A Rhetorical Analysis Of Mother Tongue By Amy Tan

Mother Tongue by Amy Tan was one of the best short stories I have ever read and I am excited to analyze it. Tan was born in California to Chinese immigrants. She writes in her story about the struggles she faced with language. Tan makes great use of ethos, pathos and logos in her essay to make her claim that there are many Englishes, and none should be considered wrong.
First, I will be discussing Tan’s purpose in writing her story. I believe her purpose is to educate those who are ignorant to other cultures and languages and clear up the stigma about those who speak “broken” English. A great example of her purpose is when she discusses her major in college. Tan is expected as an Asian student in society to study medicine or math. But

instead, she opts to take a different route and pursue English: “Fortunately, I happen to be rebellious in nature and enjoy the challenge of disproving assumptions made about me.

I became an English major my first year in college, after being enrolled as pre-med.” (Tan 3). Much like in her academic life, Tan believes in disproving critics and those who pigeon-hole people with pre-determined ideas. Her purpose is reflected by her “enjoying the challenge”. In this essay, she also enjoys the challenge of sharing her story and clearing up the negative stigma of broken English. Another example of her purpose is indicated when she explains other people’s ideas of her mom. People use degrading language when describing her mother and other “broken” English speakers. Tan shares her thoughts: “I’ve heard other terms used, ‘limited English,’ for example. But they seem just as bad, as if everything is limited, including people’s perceptions of the limited English speaker.” (Tan 2). Tan’s purpose becomes clear here when she describes people’s negative perception of “broken” English speakers. The last part of that quote is extra powerful, when she describes the English speaker as limited. It is

a strong word to use to describe someone and I feel she is using it to make it clear the way she feels on the subject. It is clear that her purpose is based around the love she has for her mother and the personal attachment she feels. This issue she is trying to discuss is very personal to her. Later I will touch on the emotional appeal used in this essay that ties directly into that idea.
Next, I will be discussing the claim that Tan is making in her story. Tan claims that there are many different variations of the English language, and none of them are wrong. She references these different Englishes many times in her story. Most notably, she explains all the different Englishes: “…the English I spoke to my mother, which for lack of a better term might be described as ‘simple’; the English she used with me, which for lack of a better term might be described as ‘broken’; my translation of her Chinese, which could certainly be described as ‘watered down.’” (Tan 3). Tan claims that there are more than one English. She deepens her claim by adding the parts of her mother that her “broken” language can never reveal: “…her intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her thoughts.” (Tan 4). She claims that there is so much more to someone then what they can articulate. Everyone shares those human traits, and if they cannot speak perfect English, Tan argues that they are still just as good as anyone else.
Now I will be discussing the different rhetorical strategies that Tan uses. She makes use of ethos, pathos, and logos. First, I will discuss ethos. Tan begins the essay by giving her background and her credibility on the English language. She describes herself by saying: “I am a writer. And by that definition, I am someone who has always loved language… Language is the tool of my trade.” (Tan 1). She does a great job of beginning the essay talking about why she has the knowledge and credibility to discuss language. That makes the reader aware that she is reputable and worth reading.
The next rhetorical strategy is pathos.

She uses pathos frequently throughout the essay because much of her purpose in writing this story ties into her emotional attachment to her mother. So a lot of the writing includes her trying to get across her personal feelings. A great example of pathos is when she describes a feeling of fulfillment when her mother approves of her book: “…I knew I had succeeded where it counted most when my mother finished reading my book and gave me her verdict: ‘So easy to read.’” (Tan 4). You understand here that Tan’s most important goal of writing is her mother, and much of the rest of the story appeals to pathos using stories of her

mother.
The final appeal is logos, which she does briefly when she talks about her friends understanding of her mother’s language: “Yet some of my friends tell me they understand 50 percent of what my mother says. Some say 80 to 90 percent. Some say they understand none of it, as if she were speaking pure Chinese.” (Tan 1). Tan gives some generalized statistics to make you understand what she has to deal with and the problem’s she faces with other’s perception of her mother’s language. Tan does a great job using rhetorical strategies in her writing, especially pathos. She connects well with the reader and the rhetorical strategies definitely support her claim.
Tan’s claim matters because I believe we need to think about what’s on the inside, not just what we can hear. Tan’s mother has so much passion and imagery and intention inside of her that she cannot articulate, but is definitely there. I believe that we should think about that with all people who cannot speak perfect English before being judgmental. Overall, I felt moved at the end of Tan’s story and she made a difference in my mindset, and I believe anyone else who reads it will experience the same effect.