There are certain moments in your life when your parents try to embarrass you, or your significant other, or simply just a friend. Like you almost feel ashamed of them, you don't want to be near them so people don't know you know them. Being ashamed and being embarrassed by someone goes hand in hand. You may love this person but you are embarrassed by how this person acts. Amy Tan feels this way about her mother, and I feel this way about my sister. Tan is ashamed of her mother's english, as I am ashamed at how my sister is creating her life. Amy Tan was born in 1952 in Oakland California. She was born of two chinese parents. Tan was ridiculed during school because of her english skills. They always told her science and math was the right route for her, but Tan disagreed. Tan had gone to school pre-med, and within the first year she changed her major to english. Tan, when she has grown and was married realized that there was something particular with her family's “language”. Tan’s mother speaks in a “broken” language, as some would say. Tan grew up speaking this language thinking nothing of it, but now as a english major, she realizes that it’s different from most. She also realized her and her husband have same, …show more content…
but different language, a intimate language.Ten, is ashamed of this language because she is a professional english speaker, and when she is with her mother she notices she doesn’t speak perfect english. She realizes she conforms to her mother's language. My sister and me have been friends nearly our entire life. Of course, we are siblings, which means we do agree to disagree. But, my sister and me have grown apart these past few years. My sister had a baby and didn’t know her the father was. I was so disappointed and ashamed of my sister because I looked up to her. She then went on to going onto welfare, and asking people to pay for her schooling. She posted a go fund me page which asked many to give her their money for a computer and printer. I was mortified by my sister when she did this because I thought she was more mature then to have a child so young then struggle. Mistakes happen, but I am ashamed because she didn’t even try to do it on her own at first, within of a month of my niece being born my sister was on welfare. I am only ashamed of her, for, that reason. I believe she was more grown than that, I now don’t look up to her. Tan and my situation are very different but in a way the same, because we both realized that we are ashamed of our family for their actions.
I believe that Tan wished that her mother would have tried to learn more prominent american language. I thought my sister would have tried to raise Elena first before asking for help from the government and her facebook friends. Tan is ashamed that she had to speak for her mother when she was doing business. I was ashamed when I had to explain to my family and friends what my sister was doing, and vouched for her. Tan wants her mother to be able to speak to a physician without needing to call Ten, and myself, would like to be able to say my sister raised Elena without help from anyone but her and Elena's
father. These situations, make you ashamed of your family. Only because you want so much more for them. You want to be able to say that, yeah that’s my mom that can speak perfect english, or yes that is my sister that raised that beautiful child without any help and she's perfect. But, realistically some don’t think that way, and they believe that there is no need to change. Tan's mother never tried, she never thought enough to perfect her english like Tan wanted her too because she takes pride in her english. Chelsi, would shop, drink, and party but never put it into perspective that she never tried to raise elena without expecting something. But, even when you are ashamed of your family, you still love them dearly, because they are family. Tan is ashamed of her mother's english, as I am ashamed at how my sister is creating her life.
Chang Rae-Lee, author of "Mute in an English-Only World," moved to America from Korea when he was only six or seven years old. He adopted the English language quickly, as most children do, but his mother continued to struggle. "For her, the English language…usually meant trouble and a good dose of shame and sometimes real hurt" (Lee 586). It is obvious, though, that his mother was persistent in her attempt to learn English and deal with her limited culture experience, as Lee accounts of her using English flash cards, phrase books and a pocket workbook illustrated with stick-people figures. Lee sympathetically connects with the audience through his mother, and forces them to make a personal conclusion when he ends the article with a lingering question in the reader’s mind; what if they had seen her struggling? Would they have sat back and watched or stepped up to help?
