Students may conclude that Tan and her mother did not have a close relationship if they support this opinion with valid examples. She recognizes that her mom is in fact able to comprehend complex sentences in English, but just struggles to express herself clearly in the language. The phrase "mother tongue" refers to the language people learn to speak first. When Amy Tan recalls growing up, her mother would have Amy speak on the phone, pretending to be her mother, so that people would take her more seriously. And my mother was standing in the back whispering loudly, "Why he don't send me check, already two weeks late. "Mother tongue," as it is used in the title of this piece, is a pun on the traditional idea. Tan identify the different categories she discusses in "Mother Tongue" almost in the last paragraph, where she named all the kind of English she uses. 16, Tan)". Why does Tan open her essay by stating, "I am not a scholar of English or literature" but then state, in the next paragraph, "I am a writer"? $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? I believe that there is a play on words with the title, "Mother Tongue." Tan doesn't concern herself with the fundamentals of language, she explains that her job isn't to learn and explore language, but to apply it. Jing-mei's mother quizzes her on various topicsincluding state and national capitals, complicated mathematics, and weather predictionin hopes that she might possess a talent like the children. Explain the meaning of Tans title and how it relates to her own identity as both a Chinese American, a daughter, and a writer. What is Amy Tans primary identity according to what she says in paragraphs 1-3 of "Mother Tongue"? Why? Theyll help you make Amy Tan proud by assisting with proper language and other editing. She points out that her mother is intelligent and reads things which Tan herself cannot begin to understand. She reads the Forbes report, listens to Wall Street Week, converses daily with her stockbroker, reads all of Shirley MacLaine's books with ease--all kinds of things I can't begin to understand. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. She struggled with tests which asked students to pick a correct word to fill in the blanks in a sentence because she was distracted by the imaginative and poetic possibilities of other words. /Creator ( w k h t m l t o p d f 0 . You can read Mother Tongue here before proceeding to our summary and analysis of Amy Tans essay below. How do they further her argument? three subjects Mother Tongue questions & answers for quizzes and worksheets - Quizizz English Mother Tongue Deleted User 87 plays 15 questions Copy & Edit Live Session Show Answers See Preview 1. Tan. She reads the Forbes report, listens to Wall Street Week, converses daily with her stockbroker, reads all of Shirley MacLaine's books with easeall kinds of things I can't begin to understand. /Producer ( Q t 4 . How is Amy Tan's use of the phrase "mother tongue" ambiguous? I am not a scholar of English or literature. When Tan was growing up, how did her mother's use of English affect Tan's perception of her? 2. In "Mother Tongue," Amy Tan uses people's inclination to assume as a way of exploring the subject of identity. How would you describe Tan's attitude toward her mother? Amy Tan says that she has come to realize that something unusual goes on with languageat least her own, based upon the Chinese her mother grew up speaking, the English her mother uses as her "second language," Amy's use of this special version of her mother's English, and her own perception that her mother's English was somehow "broken"at least this is how Ms. Tan used to feel. Here's what she said in part: "Du Yusong having business like fruit stand. When describing the wording for people who cannot speak English fluently, she makes sure the audience knows of her feelings toward the most common terms. /Height 155 -breaking the paragraphs (spaces) Latest answer posted March 29, 2020 at 10:08:05 AM. (para. It has always bothered me that I can think of no other way to describe it other than "broken," as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness and soundness. While it may be difficult for some people to understand it, it is part of who she is, and it does not reflect negatively on her mother because it is "different." Explain. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt Who's the author of the story? Chinese way, came only to show respect, don't stay for dinner. Tan wrote Mother Tongue in 1990, a year after her novel The Joy Luck Club was a runaway success. Like others, I have described it to people as 'broken" or "fractured" English. Students are most likely to conclude that Tan and her mother do have a close relationship and should support their opinion with at least three of the following examples: a. He is Du like Du Zong -- but not Tsung-ming Island people. Tan, by contrast, used standard English what used to be referred to, in loaded phrases, as correct or proper English and was thus able to succeed in getting herself, and by extension her mother, taken seriously by others. "And the correct answer always seemed to be the most bland combinations of thoughts, for example, "Even though Tom was shy, Mary thought he was charming:' with the grammatical structure "even though" limiting the correct answer to some