Amy Tan’s life was centered and revolved around language. She is a writer and spends her “time thinking about the power of language—the way it can evoke an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth.” It was a pure passion and love for language that took part in her. But Amy came to a realization of how she speaks different Englishes. Spiraling to her embarrassment towards her mother, the inability to do well in English, and understanding the biases towards people learning English as a second language. Hence, giving ignition to a better perception about who she is and where she stands in society.

The epiphany that struck Amy was when she was giving a talk about her book, The Joy Luck Club. It didn’t take her long to discover that her mother was present and listening. For Amy, the way she was speaking was completely different from how she spoke with her mother. It was the type of “speech filled with carefully wrought grammatical phrases, burdened, it suddenly seemed to me, with normalized forms, past perfect tenses, conditional phrases, all the forms of standard English that I had learned in school and through books, the forms of English I did not use at home with my mother.” From this, Amy was not taught how to speak English by her mother. She had to actually adapt to learn two different Englishes. Due to this, she would see the way it limited her mother. However, when she was a teen, she discusses the way she felt ashamed. Specifically, because in “department stores, at banks, and the restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her.” As a witness, Amy saw the things her mother had to endure and experience. But because she was embarrassed and had a limited perception of “broken” English speakers, she didn’t see the way society downgraded and diminished people like her mother. Amy’s mom was not categorized as a proper English speaker. Rather she was labeled as someone who spoke “broken” or “fractured’ English.

Personally, I think learning a second, third, even fourth language is something to take pride in.

Language played a major role in Amy Tan’s life. Amy and her family are from China. Therefore, English is not her primary language. “The way it can evoke an emotion, a visual imagine, a complex idea, or simple truth”. However she refers to English as Englishes, as if there is more than one. This is due to the difference in the language spoke at home and outside. “It suddenly seemed to me, with nominalized forms, past perfect tenses, conditional phrases, all the forms of all the forms of standard English that I had learn in schools and through books, the forms of English I did not use at home with my mother.

Her passion for language and her perfect English is due to her mother. She referred to her mother’s English as “broken” and “limited”, and is rather ashamed of it. she is ashamed of her mother’s English not because is broken but because,”Her English reflected the quality of what she had to say the is, because she pressed them imperfectly her thought were imperfect”. The fact that her mother was not taken seriously due to her English compel her to be a writer. This conveys a bias conception of her own language and that of others. People describe it as limited, uneducated, and due to that people with limited English are not taken seriously, “The fact that people in department stores, at banks, and at restaurant did not take her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended not to understand, or even acted as if they did not hear her”. However, to Tan, “Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery. That was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed things, made sense of the world”

Her mother’s English helped her become a writer because it made her get out of the Asian stereotypes in America. “Why do so. many Chinese students go into engineering!… And this makes me think that there are other Asian-American students whose English spoken in the home high also be described as ‘broken’ or ‘limited’. And perhaps they also have teachers who are steering them aways from writing and into math and science, which os what happened to me”. This realization she had on the stereotypes for Asians made her writer. As Tan states, ” her intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms of the speech and the nature of her thoughts”. Therefore, if her mother can also do this, why can’t she be a writer and portray that in her fictions?

I believe that people whom’s second language is English or grow p in a non English household are very aware of the way language his used around them. I, Spanish being may primary language, am always aware pf the English used around me. many people refer to me as a ‘hick’ or are always saying, ” I can see that you are Latina for the way you speak”. is there a way to sound English? If I can get my pint across, does it matter how I speak? This has always made me ashamed. However, it makes me feel powerful because I speak two different languages and not many people could do that. It makes me feel powerful because I achieved that through arduous work and only own.

The language that was spoken in Amy Tan’s home – by her Chinese mother – shaped the reader and writer she became as she grew up. She originally perceived the English that she spoke with her mother as ‘broken’ or ‘limited’ but she always felt that those labels put a negative connotation on her mother’s ability to communicate. Once she was required to demonstrate her own skill in language, she noticed that she had a hard time seeing things so black and white. An example that she gave was while taking tests, her mind would often wander way past what the question needed her to focus on. While growing up, she began to see how language affects how someone is treated by others; specifically, an individual who’s English is not considered perfect. A significant example of this was when her mother required medical attention and was initially brushed off until Tan (her daughter) stepped in and received a much more favorable response.

