Mother Tongues
The United States is a country that has traditionally been the homeland of immigrants from all over the world. While English is this country's official language, I would argue that in today's multicultural era, we can no longer continue to view American English as one solid, flawless entity. Instead, following in the American tradition, we have to start thinking in terms of "Englishes," as the language continues to be shaped by the vast contributions that the immigrant population has made in learning to speak and write it. Rather than see this as a sign that the English language is in trouble, on the contrary I would say that English is probably one of the world's liveliest languages, as it continues to grow and evolve thanks to the numerous different Englishes that are spoken in America each day. In her essay "Mother Tongue," the novelist Amy Tan puts forth the idea that rather t
Tan's mother's English has often been a source of embarrassment for her, she admits in the essay. This is what separates American English from all other languages - and also what makes America special and unique as a culture. "I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say. That is, because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect. Instead of viewing this phenomenon as something negative, it is more empowering to view it as something that enriches the language - and by default, enriches our lives as human beings. There are those who, like Tan, are taught "standard English" from a young age, but at home, must speak a form of English that varies tremendously from standard English in order to make themselves clear to their loved ones. han there being one English that she employs as a writer, she in fact uses a number of different Englishes - both as a writer and as a human being. " Whenever she is desperate, she calls on her daughter for assistance; when the authorities with whom her mother is quarreling hear Tan's flawless English, they immediately change their tone. At the same time, the language that her mother speaks is the same language that Tan speaks at home - not only with her mother, but also with her husband and loved ones. " It is not just Tan's opinion that her mother's inability to speak English fluently makes her appear less intelligent, even less "important" in the eyes of the status quo. It is only when outsiders penetrate their family circle that people begin to be misunderstood. Tan supports her argument with empirical anecdotes regarding the harsh treatment that her mother has encountered by the medical and financial establishments owing to her "linguistic disability. "I was ashamed of her English," she writes. While it may not always be easy to understand what is being said to us, the American idiom has been shaped by the contributions that immigrants have been making to it over the centuries - and continue making to this day.
Common topics in this essay:
Chinese-influenced English,
Instead American,
Amy Tan,
,
American English,
Mother Tongue,
standard english,
speaks home mother,
american english,
lifelong struggle,
loved ones,
home mother,
speaks home,
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Acceptance Essays