sort of semantic opposites, so you wouldn't get answers like, "Even though Tom was foolish, Mary thought he was ridiculous:' Well, according to my mother, there were very few limitations as to what Tom could have been and what Mary might have thought of him. This progression is typical of many stories, both long and short, but in this case you can apply it to tone as well. Award-winning novelist, short story writer, and essayist. However, Tans mothers English also symbolizes the limitations of immigrants in America and the challenges they have to face to be accepted. Include details from the text. Tan explains, "This was understandable. . What is the difference? So mad he lie to me, losing me money. /Type /ExtGState Cite the text as needed to clarify and support your response. Near the beginning of Mother Tongue, Tan says, I am fascinated by language in daily life. Mother Tongue, by Amy Tan Comprehension 1. By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University). Tan talks about growing up with different forms of English and how that affected both her childhood and adult life. I didn't see, I heard it. Latest answer posted October 28, 2019 at 10:43:03 PM, Latest answer posted November 08, 2020 at 3:49:32 AM. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. 6. 2. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Math is precise; there is only one correct answer. Tan notes the difficulty of finding a term to describe the style of English her mother, as a Chinese immigrant to the United States, speaks. And it was perhaps the first time she had heard me give a lengthy speech, using the kind of English I have never used with her. Tan, author of "Mother Tongue," explains that her mother's language had the greatest influence on her understanding of English. 1. How could I go about writing four pages about the essay "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan, citing two or more different authors to support my claims? In "Mother Tongue," do you think that Tan and her mother have a close relationship? /Title ( M o t h e r t o n g u e q u i z l e t a n s w e r s) In Tan's experience with the SATs, it was suggested that Tan's strengths lie within mathematics and science because of her higher scores on those exams; it didn't account for her struggle with understanding the format of the test questions. Describe how others (those who do not know her intimately) see Tan's mother versus how Tan describes her in "Mother Tongue." She majored in English at college and began writing as a freelancer. In dividing the essay into sections, she is able to flow through to her points clearly and subtly. But I do think that the language spoken in the family, especially in immigrant families which are more insular, plays a large role in shaping the language of the child. /Type /XObject The story helps readers understand one of Tan's points: her mother's English does have intent, passion, imagery, and rhythm, and it shows the complexity of her thoughts. Tan says she uses "simple English" around her mother, and while this isn't the same form that her mother speaks, it symbolizes the bond between her and her family. Some say they understand 80 to 90 percent. On what were these descriptions and perceptions based according to paragraphs 15-16 of "Mother Tongue"? Amy Tan "Mother Tongue" How do you want to study today? Does the story feel complete as is? "The S, The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses. nNSm`NO8 SL6x 9 tG%rzo=>ca3`!VW19>:HmoM!>? _E nYKyrO [%eLm ii+;t9xt;md/C?dSh[`N:)$9HAJI%i2. Discuss how Tan broadens the essay's relevance by going beyond just her personal experience and raising issues that would be germane to her audience. Latest answer posted March 28, 2020 at 9:26:15 PM. Tan even says that her mother was one of her draft readers for her own book series. Already a member? How did Tans teachers identify her when she was in high school? Works have been adapted for film, opera, and TV mother tongue first language Whom does the author focus on in this narrative? Tan was born on February 19, 1952, in Oakland, California. Amy Tan's essay "Mother Tongue" discusses the way that language changes, and the ways it stays the same, inside contexts of immigration and generational time. In Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue," this term is a play on words. Use Tan's ideas about different kinds of English from "Mother Tongue" as a basis to consider the kinds of English you encounter every day. It is the simple difference between theory and practice. << Those tests were constructed around items like fill-in-the-blank sentence completion, such as, "Even though Tom was, Mary thought he was --. -other peoples reactions; how it affected Amy (would make calls for her mom) How does this story help you better understand the point Tan is making in her essay? Tan uses points from her personal life and from her work to show that there is no need to separate one's language and identity. She alludes to several instances where people, even a doctor, would not take her mother seriously because of the way she spoke. Her mother's language is colorful, powerful, and direct. What is the author's purpose, style, and tone in the story? Be sure to focus on specific language, punctuation, and imagery used to create the overall tone. Other Quizlet sets. Amy Tan also