In the narrative "From Silence to Words: Writing as Struggle", by Min-zhan Lu, she struggles to discern between two language discourses she grows up with, the one she is expected to use at school and the one she is expected to use at home. In doing so, she uses language as a tool for survival: "Being the eager student, I adopted this view of language as a tool for survival. It came to dominate my understanding of the discussion on the social and historical scene and to restrict my ability to participate in the discussion"(Lu 147). Min-zhan Lu concluded that language should not be viewed as a tool for survival because it is a view that silences. Her illustrations show that her conclusion is correct.
             Min-zhan Lu had to write a book report for school. When she wrote it, she used language from both discourses, her school's and her family's. She realized she couldn't turn it in and had to write another revision. This made her see that she couldn't "switch on and off" either discourse whenever she needed to. Lu became uneasy with the idea that she had to concentrate and watch herself so carefully to write in the correct discourse.
             Lu also used an example of a parlor from Kenneth Burke, where the parlor was the setting for a heated discussion between individuals and anyone could walk in and join in and contribute to it. However she said, "When I was growing up, I could not take on the burden of such an active role in the discussion"(Lu 147). This was because she had to pay so much attention to what she was saying, and it got to be so difficult after time that she would never say anything and thus become silenced.
             I myself have never had this problem so far in my life. But I could see where it would be a problem for some people. Immigrants coming into the United States usually speak the language of their home country primarily and either learn English or
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