it is also a term used to describe one’s native language. Because Tan was raised listening to her mother speak, broken English should be a very familiar “tongue” to her.

I believe that Tan is trying to demonstrate the hardships that a language barrier may have for people. Not everyone is lucky enough to be born and raised in the country that they will later on live in. By using her mother as an example, Tan appeals to the emotions of her readers. I think that her audience could be comprised of young people that can relate to her, as well as be the ones to understand and make a difference. Tan could be targeting Asian American children in particular. She mentions how there are not many Asian American students that are interested in American literature or becoming writers. Tan explains that her mother’s language could have definitely geared her towards math and science, where the answer is either right or wrong. Through her piece, Tan could be attempting to convince Asian American students that they could easily become writers as well, and to diminish their fears due to a language barrier.

Tan uses a different English when she is with her mother than the “standard English” that she has learned in school through books. She refers to the similar English that she uses with her husband as their “language of intimacy, a different sort of English that relates to family talk, the language [she] grew up with.” Although at one point she claims that she was ashamed of the English her mother spoke, she realized that her mother’s language skills have no correlation to her intelligence. Tan also believes that her mother’s English almost had an effect on “limiting possibilities” in her life; she believes that in general immigrant families tend to be more “insular” and as an effect, can result in lower grades in English and lower scores on achievement tests, IQ tests, and the SAT.

Being an immigrant, my experiences with English have been very similar to Amy Tan’s. I used to impersonate my parents on the phone since I was 12 or 13 simply due to the fact that I learned English faster than anyone in my family. Once I became older, I started to speak English with my parents but only around my friends. The English I speak with them is definitely a lot different; I try to use simple words in a way that I know they will understand. With my friends, I am able to fully express myself without any limitations.

Amy Tan’s argument is that languages have a role in shaping our identities, which we can all attest too. For  She carries out her argument by recounting past instances of strong connections with language. She first started by comparing the view of sociologists and refuting it with her own theories. Instead of developing skills from your peers, you develop your language at home. This is true, even more so for immigrant families who’s native language is not English. The foreign language learned at home is more effective because it is what your are grown up with and accustomed to. The  title “Mother Tongue” perfectly complements her theory of the home language being as the better agent of socialization. The language that first seeps into into your identity is the language of your parents, your first ever language or “mother tongue.”

I would argue that her piece was not written for her mother specifically, but to all that has belittled non-native english speakers. She wants those people to no longer belie non-native english speakers and not feel prejudiced. Tan herself wrote “I believed her English reflected the quality of what she had to say. That is, because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect.” She herself is looking down upon these non-native english speakers, so this piece is written for her as well. Personally, I have done what she cautions against. I had a foreign classmate, and when he spoke it was with limited English, so my perception was that his thoughts were limited and he was unintelligent. My mistake was interpreting his limited English as limited knowledge. But only his English was limited, not his knowledge.

Tan divides English into two categories;simple, broken, and watered down. Each with different levels of English proficiency. I’ve had my own experiences with various Englishes. At home, my parents are so bad at English, it’s pointless to communicate with them without our “mother tongue.” But with my brothers, I would say we speak simple english. More casual and easy to comprehend. At school with academics, I speak in a more formal setting. At the end of the day, they are all different forms of English.

I grew up speaking English and only English, so I don’t relate to Amy Tan in that way. But my educational and familial background has always been a dual curriculum: Hebrew and English. It meant class went to 5 pm, and the curriculum contained 20 classes at once, always. It was a great, and I loved it, but it also meant there was an added extra stress. Or 20 of them. A dual curriculum meant one period I was writing in Hebrew, and the next in English, and after that I was back to Hebrew again. It was different than a typical schooling experience. When I came to apply for college, there were classes on my transcript that the people who were looking at it couldn’t read, let alone pronounce.

While there is nothing in my situation that could have been thought of as a language barrier, or handicap, I think that in the same way that mine was a privilege and advantage, so was hers. Part of the beauty of living in America, is that most people are dual-cultured. We have the incredible privilege of being fortunate to be part of both the American culture, and the culture of our ancestral links. America wasn’t founded until 1776. Even if someone can trace their ancestors back to the first immigrants, there is still a traceable lineage before that. And it’s important to recall that both are integral parts of our lives.

