Blog 2

Language was a constant source of challenge in Amy Tan’s life. English specifically, challenged Amy in both school and her professional life. For example, “While my English skills were never judged as poor, compared to math, English could not be considered my strong suit”(14). This shows that despite the fact that Amy is a professional writer, English posed a challenge for her in school. In addition, “At I first I wrote using what I thought to be wittily crafted sentences, sentences that would prove I finally had mastery over the English language”(19). Even while beginning her career as a writer of fiction, Amy still felt challenged by the language and struggled to craft sentences that would prove that she had overcome the challenge of English. Language had shaped Amy, it made her feel as if she had something to prove, something that could only be proved with the mastery of English. Amy’s writing was her way of disproving assumptions made about her based on her culture and the many versions of English she spoke. The many variations of English that Amy used, either at home or professionally, made her acutely aware of the fact that there are many ways to communicate within the English language, even ones that weren’t deemed proper. Amy says that the term “broken English” makes her cringe, this is indicative of her acknowledgment that language can be used many ways and is not in need of mending if it works as a form of communication.

I think that people who learn English as a second language or grow up in households that speak multiple languages are probably more in tune with the language than people who are native speakers or speak solely English. To hear a native speaker speak the language you are learning makes you more aware of how you and others around you speak that language because you feel like you’re constantly studying by listening to how others are speaking. I do like to listen to how people pronounce their words or what words they chose. I relate to Amy cringing at the thought of broken English because I feel like there’s a misconception that the way people from The Bronx speak is not proper. However, I don’t think that the way we talk makes us lesser English speakers.

Comments ( 2 )

  1. Donika Dedushaj
    Cordelia, I am one that grew up in a household that speaks multiple languages and I would say that I am very much aware of the difference. I agree with you that many people judge the way others speak depending on the area and where they come from.
  2. Jennifer Alcantara
    I agree with you just because you use slang words or express yourself differently from others. Does not make you less of an English speaker. If anything, it makes you more of an English speaker because you're creating new ways to express yourself.

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