In the poem “Discourse on the Logic of Language” we are introduced to the idea of language, and how it relates to idea of slavery. The relation is made by comparing the mother tongue to the father tongue. The mother tongue is essentially non existent because the child was not taught his native language. The father tongue is English because the slaves were forced to speak english. Slave owners felt that if the slaves were to know their native language then it would be easier for them to revolt against their owners. The idea of educating slaves was highly forbidden and unlawful. With this in mind slaves were given the least amount of knowledge needed to obey their masters. In Frederick Douglass’s narrative we see a similar scenario when Mr. Auld finds out that Mrs. Auld was teaching Douglass how to read and write. “Just at this point of my progress, Mr. Auld found out what was going on, and at once forbade Mrs. Auld to instruct me further…” (20). Mr. Auld thought process was that the ability for a slave to read and write would make them unmanageable, and in return less valuable.
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I think we picked up on a lot of the same things from the Discourse on the Logic of Language poem. But I did not pickup on the idea that the father tongue represents english and the mother tongue is non existent. I understood both the mother and father tongue to be non existent, and that english was neither, but instead forced onto the slaves as a means of control. I think you must be right though, because when I went back and listened to the poem again it became more clear. So great catch!