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The importance of language,culture and identity
Essay on Insight on the Life and Works of Julia Alvarez
The importance of language,culture and identity
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"Names/Nombres" by Julia Alvarez show how an immigrant from Dominican Republic learns about how people treat their heritage names in America. In the beginning of the story Julia is frustrated with the officer who's letting them into America because of the way he pronounced their names wrong. It states "How could anyone get Elbures out of that orchestra of sound" (Alvarez 1). This proves how Julia learns how the "american tongue" is different than hers because they aren't used to rolling their R's making it difficult for the american people to learn her heritage name. Next, Julia tells her classmates about how her full name is 12 Names long and the classmates names being only 3 making it interesting for the american kids learning about this.
Finally, Julia finds out that no matter what she may be called she will still have her real heritage name to live by no matter what. In the text is shows "I laughed to myself, which one will I go by" (Alvarez 6). This statement shows shows she laughs by the nicknames people have called her and know she has her own great sounding name.
Through the study of the Peruvian society using articles like “The “Problem of the Indian...” and the Problem of the Land” by Jose Carlos Mariátegui and the Peruvian film La Boca del Lobo directed by Francisco Lombardi, it is learned that the identity of Peru is expressed through the Spanish descendants that live in cities or urban areas of Peru. In his essay, Mariátegui expresses that the creation of modern Peru was due to the tenure system in Peru and its Indigenous population. With the analyzation of La Boca del Lobo we will describe the native identity in Peru due to the Spanish treatment of Indians, power in the tenure system of Peru, the Indian Problem expressed by Mariátegui, and the implementation of Benedict Andersons “Imagined Communities”.
Similar Themes in Richard Rodriguez' Aria: Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood and Carmen Tafolla's In Memory of Richi
“Se Habla Español,” is written by a Latin author, Tanya Barrientos; and Amy Tan, a Chinese author, wrote “Mother Tongue”. In both literate narratives the authors write about their experiences with language and how it impacted their lives. In This essay we will be discussing the similarities as well as the differences in the stories and the authors of “Se Habla Español” and “Mother Tongue”. We will discuss how both authors use a play on words in their titles, how language has impacted their lives, how struggling with language has made them feel emotionally, and how both authors dealt with these issues.
of the native tongue is lost , certain holidays may not be celebrated the same , and American born generations feel that they might have lost their identity , making it hard to fit in either cultures . Was is significant about this book is the fact it’s like telling a story to someone about something that happened when they were kid . Anyone can relate because we all have stories from when we were kids . Alvarez presents this method of writing by making it so that it doesn’t feel like it’s a story about Latin Americans , when
In "Like Mexicans" by Gary Soto, it begins with the statement, “Again I dream” and then further explains a descriptive detail of a meal that only existed through his mind of imagination because of his economic stance. One of the primary points in the poem is the critique of poverty stricken culture of several Mexican and Mexican-American families. An example of the most compelling lines of the poem is his concluding two lines: “let the day end and us begin, the fork, the knife, the plate, all useless.” The selection of words highlights a compelling portrait of himself fantasizing the world where hunger is not prevalent to him, but shortly understands it was an escape and represents a harsh reality of no purpose to have kitchen utensils because
In Aria,” from Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez, Richard Rodriguez shares his autobiography of when he first entered his classroom at catholic school. He writes of his transition through emotions of fear, insecurity, and self-doubt as he transitions from the privacy of his home to the public world. Richard develops an understanding that his that private language that is used in his home is different from the language that is publicly acceptable in school. His school teachers pushed his americanalization which led him to discover his identity, since he indeed was an American but grew up in a Spanish speaking home. Through this journey of journey of assimilation he discovers that learning this new language brought him a sense of comfortability and acceptance. Richard Rodriguez heavily relates to the Crevecoeurian immigrant because he was willing to learn a new language, leave his culture behind, and embrace his American identity.
The frustratingly reminiscent tone encompassed in Julia Alvarez’s “Bilingual Sestina” works to emphasize the author’s difficulties of assimilating into a new culture. When she looks back and reflects on her past memories in her hometown, she yearns for the same simplistic lifestyle. Correspondingly, the constant repetition of the six end words further expresses her conflictions as she must fuse together two different cultures to truly find her identity.
