Amy Tan Mother Tongue Summary

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Limiting a person’s language affects his or her existence. In “Mother Tongue,” Amy Tan reflects on her experience with a controversy of the negative impact of faulty communication. She details the negative impact of faulty communication through conversations, meaningful relationships, and career opportunities. In her writing, Tan describes the abundance of “Englishes” she grew up learning from her peers. Her mother’s English stood out from the others because of her inability to communicate effectively. Most individuals considered Tan’s mother’s language “broken” or “limited” because of her faulty communication. Limited language proficiency negatively affects a person's quality of life. Limitations of a person's language affects his or her communication with other individuals. The inability to speak with conciseness results in a change in perspective towards another person. Tan reflects on an interaction between her mother, who speaks with “broken” English, and her mother's doctor: And when the doctor finally called her daughter, me, who spoke in perfect English-lo and behold-we had assurances the CAT scan would be found, promises that a conference call on Monday would be held, and apologies for any suffering my mother had gone through for a most regrettable mistake. (Tan, 2016, p. 318) …show more content…

Tan describes her communication with her mother versus communication in her writings, recalling an instance when “...it was perhaps the first time she had heard me give a lengthy speech, using the kind of English I have never used with her” (Tan, 2016, p. 316). Although Tan’s mother understands her language, her mother has a difficult time relating with the type of English Tan utilizes. As a consequence, a person’s limited language negatively impacts his or her communication with

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