Those who learn English as a second language often go through the same struggles as what Tan illustrated in her narrative. For me, I have seen this with my first-generation mother and my immigrant grandmother as well as with my boyfriend and his family. In both instances, a child who learned English in the American school system and with their peers often found themselves having to communicate for their parents to others and vice versa. English was my first language while my boyfriend’s first language was Spanish, on many occasions I have seen him struggle to communicate in situations that require his language to command respect; for example when calling companies to fight for his rights as a customer or even to call the bank in need of information. Personally, I can tell how someone views me by the language that they use when speaking to me. This happens to me quite often, as a young mother and a person of color, I often notice people talking to me as if I will not understand them if they use ‘big’ words or complex sentences. Eventually, once people hear me speak and can hear the knowledge that I carry, they tend to realize that I do not need them to dumb things down for me in any way. Language holds an extremely vital part of human communication and it allows people’s knowledge to be unfairly labeled.

In the text ”Mother Tongue by Amy Tan language played a role in Amy Tans life because she grew up with a mother who didn’t know proper  English and she  was her mother’s communication. Language shaped her own perception of herself because it changed how she expressed her self,  the text  state’s  ”its my mothers tongue Her language, as I hear it, is vivid direct….that was the language that helped shape the way I saw things expressed things, made sense of the world”. Language helped Amy Tan become the writer she wanted to be and it made her realize to embrace where she came from. Amy Tan became aware of her own language biases  in the beginning of the text when she explains how she uses proper English when speaking in public rather than speaking how her own ethnicity/background speaks. Amy  then became  aware of other peoples English biases when she was in school, she saw  that society pushes Asians away from English and pushes them more into science and math. In the text she says ”ASIAN-AMERICAN students whose English spoken at home in the home might also be described as ”broken” or limited. And perhaps they also have teachers who are steering them away from writing and into math and science”. Amy Tans realizes her own language biases when she only speaks her language around her mom she then realizes other peoples English biases when society doesn’t accept  her native language they only accept the proper English.

I think if you know English fluently and well then yes you would know the language being used around you but if you don’t know English fluently you cant understand  what people are saying to you cause you don’t know if the language they are using is good or bad. I am always aware of the English that’s being used around me that’s the language that I grew up with and that I am used to so its easy for me to understand what the people around me are saying.

The language of English is defined differently amongst all people. Depending on how much you know, people consider it perfect or broken down. After reading “Mother Tongue” we learn about the importance of language and how one’s tongue is powerful. From the reading, it is clear that language played a significant role in Amy Tan’s life. As she said, language defined her and also shaped her to be who she is. In essence, the language of English helped her mature.

Language heavily changed Amy Tan’s perception of  herself. Though she loved language and how “it can evoke an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth” she became more attentive and conscious of herself as she spoke. For example, she explained that she’s always given speeches to large crowds with no issues but the night of her mother’s attendance, she caught herself talking a “different” English. She described it as different because it was way more complex than the English that was used between her and her mother. Amy was able to somehow switch the English she used without even realizing it. For instance, a few days after, she caught herself talking to her mom with the English her mother uses, which is not the same from the night of the speech. Furthermore, It was a constant sense of turning on and off of “perfect” and “broken” English. This caused Amy Tan to mature faster than others would. At such a young age, she was in situations others her age would not typically be in. For example, “In this guise, I was forced to ask for information or even to complain and yell at people who had been rude to her”. At only fifteen years old she was facing hardships that allowed her to develop faster mentally. For a long time, Amy explained that she believed that because her mother’s English was imperfect so was her thoughts. However, as she grew she learned that was not true. One’s english does not determine one’s intelligence.

I believe that those who learn English as a second language tend to be more aware of how language is used around them. I believe this happens because there might be situations or possibilities that they’re using a word in the wrong context or they learn a new word. I myself am also aware of how English is used around me as well for the same reason. I have always been insecure on the way I talk and write therefore I am always aware of those around me so I can better myself. Also, much like everyone, we tend to alter how we speak depending on the environment. Different places class for different levels of professionalism.

Language played an important role in Amy Tan’s life. She grew up with a mom who first language isn’t English. Amy Tan grew up speaking a different kind of English. Amy Tan completely understands her mother’s English but some of her friends “say they understand none of it, as if she were speaking pure Chinese.” To her, her mother’s “English is perfectly clear, perfectly natural.” Amy Tan, states, “It has always bothered me that I can think of no way to describe it other than “broken,” this quote shows that she didn’t like to say her mom spoke “broken” English. She was embarrassed of the way her mom spoke English. Growing up, speaking “broken” English affected the results she received on certain exams. She didn’t do poorly on those exams but she knew English just wasn’t her best subject. She believed that her abilities in math and science were stronger due to achieving higher grades in those subjects. She started to become aware of her own language while she was giving a speech in front of her mom and a group of people. While she was speaking, she realized that she was speaking a different way, a way that her mom wasn’t familiar with. She speaks English one way to her mom and another way to other people.

