Running Head: MOTHER TONGUE e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
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Mother Tongue – Don’t judge a book by its cover
2-5 Assignment: Journal: Importance of Analysis
SNHU
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The article title ‘Mother Tongue – Don’t judge a book by its cover … or someone’s
intelligence by her English’ revolves around the English language. The author has stated
that the quality of English that is used by a person must not be used as the basis to judge
his or her knowledge, intelligence and insight into a subject. Tan has stated that even
though her mother used broken or limited English, it did not limit her intelligence, intent
and the nature of the thoughts (Tongue, 2003). The narrative style of writing has been used
by Tan as she has captured how her mother used to converse with people with broken
English. She has also described an instance where she had to talk with her mother’s
stockbroker from New York on behalf of her mother was unable to convey her anger and
concern in proper and fluent English. The tone of Tan’s writing is informal as she has
stated that she now uses all the kinds of English that she knows while writing her works.
The early analysis of the article sheds light on the fact that one must not judge someone’s
intellectual ability by merely focusing on the English that is used by them.
• The closer analysis of the author’s work is necessary to understand that the language
that a person uses is only the outer surface of a person. It cannot define the actual intent of
intelligence that he or she has within (Tongue, 2003). The author has given the example of
her mother and the broken English that she used in her real life. Even though her command
over the English language was retracted, it did not define or limit her vast knowledge. In
fact, the author has further stated that her mother’s English might seem lacking to others
but she is able to understand it without any doubt. It is the same language that her mother
has used all these years which helps her to make sense of the world. Thus the loser
analysis of the author's claim can help to understand that limited English does not restrict
an individual’s passion and knowledge.
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• The author’s writing is effective as Tan has very rightly presented her views about
the English language, its use and fluency by referring to her mother. She has used her
personal experience as an example to showcase how her mother’s broken English
previously used to embarrass her. But after giving a lot of thought to the kind of English
that her mother uses she has come to the realization that limited English of a person must
not limit the perception that others have about them. The writer has gone on to state that
she has started using diverse kinds of ‘Englishes’ that she is aware of so that all kinds of
readers can read and understand her work. The author has systematically and logically
explained how her perception relaying to broken English has changed and how it must not
be used a stool to judge about someone’s intelligence.
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References
Tongue, M. (2003). Amy Tan. The World is a Text: Writing, Reading, and Thinking about
Culture and Its Contexts, 291.
