People who are conscious of their indigenous identity are keen to incorporate aspects of their mother tongue in common languages. However, not all individuals feel proud of expressing their forms of synthesized language. The relationship between cultural identity and language is mutual. Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” and Anzaldua Gloria “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” are exquisite examples of the formation of language and cultural identities due to interactions with American culture. A comparative analysis of both texts can reveal that each author identifies differently to a unique language identity. There are many people who say that the English language does not play a major role in the identity of those from different countries. In fact, language
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Both authors Anzaldua and Tan experience the same kind of resentment due to their imperfect use of the English language. Due to this pressure, their language and behavior becomes subjective to the external force to conform to the proper use of American English. Tan, for example, states; “When I was fifteen, she used to have me call people on the phone and pretend I was she…I was forced to ask for information or event to complain and yell at people who had been rude to her.” On the other hand, Anzaldua describes her experience as a ‘Mexican outsider” with the following proverbial phrase, “Wild tongues can’t be tamed, they can only be cut out.” In such a simple statement, Anzaldua refers to the pressure she receives from her fellow Mexicans who want her to adopt the Chicano language paradigm as well as language conscious Americans. Anzaldua (2013) experiences undue pressure from the academic world to adopt proper pronunciation and speech etiquette to fit in the American society. In both cases, the respondents transcend beyond language bias prevalent in the American culture and establishes their unique sense of cultural sensitivity appreciated by both their supporters and
Both authors Anzaldua and Tan experience the same kind of resentment due to their imperfect use of the English language. Due to this pressure, their language and behavior becomes subjective to the external force to conform to the proper use of American English. Tan, for example, states; “When I was fifteen, she used to have me call people on the phone and pretend I was she…I was forced to ask for information or event to complain and yell at people who had been rude to her.” On the other hand, Anzaldua describes her experience as a ‘Mexican outsider” with the following proverbial phrase, “Wild tongues can’t be tamed, they can only be cut out.” In such a simple statement, Anzaldua refers to the pressure she receives from her fellow Mexicans who want her to adopt the Chicano language paradigm as well as language conscious Americans. Anzaldua (2013) experiences undue pressure from the academic world to adopt proper pronunciation and speech etiquette to fit in the American society. In both cases, the respondents transcend beyond language bias prevalent in the American culture and establishes their unique sense of cultural sensitivity appreciated by both their supporters and