Speaking a different language is not a handicap- its an advantage. It gives you yet another language and culture and lifestyle to be proud of.

In her essay, “Mother Tongue,” Amy Tan argues that the children of immigrants essentially know “multiple Englishes”, and this shapes who they are. Tan establishes evidence for her argument through her own childhood experiences. Being a daughter of an immigrant, Tan was able to recall specific instances where her mother was undermined for her “broken English.” These anecdotes, such as the one where the hospital refused to take her mother seriously, helped evoke emotions from the readers, creating appeal and sympathy. Tan acted as an interpreter/translator; metaphorically being her “mother’s tongue.” The title could also have a more literal meaning; one where it references the second English spoken by most immigrant children’s parent.

In writing this piece, Tan wanted to reach children of immigrants and let them know that there’s nothing wrong or embarrassing about their parent’s broken English. She believes that the children should be supportive and understanding of their parent’s situation. We could see this when Tan stated that her “mothers limited English limited my perception of her” when she was a child. Now, she understands that although her mother doesn’t have perfect grammar or spelling, she still manages to stay educated and involved in society. Throughout the piece, it seemed as if Tan was hinting at a secondary audience of Americans who don’t have any non-native relatives. She wanted to expose the injustices against non-native speakers; Tan showed how mistreated and belittled someone can be for not being able to speak fluent English. Its important for people to withhold their initial, unwarranted judgments of others.

Tan broke up the “Englishes” she speaks into “simple” (the English used to communicate with her mother), “broken” (her mother’s English), and “watered down” (her translation of her mother’s Chinese), and “perfect English” (the imagined literal meaning of her mother’s Chinese). These different “Englishes” that Tan speaks are essential to her writing. She uses them to write her stories and make them understandable for all (more importantly for her mother). She firmly believes in getting her messages across to her audiences in a simple way, without the use of flamboyant and complex vocabulary.

I find Tan’s childhood extremely relatable, as if she wrote the essay about my life with a few exceptions. Being an immigrant myself, I also had my fair share of translations and impersonations for my parents (although it sometimes gets a little awkward when I pretend to be my mom on phone calls). Although both my parents have limited abilities to speak English, that has never affected my respect and admiration for their accomplishments and what they’ve been able to do for me. I’ve actually always noticed the vast difference in the way I communicate with family, friends, and teachers/authorities.

Amy Tan’s argument in this piece seems to be that there is no superior version of English and that language is more about the message that one is trying to convey and less about speaking grammatically correct. She makes her argument by giving examples from her childhood and personal experiences of growing up in a bilingual home where she was the one who seemed to speak the clearest version of English. It was obvious from the accounts she was giving that English was not the first language spoken in her home. Tan is explaining how there are different ways to do things and say certain things and that there isn’t only one correct way.

The title Mother Tongue can relate to her piece because it might be referring to the simplicity of the piece and the ease with which her mother can read it.  The title relates to her argument and the reason she wrote this is because even though English might come naturally to her, she still speaks the way that her mother does occasionally, in a way its her ‘mother tongue.’ The target audience of this piece seems to be her mother in particular and also as a more general message to others who are dealing with similar types of different Englishes in their lives.  You can tell that her mother is her audience because at the end of the piece she feels a sort of satisfaction when her mother says “so easy to read.” Tan divides the Englishes she speaks into various categories which are the English she spoke to her mother in, the broken English her mother spoke to her in, the watered down version of Chinese into English, and the English she spoke around colleagues and friends.

English has always been my first language but with both of my parents speaking different languages, Russian and Hebrew, the English that I speak at home is a little different from the English I speak with friends or teachers. Growing up my parents spoke mainly English to me because that was the way that they communicated with each other since they didn’t really speak each others languages. But sometimes I’ll add in words that are in either Russian or Hebrew when speaking to my parents in English without even realizing it. I think when speaking to friends and teachers I might subconsciously be a little more thoughtful of what I’m saying or how I’m saying it. With close friends who speak either Russian or Hebrew I might speak to them in that language but I find myself mainly speaking English whether it be the mix of English and other languages I speak at home or what others might consider to be ‘proper’ English.