believes her mothers English affected her daughters school results. She goes from being ashamed of her mothers speakingfeeling that other people will judge her familyto being proud of the rich culture behind her mothers English. "Mother tongue," as it is used in the title of this piece, is a pun on the traditional idea. On what were these descriptions and perceptions based according to paragraphs 15-16 of "Mother Tongue"? Chinese social life that way. Amy's mother refused to leave the office until someone called her daughter. Mother tongue is usually referred to the first language a person is taught, however I think Tans use of the word mother tongue is much more intimate in a sense that she feels that ere English or her mother tongue is unique to her, and that the variation of English she speaks to her mother is her mother tongue. Even though language is not an object you can hold, Amy Tan still uses language to symbolize different, more ambiguous concepts. He come to my wedding. Discuss how this is present in her writing of "Mother Tongue. "How Poetry Comes to Me" TPCASTT // Gary Snyd, "Common Ground" TPCASTT // Judith Ortiz Cofer, SpringBoard English Language Arts: Grade 10, myPerspectives: English Language Arts, California (Grade 9, Volume 1), Glencoe Literature Course 4: The Readers Choice. -Informal - conversational; "So you'll have some idea.." Indeed, Tan conjectures that many Asian American children are probably encouraged to pursue careers in jobs requiring maths and science rather than English for this reason. 11th Review / Critical Thinking Questions. What does Tan mean by "the power of language" (para. 8. In literature, tone is the feeling an author conveys to the audience. Identify them and describe their effect. It's my mother tongue. Yet some of my friends tell me they understand 50 percent of what my mother says. A good literary analysis might explain these transitions, and how they affect the structure of the piece. Students' essays will probably address slang and jargon that they use, standard English that they use for most of their school experiences, and possibly formal English that they may use with relatives or in work situations. Now all you have to do is analyze them. She acknowledges that when she was growing up, she was ashamed of the way her mother spoke. Find examples of peopleincluding Tan herselftreating her mother disrespectfully. Like off the street kind. Why does Tan believe that envisioning a reader specifically, her mother enabled her to write more authentically? vN'p3:OKjd;C~_O>V0 9G^_`*:?*zr Because she was in a family where their home language wasn't English, her scores in English weren't as good as the ones she received in math. How many subjects does Tan explore in the essay? Her mother attends a lecture that Tan is delivering, and Tan realizes that her mother is hearing Tan speak a kind of English that she does not use at home. >> Envisioning her mother as the reader allowed Tan to write with more fluidity. This was understandable. How does Tan avoid stereotyping Asian Americans in general and Chinese in particular in this essay? Economics Semester 2 SG 40-60. When Amy first decided she wanted to be a writer, she was not encouraged to do so: English was her second language, and the peculiarities of the language (which confuse native English speakers, such as analogies) often confused her. w !1AQaq"2B #3Rbr /CA 1.0 The Qin bureaucracy had civil and military divisions and a justekst\underline{\phantom{\text{justekst}}}justekst. The nature of the talk was about my writing, my life, and my book, The Joy Luck Club. How does she use language in the rest of her story to portray this rebelliousness? Tan is making the argument in "Mother Tongue" that she became a better writer when she began to use both the types of English she spoke to write books her mother could understand. \text { Who was John Wilkes Booth? } An overarching theme of Tans novel is mothers emigrating to America in the hope that their daughters will have better lives than they did. What argument is Tan making here about language and its connection to our identity in "Mother Tongue"? Du Zong father wasn't look down on him, but didn't take seriously, until that man big like become a mafia. Stephen Crane Amy Thompson Amy Tan Anne Tan 2. b. eruption Accessed 2 May 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. How did railroads help boost industrialization? 1 0 obj What are some good things Andrew Carnegie did? 6 0 obj What is the context of Mother Tongue? 6. "What argument is Tan making here about language and its connection to our identity in "Mother Tongue"? Now important person, very hard to inviting him. Fortunately, there are several different literary devices you can concentrate on for your literary analysis. Use Tan's ideas about different kinds of English from "Mother Tongue" as a basis to consider the kinds of English you encounter every day. In the following sentence, underline each misspelled or misused word and write the correct spelling or word above the incorrect word. Tan calls this a language of intimacy. Many of the terms, such as broken or limited, are too negative and imply her English is imperfect. Mother Tongue is a story that describes how Amy Tan's mother was treated unfairly because of her "broken English". During this conversation, my mother was talking about a political gangster in Shanghai who had the same last name as her family's, Du, and how the gangster in his early years wanted to be adopted by her family, which was rich by comparison. This is the sociological aspect of language. The local people call putong, the river east side, he belong to that side local people. If raised in Italy, it is Italian; in France, it is French. Consider the story "Mother Tongue." Tan believed that her mother's English reflected the quality of what she had to say-that the imperfections in her speech meant that her ideas were just as imperfect. