Rigdon Hermann
Rich Simpson
March 21, 2021
WRTG 111
How to Tame a Wild Tongue Response
In the story, "How to Tame a Wild Tongue," by Gloria Anzaldua, the author depicts the harsh lifestyle of those who speak the "Chicano" dialect, a sublanguage of Spanish in Latin America. Chicano Spanish is a border language that developed near two different cultures and languages. She talks about her childhood, and how her mother would scold her whenever she spoke English "like a Mexican." She mentions how speaking English was looked down upon by the Latinos in her life for speaking "the oppressor's tongue." The Chicano people's language is based on Mexican Spanish, however, it has implemented many archaisms and colloquial terms and sayings. This creates a dialect that has many similarities to Mexican Spanish, but due to its changes and unique sayings, is looked down upon by the majority of Latinos for being "unpure."
She often interjects Chicano sayings or words to provide the exact emotion and feeling she is trying to describe. Some things cannot be described using only one language. However, by speaking many of these "unpure" languages, she doesn't feel like she fits into many cultures, and doesn't accept the legitimacy of herself. At the end of the story, she confidently states that she will keep her voice and that she will no longer feel ashamed of who she is, or what languages she speaks. This section of the essay speaks volumes on the struggles she has faced, and how much it must have affected her over her lifetime. The author's paper effectively uses ethos and pathos, by connecting to the readers' emotions. And by the multiple personal experiences told by the author.
I also liked how she placed Spanish and Chicano words in her essay to show the reader she knew what she was talking about and give more meaning. She was able to do this perfectly and keep the reader interested because of the description she places after or before the words that showed what they meat and why she was using them.
ReplyDeleteGood work identifying how Anzaldua both identifies the traumatic impact of this 'impure' and socially unaccepted language on her own psyche--and the psyche of other chicana women--but also ends on a statement of pride and strength regarding the future and the value of mestizaje. These details establish important emotions, as well asshow complexity and uniqueness of her identity. Bringing in the multiple voices and perspectives also allows her essay form to reflect the specific argument she is making. Good work pointing these out at the level of writing technique.
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