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.