Amy Tan Mother Tongue Summary

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In the essay, “Mother Tongue,” by Amy Tan she discusses the “different Englishes,”: Nonstandard and Standard English. Her view on the “different Englishes” is that she loves to use Nonstandard English because it is a family language as opposed to a standard, which she refers to as “burdensome.” According to Amy Tan, Nonstandard English is what you will use at home and create an “intimate” language, as opposed to Standard English that takes the special connection away such as Tan, uses when she writes and speaks. I do agree with Tan’s view of Nonstandard forms of English as it plays a role bringing uniqueness and creating a different way of viewing the world.
Tan is right in preferring Nonstandard English because it creates a family connection through uniqueness. She describes the connection as “intimate” creating an effect that generate a great connection and bond with family. When I was at school in teacher parent conference in every single, even to this day. I remember me and …show more content…

In society now it is not unusual to witness a person use Nonstandard English, especially in my neighborhood because we all have familiar backstories. If we lose trace of our roots such as in Richard Rodriguez’s essay, we lose all forms of “intimacy” with family, and that is something that should never be lost. Richard Rodriguez is a prime example of why we should have one, because it is something that separate a family from a seminar just as Amy Tan’s life. I do support Tan that in her view that all forms of English are essential as they play a huge role in connecting family and creating a different way of viewing the world. Amy Tan herself said that her mother’s language helped inspire her to become the writer and speaker she is today, so we need to appreciate our family language, our nonstandard form of English, otherwise we can end up as miserable and disconnected as

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