The Essay written by Amy Tan titled 'Mother Tongue' concludes with her saying, 'I knew I had succeeded where I counted when my mother finished my book and gave her understandable verdict' (39). The essay focuses on the prejudices of Amy and her mother. All her life, Amy's mother has been looked down upon due to the fact that she did not speak proper English. Amy defends her mother's 'Broken' English by the fact that she is Chinese and that the 'Simple' English spoken in her family 'Has become a language of intimacy, a different sort of English that relates to family talk' (36). Little did she know that she was actually speaking more than one type of English. Amy Tan was successful in providing resourceful information in every aspect. This gave the reader a full understanding of the disadvantages Amy and her mother had with reading and writing. The Essay 'Mother Tongue' truly represents Amy Tan's love and passion for her mother as well as her writing. Finally getting the respect of her critics and lucratively connecting with the reaction her mother had to her book, 'So easy to read' (39). Was writing a book the best way to bond with your own mother? Is it a struggle to always have the urge to fit in? Was it healthy for her to take care of family situations all her life because her mother is unable to speak clear English?
Chua and her daughter have a normal mother-daughter relationship. From trying to help Lulu practice by giving her tips (even though she may not be doing it correctly), to Lulu calling Chua “Mommy,” they have a normal, caring, mother-daughter relationship even though Lulu is annoyed with her mother in the excerpt. On the contrary, the mother daughter relationship between Tan and her mother is very bitter. In the excerpt, Tan uses her words like knives trying to cut her mother as deeply as possible. Tan is not the ideal, obedient daughter Tan’s mother imagined, but nevertheless, Tan’s mother attempts to force her to become the daughter she wants and causes a reaction that has a dark and negative outcome that hurts them both. These excerpts bring to light the differences and intricacies of mother-daughter relationships, both good and
In the work of Amy Tan’s “Mother’s Tongue” she provides a look into how she adapted her language to assimilate into American culture. She made changes to her language because her mother heavily relied on her for translation. She was the voice of her mother, relaying information in standard English to those who were unable to understand her mother’s broken english. She tells about her mother’s broken english and its impact on her communication to those outside their culture. Her mothers broken english limited others’ perception of her intelligence, and even her own perception of her mother was scewed: Tan said, “I know this for a fact, because when I was growing up, my mothers ‘limited’ English limited my perception of her. I was ashamed of her English. I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say.” (419) The use of standard english was a critical component to Tan’s assimilation into American culture. Standard English was an element she acquired to help her mother but more importantly is was an element that helped in her gain success as a writer. Tan changed her ‘Englishes’ (family talk) to include standard English that she had learnt in school and through books, the forms of English that she did not use at home with her mother. (417-418) Tan realized the ch...
During school, Tan would be persuaded by her teachers to focus in math and sciences rather than English. She understood that English was a greater challenge because of the environment she was raised in as a child. Tan scored in the lower percentile in English sections while scoring in the ninetieth percentile in math and science, but she was not discouraged and went against all advice from teachers. Tam changed her major from pre-med to English and decided to become a freelance writer. As time grew, Tan started writing fictional stories influenced by her mother. She wrote her stories for people like her with “broken” or “limited” English.
...ch ease, and now is a successful businesswoman in her own right. Just as Tan’s mother did, “my mother has long realized the limitations of her English” (Tan 130). Somehow these limitations did not hinder her. She recognized who she is and that is the way that she was made to be and there was going to be no one or no thing that could change that.
Amy Tan tries to spread a non-discriminatory message through her words; telling not judge people based on the way he/she speaks a language. Amy Tan also tries to impose her idea of language bringing people closer. The “broken” English that she invented, just like many immigrants, brought her closer to her mother, even though she was looked down upon in her community due to her ability to speak fluently. This is seen when she had to speak to a doctor when her mother was diagnosed with brain tumor and the doctor told her they had lost the CAT scans. The doctor at this moment was not cooperating with her mother due to her inability to speak English properly. When Amy finally talked to the doctor they were able to find the results and had to give her an apology. This along with many other examples in the essay show how Amy had to help her mother out to get her message across. Using pathos in her stories, Amy Tan is able to connect deeply with those who have encountered such people that speak “broken” English or have judged others in the past. This also makes the audience sympathize for
This is the writers attitude towards growing up in America as first generation English speakers and the everyday struggle they faced. Throughout the essay, "Mother Tongue", Amy Tan sets a negative tone, often frustrated when reflecting on past experiences in regards to her mother and towards those people who underestimated her mother solely based on her poor English. Often times Amy had to speak on behalf of her mother because Amy spoke proper English. When she grew up she finally realized that at the end of the day it didn 't matter what anyone had to say about her writings "Apart from what any critic had to say about my writing, I knew I had succeeded where it counted when my mother finished reading my book and gave me her verdict: [So easy to read]." (Tan). She became aware of how her mother influenced her writings and helped shape who she has become, this set a positive tone for the
Biculturalism has consciously effected my life and self-perceptions but for the main character of Amy Tan's novel (Jin...
