Essay on Americ Home Of The Free?

America: Home of the Free? By welcoming the diverse languages and religions of the world, America is considered a melting pot of both cultural and ethnic identities. In “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldúa, she writes, “So, if you want to really hurt me, talk badly about my language. Ethnic identity is twin skin to linguistic identity - I am my language. Until I can take pride in my language, I cannot take pride in myself” (172). Anzaldúa believes that her ethnicity and language are what make her who she is. Therefore, by insulting her language, she is insulted as well. Her identity is “twin skin” with how she speaks. Linguistic identity is the ability for a person to speak freely in any language and ultimately their identity is shown through shared language. The things that define individuals are their actions, their behavior, and the way they talk. A person’s culture has a heavy influence on their identity throughout their lives. To disrespect an important part of their culture, their language, is to disrespect the person on an extremely interpersonal level. Therefore, the person would be discouraged from speaking their native language. Language constitutes who a person is; it binds that person’s existence to his or her identity and as a result, a person’s language becomes synonymous with their identity. Through multiple languages, a person develops a more heterogeneously diverse identity resulting in them being unique. Also, language helps the person to…