After listening to poem written by Phillip’s what grabbed my attention over and over again was how she transformed the word land into language and from language into anguish. Anguish in this case refers to learning a language foreign to you “father tongue”. It is interesting to see how slaves developed their own language to communicate secretly. I have often being told how the tongue is mightier than sword. What is sad was to learn how sword prevailed by removing the tongue of those caught communicating this way.
I can relate to this anguish when I first came to America and struggled whit English language. At times I found myself afraid to speak and felt I would be ridiculed. Fortunately as time went by and my confidence grew, my tongue started to move. Now I find learning father tongue languages exciting. It becomes a new adventure for me.
Slave owners deprived slaves from learning the language and educating themselves, because they could easily justify slavery. Everybody thought that slaves were not capable for social life, because they had a lack of knowledge. Many believed that it is because they brains were smaller, than the ones of white Caucasian man. Douglass learned from Hugh Auld that knowledge is a way to freedom. Auld forbidden his wife to educate slaves, because he claims that it ruins them. At this point Douglas realized that self-education is the only weapon he can use to fight for freedom. He knew that education wont automatically give him freedom, but with learning the language, inhumane treatment of slaves could be talked about and revealed to the world outside plantations.
I am really happy that you have adjusted to the new language and hope that as you continue to feel more confident and assured with your speech as time moves forward. I really like how you bring up the parts where Douglass first learns about education and desires it as a way to fight against the institution. It is an idea I did not see when hearing the poem but seems to bring a new way of seeing the use of the word “language” that really brings out the other emotions of the poem.
Language is such an important tool for people to use as a way to get power. And to deny someone the proper ability to learn a language fully, you deny them the ability to learn other subjects, be independent, and to gain a sense of identity. Like you said, Douglass knew that education could be used as a way to fight for his freedom. It really empowered him.
I have strong feeling about as a newcomer’s embarrassment and I agree with “tongue is mightier than sword” from your opinion. To be more humanity, we should not use sword to solve problems all the time, Douglass proved that way as he learned, which language and knowledge are powerful to publicize abolitionism. As our Mr.King, what a great speaker, he also used his language to fight for rights.
Thanks for sharing your story in your analysis! Learning a new language is really like an adventure as you said, and that’s what I experience now. It can be challenging, struggling, also can bring me excitement. I hope I can adjust to English like you’ve done. Language is not only a mean for communication, but also a powerful weapon to fight.