Tan was born to a pair of Chinese immigrants. Her mother understood English extremely well, but the English she spoke was “broken.”(36) Many people not familiar with her way of speaking found it very difficult to understand her. As a result of this, Tan would have to pretend to be her mother, and she called people up to yell at them while her mother stood behind her and prompted her. This caused Tan to be ashamed of her mother throughout her youth, but as she grew, she realized that the language she shares with her mother is a “language of intimacy” (36) that she even uses when speaking with her husband.
The problem started with her mother because she spoke broken English. She had a hard time during her life when she moved to the US because she couldn’t speak English well. The first reason was mixed the English with Chinese, and they used code. The family didn’t practice the language. On one day Amy Tan 's mother exposed to a lot of attitude and that’s bothering her because when she spoke to the native speaker some people understood 50% and the other did not understand her. Since she wants to order something they didn’t give her a nice service, or tried to ignore her, but Amy Tan always tried to fix the problem for her mother because she can speak the English clearly. Amy Tan 's mother felt depressing and Her daughter decided to make her mother glad, so she made a huge deal for her mother because she made her mother tried to speak English by explaining the English words to Chinese, and that’s made the English for her mother more easily just to be in touched with the American people. Even Amy Tan 's mother was struggling with English, but she plain in her life goal that’s mean nothing impossible to do it, and everything from learning could be possible. If anyone would something they
Tan believes that a language has a fascinating power that not everyone can visualize. Tan points out that her mother’s language
According to Tan, “While my English skills were never judged poor, compared with math, English could not be considered my strong suit” (492). Although English is not Tan’s best subject, she continues to study English in college, which leads to success. Tan’s book became one of the best selling novels and it is easy for her mother to read. In comparison to my experience, my English is never good enough to write a book. Even in college, English is never my best subject; therefore, I wouldn’t major in English. In “Mother Tongue”, Tan lives with her immigrant parents who speak broken English. At the beginning, Tan is ashamed of her mother’s English, but she learned to love and appreciate her mother. Tan states that “The fact that people in department stores, at the bank, and in restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended to not understand her or even acted as if they did not hear her” (491). Tan indicates that people disrespected her mother because of her English. Tan states that “When I was a teenager, she used to have me call people on the phone and pretend I was her. In this guise, I was forced to ask for information or even to complain and yell at people who had been rude to her” (491). Throughout high school, Tan had to help her mother translate or pretend to be her mother to complain. Tan’s
Dressing for the masquerade ball, Allie took care not to overdress, foregoing a chemise and stockings. The oppressive heat was stifling; she did not want to fall faint and embarrass herself. It already being this hot and humid in late June, Allie hated to think what the next several months of summer would bring. Although the emerald green and indigo-blue gown she made for the occasion is of a lightweight, batiste fabric, it was still so hot that one perspired heavily upon going outdoors. Even with the cooler sea breezes, it was too hot to sit on the balcony unless it was early morning, late evening, or night time… The lamplights from anchored ships that swayed gently with the tide, calmed Allie of evenings as she sat out there watching, waiting
With the phrase “all the forms of English,” she implies that there is, in fact more than one English, not only the one spoken in schools. She also appeals, through pathos, to any reader who may have had a similar upbringing, using one language with their family and another at school. This emotional allure is effective, as it bonds Tan with the reader and therefore creates a sort of trust between the two. She further proves her point while informing her reader that her “mother's expressive command of English belies how much she actually understands. (Her mother) reads the Forbes report, listens to Wall Street Week, converses daily with her stockbroker, reads all of Shirley MacLaine's books with ease.” The activities in which Tan’s mother engages are generally known to be fairly difficult to comprehend, and Tan herself admits to having a hard time understanding them, despite