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Does it drag on too much? So you'll have some idea of what this family talk I heard sounds like, I'11 quote what my mother said during a recent conversation which I videotaped and then transcribed. 1. << This is a key part of Feathers from a Thousand Li Away, and it helps us to understand Tans conflicted attitude towards her mothers use of language as explored in Mother Tongue. According to Tan, why are so many Asian Americans encouraged to study math and science in college? 20 terms. Tan elaborates this idea by scrutinizing her mother's language, her own use of English and society's response to different people's English usage. You should know that my mother's expressive command of English belies how much she actually understands. 15)? She adores her as any other child would adore their own mom. 8 . As for accents, it's usually a stereotype of some sort. 7) >> The difference is in the application of the phrase, which is between general and specific. Answer: to inform readers based on Tan's childhood experience Explanation: Amy tan is a Chinese-American writer, she is the daughter of Chinese immigrants and her books reflect a lot on what she has experienced witnessing the culture clash between Chinese and North American cultures. It has always bothered me that I can think of no way to describe it other than "broken," as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness and soundness. How would you characterize Tan's tone in the essay? She said they did not seem to have any sympathy when she told them she was anxious to know the exact diagnosis, since her husband and son had both died of brain tumors. Sociologists and linguists probably will tell you that a person's developing language skills are more influenced by peers. From guilty to gracious, annoyed to appreciative, Amy Tan uses a few different tones throughout Mother Tongue. Identify these tones and explain how they are employed (the language used to convey the tones), and what effect it has on the reader. Focus your studying with a path. What is Amy Tans primary identity according to what she says in paragraphs 1-3 of "Mother Tongue"? Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. 5) All of these questions will help you pinpoint the essays effectiveness. /ca 1.0 Lately, I've been giving more thought to the kind of English my mother speaks. What assumptions are people making about Tan's mother in these situations and why? Mother tongue commonly means the language first learned by a person, but for the author, Amy Tan, it has a special meaning. But Tans interest in language, both as a cultural marker and as a way of expressing thought and personality, is also a prevailing theme of the novel. Review terms and definitions. At one point, Tan writes about being embarrassed about her mother. The argument Tan makes is that she has become a better writer by fusing these types of language than she was when she used the acrolect alone. We used a similar routine just five days ago, for a situation that was far less humorous. Explain the meaning of Tans title and how it relates to her own identity as both a Chinese American, a daughter, and a writer. It is their "language of intimacy," even though he is a native English speaker. Tan mentions several different emotions when talking about her mothers English. 3. And Tan drew on all the Englishes, plural, that she knew: the broken English her mother used, the simple English Tan used when talking to her mother, the watered-down Chinese her mother used, and her mothers internal language which conveyed her passion, intent, imagery, and the nature of her thoughts. She used all of the "Englishes" she grew up with, giving her more connection to her work, and with the audience as well. Get started for free! I knew what the tests were asking, but I could not block out of my mind the images already created by the first pair, "sunset is to nightfall"--and I would see a burst of colors against a darkening sky, the moon rising, the lowering of a curtain of stars.And all the other pairs of words --red, bus, stoplight, boring--just threw up a mass of confusing images, making it impossible for me to sort out something as logical as saying: "A sunset precedes nightfall" is the same as "a chill precedes a fever." Discuss how and why parents identities and personalities are often a source of embarrassment or tension when people are young. Our experts can deliver a "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan essay tailored to your instructions for only $13.00 $11.05/page 308 qualified specialists online Learn more Main text 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -describes how her mom influenced her writing and this is why her mom is the audience. In Amy Tan's short story "Mother Tongue," explain the essence of what "mother tongue" signifies in the story. Tan uses it with this definition, but also utilizes it to refer to the language her mom spoke (Chinese). When this occurred, everyone was much more cordial with Amy than with her mother: promises were made and apologies graciously extended. Amy Tan begins her essay by offering her personal opinions on the English language. But now you have to do a literary analysis on itand suddenly its short length seems like more of a burden than a blessing. The phrase "mother tongue" refers to the language people learn to speak first. What organizational pattern does Tan use in "Mother Tongue," and how does she control her tone? What is the context of Mother Tongue? Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery. But they seem just as bad, as if everything is limited, including people's perceptions of the limited English speaker. Tan uses an example of her mother going to New York to yell at her stockbroker, after not receiving her check from cashing out her portfolio, to show us that even though her language skills were sub par, she could still very effectively communicate her feelings and ideas. Students in disagreement might point to Dove's consuming interest in reading, which seems largely uninfluenced by her family, and Cisneros's belief that her desire to write came from a "hunger" she felt, even with her family. What is the context of Mother Tongue? But Tans language, or tongue, has been shaped by her actual mother, whose first language (or mother tongue) was not English, but Chinese. eNotes Editorial, 10 Nov. 2019, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/in-amy-tan-s-short-story-mother-tongue-explain-258339. 2)? Although Tan clearly appeals to pathos through personal narration and characterization, she makes some appeals to logos. Tan refers to how much language impacts/changes our lives. In a short essay "Mother Tongue," Amy Tan reveals her background and describes different kinds of English that she had to speak in her childhood and adolescence. Tan speculates that because Asian Americans score so much higher on math achievement tests than on English tests, they are encouraged to pursue math and science in college. Many of the mothers in The Joy Luck Club, such as Betty St. Clair in The Voice from the Wall, feel isolated from those around them, never at home in America, and hyper-aware of their outsider status, despite becoming legal permanent citizens in the country. Why does she divide the essay into three parts? Tan divides the essay into three sections. What strategies does she use to make this argument? I spend a great deal of my time thinking about the power of languagethe way it can evoke an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth.. b. She says even her husband started speaking this kind of English together and that it has come to represent intimacy. You had agreed to send the check two weeks ago, but it hasn't arrived.". from Oxford University Ph.D. from St. Andrews University, Amy Tan, like many children of immigrants, has more than one identity, and these identities are primarily defined by language. Chapter 8 and Symbolism in The Great Gatsby, The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses, Edge Reading, Writing and Language: Level C, David W. Moore, Deborah Short, Michael W. Smith. spirituals. Amy Tan born in 1952 in California to Chinese immigrants. But where Tan really gets to something deep, is this idea how we acquire language. The title of Amy Tans essay is a pun on the expression mother tongue, referring to ones first language. What would be the impact of omitting one of them? 8, Tan)". Paraphrasing her mother's words would take away from the audience's understanding of the exact type of language boundaries they were dealing with. Cite the text as needed to clarify and support your response. Find examples of peopleincluding Tan herselftreating her mother. /Width 625 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. That was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed things, made sense of the world. Cell Bio Exam 1. M.A. Eden Meirow is a full-time copywriter and part-time freelance writer. What motivates her to make such an argument?" -talking to her mom "My mother was in the room", Tan quotes a "terrible line" she once wrote "That was my mental quandary in its nascent state." In fact, Tan uses the same tone in the beginning and end of her storythe reader starts at a homebase, sees the journey Tan is leading them on, and returns right back to where they started but with more insight than before. 5. tests, and the SAT. Her mother's "limited" English limited Tan's perception of her. If you believe she is guilty of some stereotyping, discuss examples. 3 0 obj Some say they understand none of it, as if she were speaking pure Chinese. 2. They resemble chapters in a book as they each have a different focus, while still relating all to each other and being interconnected. Symbolism is when an author uses an object, person, or place to represent a deeper concept. Do you feel that people's abilities can be judged fairly by these kinds of tests? Tan wrote 'Mother Tongue' in 1990, a year after her novel The Joy Luck Club was a runaway success.
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