Argument analysis

Running Head: Mother Tongue 1

Mother Tongue 7

Argument Analysis: Mother Tongue by Amy Tan

The text “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan was written with the sole reason being the presentation of the limitations and challenges than an imperfect English could have in the society. The audience in the text is the Asian Americans, who most probably feel the same as Tan did, holding assumptions and beliefs that parents used ‘broken’ or even ‘fractured’, hence making them feel ashamed. The main thesis that the writer has presented is that English Language is rich in its own way and she also presents the power of language. With this I confirm that writer’s thesis is effective and with that being brought out in a bilingual language poses significant challenges, with most notable being coherence, understanding of syntax, and other notable aspects of language which can be echoed by the statement,” I spend a great deal thinking about the power of language the way it can evoke an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea or a simple truth.”(Tan 179).

This paper will therefore involve the presentation of factuality of the ideas presented by Amy Tan. As well, this essay will involve the presentation of the importance of traditionally spoken language and the ethical issue of respecting of the Asian American, that is the nonnative speakers. The guiding question for this essay has been deduced from the argument presented by Amy Tan regarding cultural identity and the role it plays on the issue of language. I would argue that the main aim of the Amy’s text was to show cultural racism in different parts of the world, which is heightened by language. Rationale for this assertion is that Amy uses the writing skills she has gained as well as the opportunity for showing the readers how being nonnative American feels like and the challenges nonnatives go through. Amy Tan does not only present the racism that is heightened by language barrier but also presents the various aspects of cultural racism, which is contributed by individual’s inability to communicate fluently and correctly. This idea was prompted by the realization that most of the immigrants in the United States, for instance, Asian-Americans, Mexicans and others have challenges due to their mother tongue. Identifiable problems that are faced by these immigrants comprises of communication difficulties, predisposing them to being despised or even being presented as inferior. For instance, Amy Tan describes of the scenario her mother had been despised due to her ‘broken’ language.

Ideally, Amy Tan in the text “Mother Tongue” involves the presentation of struggles that immigrants in the United States face in terms of linguistic identity. The author herself presents various scenarios that she faced with her mother, due to ‘fractured’ and ‘broken’ English, which prompts to the heightening of prejudice. In the beginning of the text, Amy Tan talks of the variations in English that she would talk when with her mother and the other people. This can be termed as Amy Tan’s way of showing the nightmares of being a nonnative, in that everybody would underestimate you, with IQ tests and other school tests such as SAT being used as a measure of intelligence. On the contrary, what these tests are deficient in is the inability to acknowledge the existence of the mother tongue, which is the first language and its role in the coherence of the second and even third languages. What this means is that the IQ comparison between a native American and a nonnative should not be based on syntax or characteristics of language, but rather embrace the cultural differences existing in terms of language. Intelligence should not be based on the perfection in English language.

When reading the text from the contemporary world point of view, Amy Tan clearly shows that language has the most significant impact on people. It is language that is capable in determining culture that ought to be adopted and incorporated by every individual. Language plays the center role in giving people their definition and can influence the decisions we make, the choices and even the experiences. Like the case of Amy, it is language that determines Amy’s expectations and the way in which she reacts to different issues. In the current world, most of the people prefer foreign language such as English to mother tongue. This is a clear indication of the inferiority that is attached to mother tongue, with most of the people forgetting that it is through ones first language that they learn issues of syntax, lexicon, structure of sentences and linguistic characteristics. It is through first language that individuals try to relate the linguistic differences and variations that exist between the many languages used in different parts of the world. Although most people do not see this logic, this text helps create a picture of the challenges faced by the immigrant students in terms of language, the culture and literacy at large.

I would therefore argue that integration of languages in the processes of learning does not necessarily mean that introduction of different languages or even grammar. Rationale for this assertion is that teachers in the native countries and those in the nonnative seem to ignore the variations in language. For instance, it would be easy for a Chinese student to familiarize with English if they are trained on how to form English sentences using Chinese, inclusive of the phrases and the words at large. Through this, it will be possible and easy for the Chinese student to understand the lexical differences and similarities, hence learning any other language in an easy manner. Nevertheless, such aspects are never practiced in schools, which makes understanding and the expression of oneself extremely difficult. Amy Tan says, “I knew what the tests were asking, but I could not block out of my mind that images already created by the first pair.” The reason as to why most of the people have issues in grasping English is the aptitude. As well, the measure of intelligence among the immigrants discourages the studying and excelling in English language. I thereby contend that second language learners tend to be extremely intelligent, just like Amy Tan says.

Away from the arguments and ideologies presented by Amy Tan, I would argue that English should not be compulsory in schools. the reason as to why I would argue for such an idea is that people like Amy Tan and other Asian students are judged due to their inability to be coherent in English, then the question arises as to whether these Americans can communicate in Asian or any other language. Contextualized claims assert that these English speakers have no idea about Asian language or any other native language. Although there has been the assumption that English ought to be the language of every individual, due to the interaction, there should always be the prevalence of respect when it comes to the mother languages. It is through the native language of every individual that we get to understand the ideas of logic, like in the case of semantic relationship, the rules of grammar and tense, word formation and the differences and similarities that exist in different languages. To answer the question of Asian Americans having the least enrollment in creative writing, I would argue that it is the stereotyping and prejudice held by the Americans and the Asians at large. The superiority that is attached to English language makes other language sink, thus making people less interested in novelty of languages.

To conclude, the text “Mother Tongue” plays an essential role in the enlightening and informing people of the plight of the nonnative students and immigrants, about fluency and coherence in the English language. It is Amy Tan’s way of showing the prestige and superiority of the native language, the mother tongue and the first language of every individual. Cultural identity is always attributed to the individuals first language, a clear indication of the inevitability of the worth that is attached to the first language. Basically, the text is a clear representation of the suffering of immigrants due to encounter with foreign languages and the racism that is associated with language. The text can be read as a wakeup call to the people who tend to hold so much prestige in second language, forgetting that first language plays the most crucial role in grammar, word formation and vocabulary among other significant characteristics of a language.