The Bonds of a Language Essay - 1070 Words

The Bonds of a Language Amy Tan is the author of several novels including The Joy Luck Club and The Kitchen God’s Wife. She was born in the United States to parents who immigrated to California from China (Gruber 35). In her article entitled â€Å"Mother Tongue†, Tan focuses on the English shared between her mother and herself versus the English that she speaks with everyone else, and how it has affected her outlook on language. Through her examples, she presents to the audience the obstacles faced by her mother’s â€Å"limited† English. Tan demonstrates that no matter how much someone may change, the most important things lay back in their roots. Tan directs this article in a certain way to allow for several people†¦show more content†¦While intriguing the reader, Amy Tan also presents a strong argument. Tan displays a couple types of argument structures in her article. She gives several examples of problem solving in her experiences with her mother. If her mother needed something and her limited English prevented her in any way from accomplishing that, she would use Amy to assist her. The example of her in the hospital shows a solution to the problem of people not being able to understand Tan’s mother. To help the doctors to do what her mother was asking, they had to call Amy, who immediately solved the problem. Another structure used throughout the article was the spatial structure. Tan comes from a different â€Å"community† having been raised in a Chinese home. She became immersed in the culture of China in her own home, learning about the history and heritage of her parents. She later had to learn to become part of the American culture, which is vastly different. Fortunately, she still holds a special place in her heart for the language that she speaks with her mother, which is different from the English she speaks with everyone else. Tan also demonstrates this idea of encountering new â€Å"spaces† by her experiences with her mother’s stockbroker and at the hospital. She has to do things her mother isShow MoreRelatedRichard Rodriguez s Hunger Of Memory 974 Words   |  4 Pagesbilingual educators, who believe that children in their first years of school should be educated in their native language. According to Rodriguez this education method is wrong, it won’t be helpful, therefore children should be knowledgeable in the same language as the public one. The author’s main point is to strongly motivate children of immigrant parents to adopt English as their primary language in order to comprehend public society and have a better future. Rodriguez describes his youth as a childRead MoreEssay on Language as Connectivity in a Group1100 Words   |  5 PagesLanguage is a crucial part of how people in a group show their solidarity to each other. Discuss Through the use of language, each member of a group is able to construct and reflect their identity. Through the language features present in slang and jargon, users are able to communicate their social identity and group belonging. They are also able to portray their cultural heritage and background through ethnolect varieties of English. Language plays a crucial part in enabling the speaker to communicateRead MoreAnalysis Of Bilingual Education By James Rodriguez1072 Words   |  5 PagesBilingual Education where Supporters feel that students miss a great deal by not being taught in their family’s language. That children that retain their family’s language will retain a sense of individuality. Their ethnic heritage cultural ties. Helping Students acquire the skills of a classroom crucial for public success. Rodriguez also discusses the use of teaching and using a single language. 2. (Summary) What is Rodriguez’s main point about bilingual education? (Response) Do you agree or disagreeRead MoreGood Readers Good Writers1199 Words   |  5 Pagesreading; however he tests this ability in his audience by using bold and opinionated language that can distract from his intent. Nabokov both instructs and tests his audience as he defines major readers and writers and their use of understanding, all the while knowing the true meaning will be reached only by those who open their mind to his world. Nabokov describes the relationship that can be formed through the bond of good readers and good writers. According to Nabokov, for a work a literature toRead MoreTheoretical Framework. The Nation. The Concept Of The Nation1084 Words   |  5 Pagesoften suggest the a nation is a group of people to whom common characteristics have been attributed. Common Language, ethnicity, history and/or religion our amongst the features commonly attributed to nations. Kymlicka for example suggests that â€Å" nation means a historical community, more or less institutionally complete, occupying a given territory or homeland, sharing a distinct language and culture (p. 11)† Others such as Bauer have chosen to focus more upon the commonality of national characterRead MoreMilitary Language; Slang and Jargon Essay986 Words   |  4 Pagesthroughout this essay, is referring to armed forces. Have you ever wondered why the people in military speak differently? Have you ever considered why many m ilitary members speak the way they do? As each branch of the armed forces has its own unique language, A brief description of their similarities and differences for the US Navy, US Air Force and US Army. At no disrespect to the US Marine Corps and US Coast guard, as there jargon is intimately similar to the US Navy’s slang and history. As a US NavyRead MoreThe Negative Effects Of Sign Language And Sign Language1086 Words   |  5 PagesOver the last few decades, baby sign language has been a consistent hot topic all around the world. Parents are bringing American Sign Language into the home as tool to communicate with their infants from a very early age. Despite controversial debates regarding how sign language can negatively affect a child’s development of speech, there have been findings that prove this to be untrue. Teaching sign language to infants facilitates early communication skills and better interactions with the peopleRead MoreBilly Budd Character Analysis1 565 Words   |  7 PagesSimilarly, Herman Melville’s novel Billy Budd’s male narrator utilizes the language of sculptures as a vessel to illustrate his attraction to the titular character. In the second chapter, the story’s narrator spends a great deal of time characterizing Billy Budd by providing detail to each feature of his body. Before delving into this act, the narrator evokes the world of art by saying Billy was â€Å"cast in a mould peculiar to the finest physical examples† that possessed â€Å"that humane look of reposefulRead MoreVibrational Bonding1073 Words   |  5 PagesIn â€Å"Isotope effect produces new type of chemical bond†[1], Simon Hadlington aims to inform wider audience readers about research into a new chemical interaction known as â€Å"vibrational bonding†. Hadlington summarises evidence to prove the existence of a new chemical bond by gathering work of different researchers to explain the proof of â€Å"vibrat ional bonding†. The author guides us through history and supports the discovery of a new bond with experimental evidence. The article is chosen as a researchRead MoreAmerican English Essays530 Words   |  3 PagesThe question of whether or not English should be an official language has been a controversial topic since our country was founded. The English language is a tie that helps combine the many pieces of our society together. Our nation should not acclaim bilingualism, but should enfold English as the national language spoken in the United States, to secure the future unity of our nation. The United States is a nation composed of many immigrants from all around the world. We are a country of many