A name changing the identity of one is exactly what happened to Firoozeh “Julie” Dumas. Before her name change, Dumas was regarded as being one of those immigrants with a name no one wanted to learn. But after changing her ...
The non-native English speakers had to assimilate. When they came to the United States to live their new life in the states. In the article “Leave Your Name at the Border,” Munoz’s stepfather had to change his name so that he could better support his family in the states but if had never changed his name he was at risk of getting passed over for a job. “This isn’t to say that my stepfather welcomed the change, only that he could not put much resistance,” for a country that’s supposed to have freedom but does not allow to keep your name which is part of your culture so that you could be better accepted into their
In this semester we read many essay but many of them had something in common. Every essay might have something like, yet there 's always something each essay make them so unique. In the 50 Essays: A Portable Anthology book has two essays that how felt a discriminated living in the United States for the color of their skin. Yet even though the two essay might seem alike, both essays go problems were treated different. In the essay "The Myth of a Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria" by Judith Ortiz Cofer she talks about how she felt being a Puerto Rican living in a country of judgment for being a Latina. In the second essay "How It Feels to Be Colored Me" by Zora Neale Hurston , she talks about how being a black female living in the
In the short reading “Like Mexicans” Gary Soto is undecided about what route he should pursue when moving on into the future. In his early teens his grandmother told him to become a barber and to marry a Mexican girl, Soto’s mother told him this as well. When Soto was in his twenties he ended up falling in love with a Japanese woman named Carolyn. Towards the end of the story Soto realized that the reason his mom wanted him to marry a Mexican girl was because they are in the same social class as him. At the end of the story when Soto is at Carolyn’s house he perceived that her family was different, but they were just like Mexicans because they were poor. Throughout this story Soto crossed three life changes: Culture, food,
Amy Tan’s ,“Mother Tongue” and Maxine Kingston’s essay, “No Name Woman” represent a balance in cultures when obtaining an identity in American culture. As first generation Chinese-Americans both Tan and Kingston faced many obstacles. Obstacles in language and appearance while balancing two cultures. Overcoming these obstacles that were faced and preserving heritage both women gained an identity as a successful American.
The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria, an essay written by Judith Ortiz Cofer, discusses the racial stereotypes Cofer struggles with as a Latin woman who travels across America. Throughout her life, Cofer discusses her interactions with people who falsely misjudge her as a Latin woman. Additionally, Cofer mentions other Hispanic women she has met in her life, who also suffer with racial assumptions. Although several people would disagree with Cofer and claim that she is taking racial remarks too seriously, racial stereotyping is a significant issue that should not be overlooked in our society. People should not base someone’s worth by their outward appearance or their ethnic background.
Yangsook Choi’s ‘The Name Jar’ published in the year 2001 is multicultural children’s fiction which deals with the apprehensions of a newly arrived Korean girl Unhie in the United States who is nervous about her name which she thinks kids in her new school will not be able to pronounce or understand. On the first day of her school while giving an introduction she tells the class that she hasn’t picked up a name yet post which a large jar filled with different American English names comes to her desk which leaves her confused as to which name to finally pick for herself. Will she pick up a new American name or continue with her Korean name? The story is multifaceted in its maneuverings of identity politics, culture, multiculturalism
In the story, “An Hour With Abuelo” by Judith Ortiz Cofer, Arturo goes to visit his Abuelo and throughout the story realizes that he shouldn’t be so quick to judge the people that care about him because you might find them to be worth your time. This story teaches its readers that you should cherish the time you have with the people that love you. Arturo thinks to himself, “I want my mother to have to wait a little. I don’t want her to think that I’m in a hurry or anything.” (Cofer, 140) This quote proves that he realizes he has a lot in common with his Abuelo and ended up enjoying the time he had with him. Throughout the story Arturo and Abuelo realize all the things they have in common with each other. This idea brings the readers back to the thought that it is never too late to make a connection and enjoy the time you have with the people who love you.