Amy Tan describes a situation where her mother speaks perfect English to some, but may come across differently to others. It kind of reminded me of what a metaphor is, where it could be words without a meaning, but with practice or in certain context it could make perfect sense. Tan is describing that there are different ways to do things and there is not necessarily only one correct way. Amy’s mother may speak English and some people may understand her but even if others don’t, it doesn’t make the way she speaks, wrong. Amy’s audience probably connects to many people in similar situations as her mother to make them feel there are other people in the same situation and they should not be discriminated against because of a language barrier. Especially in this case of her mother, she does not even feel that barrier exists. Mother Tongue shows that this piece could also be made for her mother to read because it is written in a simple language to understand. Sometimes I think people view people with language barriers as “stupid”. People may view others that way because they might not understand something simple or rather obvious, but it is not the concept that makes it difficult for them, it may just be the wording or language, where they might simply not understand what is being asked of them. When Amy’s mother was discriminated against when needed medical supervision, doctors might have had this view about her, but when they spoke to Amy and realized Amy and in fact her mother as well are not clueless in the slightest, they were promised the CAT scan would be found and a conference call would be held immediately, where beforehand they thought they could get away with telling her mother they lost it.

English has always been my first language and is always spoken in my house because my parents grew up in America, but I do have a story that this article reminded me of. My grandparents are also from America and speak English, however my grandmother is from Brooklyn and has a strong accent. My mom is from Miami and does not have an accent, but for some reason, any time my mom picks up the phone and speaks to my grandmother she speaks back in a Brooklyn accent with her and naturally copies it back. This represents how people adapt to different languages and base their responses off who they are talking to.

Amy Tans short article, “Mother Tongue” makes an argument that can relate to many kids whose language English might not be their first language. The argument that she makes is that the English language can spoken in many ways. Tan explained that she first noticed that she used English in different ways when she spoke with her mother. She experienced different times where she had to speak a different type of English. She would have to translate to her mother as she was growing up. For example, she would have to act as a grown up and speak over the phone regarding their paycheck with an investor. The title “Mother Tongue” definitely relate to her her argument. In fact, the purpose of this writing is that even though English comes to her naturally, her language that she learned was her mom’s language and still continues to use it. This writing is target to her mother, that’s her audience. She keeps her mother in mind when writing other pieces. She feels satisfy when her mother says, “so easy to read.” There are different types of “English” she speaks. She broke it down to three categories. The first type is the English she speaks with her mother, she calls this “simple,” the second type was the English her mother spoke to her she called this her “broken” English. The last way she spoke was described as “water down.” It was what she imagined to be her (mothers) translation of her Chinese if she could speak in perfect English. These divisions are important to her because it depends who she speaking to and then she would have to transition to that certain English. It affects her as a writer because she has to think who her audience when she is writing. The way she thinks and puts her words on paper and it depends on what English she is speaking.

I liked this piece of writing because I can relate to it. English is not my first language, Spanish is. Growing up I had the same situations where I would have to translate to my mother what someone was telling her. I didn’t mind it because I knew that she couldn’t fully understand it and she tried her best to understand it. As time went on, she now understands it and can speak some of it. But I can relate that my mother and Tan’s mother both have used “broken” language to get their points across. Also I used simple language with my mother when I was growing up. I do speak different types of English when I am at work, school, at home or even when I am with my friends. For example, I could use slang English with my friends and not use that type of English at work. I think mostly everyone has spoken different English depending where they are at.

Amy Tan was raised by her mother. She always had to be a translator for her mother because her mother’s English was “broken.” People have different “eyes”/ attitude towards her mother because she does not speak proper English. They treat her differently and disrespect her. Tan’s main argument is that there are many forms of English and all of them can be “right,” depending on how close are they with people who are English Secondary Language students. For example, in my neighborhood, I always encounter people pronouncing “Thank you” as “Xang Qu.” However, as I got use to my neighbors saying it, I just accept it very normal, as they are trying to say “Thank you”. I do not know why I did not bother to correct them, maybe I want to preserve their own language.

Tan goes on about making her argument by giving examples of how English is used by people from different backgrounds. For example, she gave a paragraph about how her mother speaks English. To Tan, it makes sense because she understands her, but to other native English speakers, it is a confusion. This piece mostly focuses on her mother and how her mother is associated with English; this is why the title is called “Mother Tongue.” It is because of that tongue that makes her speak. It might not be proper English, but it is English. Her purpose is to show that language is not fix; it is changing everyday.