I think many people who learn English as a second language or are raised in non- English households are constantly aware of the language that is used around them. People are always listening to the conversations of others. While they’re are listening, they notice the slang people use and the way people say certain sentences. Hearing others talk in their community can influence the way they speak. Everyone grows up different and grows up speaking a language a certain way. I am aware how English is used around me. I am an observant person. I often notice slang words people say.

Matthew Rodriguez

The English language played a specific role in Amy’s life because growing up she didn’t like the way her mother spoke English. The Chinese accent overpowered the English words and Amy was bothered by it. Amy said, “I was ashamed of her English. I believe that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say…she expressed them imperfectly, her thoughts were imperfect.” Amy’s mother having what she agreed was “broken English” pushed Amy to learn the standardized format of the English language. Through this transition in language Amy’s language bias is recognized as she abandons her native tongue for a language that is more modern and recognized.

English shaped Amy’s perception of herself because she used English as a way to manifest the lifestyle she wanted to live and the goals she wanted to set for herself. Amy not liking her mother’s version of English allowed her to learn the “correct” way to speak the language but it also revealed to her the people in society that treat her mother negatively because of it and I think it opened her eyes to be more empathetic towards her mother and actually support her and no longer be embarrassed but more of an advocate for her mother at the store, over the phone, in the hospital when she wasn’t getting her MRI scans and even at the bank when they wouldn’t provide the mother her check. All results of English speakers not taking Amy’s mother seriously due to her lack of English skills.

Amy acknowledges societal perception of the English language and states how people act as if there is only one right way to speak English other than “the English I do use with [my mother].” Through once scene in particular when Amy is talking to her mom in broken english and realized that it’s natural for her to speak to her mother in that native tongue it seemed that she noticed her own language bias of not wanting to hear her mother speak it, but how she automatically speaks in that tongue consciously when speaking to her mother. Amy said “It’s my mother’s tongue. Her language as I hear it, is vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery. This was the language that helped me shape the way I saw things, expressed things, made sense of the world.” Here we see the importance of language that is taught to us growing up and how it molds us into the people we are today. She shows how language can play a vital role in one’s life and upbringing and helps to shape your identity.

I think that many people who learn English as a second language are constantly aware of the way language is used around them because they are trying intensively to learn the language. Non-English speakers seem to have more of an urge and passion to learn English because it is the most common language in many parts of the world and people that know English tend to have more advantages than those that don’t know English. There are many people in my family where English is their second language and it wasn’t easy for them, but in order to work they were more motivated to grasp the format. Learning the English language also helped to shape them as individuals because it took them out of their comfort zone and allowed them to experience a whole different world revolving around the English language. Non-english speakers are very aware of the language being used around them because they are also aware of the biases they face not knowing the language and even the educational and societal disadvantages that come with not knowing. 

After reading “Mother Tongue,” by Amy Tan language played an important role in her life. Amy had to learn when to speak English and “broken English.” Language is an important role in her life because of her mother and how she was brought up. Tan spoke about being embarrassed by her mother’s English and stated, “I know this for fact, because when I was growing up, my mother’s “limited” English limited my perception of her, I was ashamed of her English.” Tan looked down on her mother and was humiliated by her lack of “standard English,” enough so that Amy was eager to learn and perfect her English so that she wouldn’t sound like her mother. She even blamed her mother’s lack of English as a result of her standardized test scores not being straight A’s when it came to English specifically. Tan stated, “And I believe that it affected my results on achievement tests, I.Q tests, and the SAT.” The perception she had at a young age of her mother wasn’t super positive but overtime Tan began to realize that her mother’s language was and is unique to her, it also helped shape Tan into the woman that she wanted to be and is today. She has embraced their native dialect and loves how it shows her natural language. Tan not only became aware of her bias towards her mother, but she also realized the bias her mother faced from society, the same society she has been trying so hard to fit into to with “standard English.” This realization allowed Tan to learn to accept her mother’s dialect and begin to embrace it because there isn’t one right way to speak English and that is the beauty of language. Tan spoke about seeing how there are very few Asian Americans writers which she believes is the result of the same fears she faced growing up with being ashamed of the dialect barrier. That many Asian Americans grew up in a “limited” English household. Tan states, “And this makes me think that there are other Asian American students whose English spoken in the home might also be described as “broken” or “limited.” Perhaps they also have teachers who are steering them away from writing and pushing them into math and science. I can relate because I am also someone who has been pushed into sciences rather than English for the same reasons. Tan broke that chain and became a successful writer. She spoke about the challenges she faced and how she was able to overcome them. She is passionate and confident in her writing.

I do believe that people that learn English as a second language are constantly aware of the way language is used around them. I come from a family where English is our second language so growing up in a world where English is foreign and then having to learn was hard. My dad taught me and my brothers that we were not to speak in the same language as our friends when talking to him or to other people. He says this because we have to be polite and show respect to others and importantly ourselves. 

Language played a very important role in Amy Tan’s life, not only did she speak two different English languages but it influenced her perception as well. Amy Tan grew up in a household where suitable English was not spoken, the English she grew up speaking had grammatical errors which many considered to be “broken” or “limited”. She expressed what challenges she face growing up with her mothers language. Amy used what many saw as a disadvantage to her advantage  and showed that despite the background or language you come from, you hold a place in society. In the passage Amy writes, “Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery. That was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed things, made sense of the world.” In other words, Amy saw her mothers language to be rich and memorable, in which case helped her notice the perception of others who treated her mothers language as incomprehensible and false. This helped shaped her own perception of herself because she was able to understand the grades she got in specific subjects, her more English speaking classes were never considered her strong suit. She was told that math was a better off subject because it limited the use of English as if she didn’t understand it. Amy also realized the perception of others were based off her mothers language passed down to her. Amy Tan used her mothers ‘limited English” to bring attention to the unjust actions of others. She became aware of her own language biases and of others when she realized the reactions and actions of peers, teachers and office workers. Amy grew up having to stand up her mother because others would not take her serious. Amy’s mother went to the hospital in hopes of finding her diagnosis but when doctors realized her English was “limited”, they disregarded any concerns she had and when Amy was called about the situation, they helped her mother in seconds. To others Amy was understandable, she was seen as intelligent and knowledgable because of the way she spoke. Amy’s experiences allowed language to play a big role in her life, understand perception and bring awareness to language bias.

People who learn English as a second language or grow up in a non-english speaking household do understand the language barrier and are constantly aware of the language spoken around them. Speaking from a personal experience, language has always been an issue in my household. My father speaks little to no English, and my mother understands the English language but often times finds it difficult to respond in what most call understandable English. I asked my mother “When you hear your kids speaking English, what do you get from it and how does it make you feel?”. She briefly explained in Spanish that she is able to pick and choose words and try to make sense in the order there placed but usually never fully knows what is being told or spoken. I relate to Amy Tan because my mother too has had issues with communication, I often times find myself making calls on behalf of my mother. This has had an impact on my life, because when my mother receives or makes calls where there are no Spanish speakers, I know I have to speak for her. It angers me that other don’t take people with a language barrier seriously because they are understandable and smart in their language, they just struggle putting it another language. I usually think of this situation as if I were the only English speaking person in a French class, and everyone understood everything but me. Why would you treat someone different trying to adapt to a new language?

 Language shaped Amy into the writer she was meant to be. It was a guide, her passion and how she expressed herself. She was raised by a foreign parent which isn’t easy when a parent isn’t fluent in english. It was a challenge she proved she could overcome. Depending on the environment she was in she spoke other “englishes” . With her mom and husband she was more relaxed  and intimate with english. People looking down on her and her mother’s english gave Amy the motivation to Major in English. For example, “ I happen to be rebellious in nature and enjoy the challenge of disproving assumptions made about me.” She was aware that she spoke differently around certain people. Amy pointed out how she was ashamed of her mother’s english because it reflected badly on them. “And then I said in perfect English” I don’t think there is a thing such as perfect english just correct pronunciation. As a teen she had to make calls for her mother to translate. Amy explains how her mom was treated when she spoke english and that it was unfair. Which should have given her a better perspective on how people are treated when they don’t “properly” speak another language. Therefore, Amy wrote a book that her mother could understand and you can tell she was proud when you read the last sentence. “ I knew I succeeded where it counted when my mother finished reading my book and gave me her verdict: ‘’So easy to read’’.”

  I think those who learn english as their second language know how different they sound from their peers. It’s noticeable when someone is fluent and they look at you like you don’t know what you are saying. There are cultural differences in language. Language takes a huge role in culture. Language has many components to it, you have to be able to comprehend and communicate with it. English is my second language and sometimes you can hear my accent. Accents don’t mean they aren’t fluent. I know when others sound different then me. Like I would sometimes say a word in spanish when I meant to say it in english. I speak my first language in public when I want to communicate something discreetly. I can relate to Amy because my mother is also an immigrant who doesn’t speak very good english. Just like Amy, I translate calls and read letters for my mom so I  have seen how people get annoyed by her when she tries to communicate.