Her primary audience is her mother, that’s why she wrote it in simple English. Other audience can be people who just immigrated to America from different parts of the world. Tan is emphasizing that do not be discourage if you do not speak English or speak poorly of it. Another audience can be those who are native English speakers like herself. Those people should not judge people who do not speak perfect English. They do not know who they are as a person. Everyone should be understanding; give them full attention and be supportive. There are the Englishes that are “broken”, “simple”, and “watered down”. All these different Englishes makes up of who Tan is. It is through her mother that she experienced all these. As a writer, she includes the whole package in her writing, and that’s how she had written a piece that is simple and easy to read.

At home, I mostly speak Cantonese with my parents. I speak English with my siblings and I talk freely with whatever I have in mind. I speak informal with my friends, sometimes in Cantonese or Mandarin and even joke with them in Chinese. I speak proper English with my Professors and with my employers, I speak Cantonese and English. In my neighborhood, everyone is mainly Chinese, so I usually speak Cantonese or Mandarin, even though I’m not good in Mandarin.

Growing up with a bilingual background, Amy Tan serves as a translator/interpreter for her mother. While her English is characterized as “broken” and “limited”, Amy feels those are a pejorative term. It’s as if there’s something wrong with the way her mother speaks English. She hints that people’s perspective of somebody’s fluency in English is based on how familiar the person is with someone who’s ESL. The title “Mother Tongue” is both literal and metaphorical. The literal “mother tongue” is when her mother is using her tongue to actually speak English while the metaphorical “mother tongue” is a person’s native language.

As she states, Tan wrote this essay for her mother. It is written with simple diction. As her mother commented, she can understand the majority of what’s written. She bluntly states that any critic has no impact on her other than her mother, Tan’s primary audience. It’s to highlight the struggles as an ESL person and how the way the sentences are formed is how the person is perceived. Based on Tan’s mother’s experience, she faced discrimination for her lack of ability to form perceived grammatically correct sentences. Tan’s mother’s English is English; however, it’s considered to be fragmented English due to a lack of consideration for grammar. Because Tan has the experience of how English is read based on the audience, Tan knows how to phrase words for a better understanding for the reader.

As I read through “Mother Tongue”, I can vividly imagine my mother doing the exact same as Tan’s mother. With her broken English, she can only communicate simple thoughts and not more complex ones. Like Amy Tan, I have always served as a translator and interpreter for my mother. At home, I rarely speak English. If I ever do, it’s because I’m trying to translate a word into my mother’s language and failing to do so. With friends, I’m quite comfortable mixing the two languages and making a new one: Chinglish. With teachers and employers, I have certain diction to seem more professional and mature. It would be inappropriate to be informal and speak casually (slang).

As we all know English language has a long and interesting history. Amy Tan’s story tells us about English or American language? Do we all know that English language and American a similar but still different? On my opinion the argument of the writer is that there is no rules in language we can implement and use with every conversation we have. It’s not a math or science where we can you the same rule for every equation. And different rule for another one. The title “Mother Tongue” is just trying to give us an idea from the first words of the story, that this story would be not about what words you’re using, it is going about what you mean when you’re telling this words and what people understand when they hear it. From the history of the United States of America we all came from different parts of the world where we used, maybe similar, maybe different language in our daily life, but when we came here we get a necessity to communicate and cooperate. So the audience is the people who came to this country and adopt the English as the second language, basically all of us. This story is about the people who is using English as the first language, it tells them not to judge people for whom English is native, but also for ESL people who shouldn’t be afraid, and get closed from outside world, but to speak and succeed in learning English and become part of society. It is important for her because of two reasons, first she came from the family of immigrants where English wasn’t the first language, she learned it and become a writer and the second, part of her Chinese roots, in her mom, will always stays inside of her and she will never forget where she came from.

I came from Ukraine and my native language is Russian. I have a lot of friends from countries based after USSR separation and when we meet we all speak Russian. Over the years I spend in US I got friends for whom English is the main language and I often ask them to tell me the mistakes I make during my conversations with them. With their help I significantly improved it and continue improvement, but as Amy Tan, I will never give up my first language and will always remember the road I came from.