Immigrants Language In the essay “Mother Tongue,” Amy Tan describes an important realization she had In 1989. Conducting a symposium in San Francisco where she discussed her well-known book “The Joy Luck Club.” This symposium was the first time that her mother was part of her audience. Not until then, Tan realizes that the academic English she is using to address the audience is different than the one she uses with her mother. Tan’s essay describes the exploration of languages and how it can be part of our identity. Tan begins her story by stating, “ I am not a scholar of English or literature” (633). Meaning, she is not a linguistic or literary critic; she can only provide her opinion about language and its variations in this country
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She explains that her mother does not have difficulties reading the Forbes reports, listening to Wall Street Weekly and communicating with her stockbroker on a daily basis. Adding that her mother reads Shirley McLane’s books easily. Conversely, Tan friends explain that most of the time, when her mother talks to them, they do not understand what she is saying. On the other hand, Tan believes that her mother speaks clear as she can understand what she means without any trouble. Perhaps due to the adaptation Tan has had over the years. She has adjusted in knowing what her mother means even if it sounds verbally incorrect to …show more content…
Tan’s doctor’s office, are not willing to make an effort to understand her. This actions may have repercussions. Tan talks about the time her mother’s doctor lost some CAT scan tests, and because Tan’s mother has lost her husband and son to brain tumors, she is concern and upset of the way treated. With her “Limited” English, she was trying to get the doctor to understand her dilemma. Like many others with the same predicament, Tan’s mother was not getting proper treatment and respect, not until Tan 's mother requested the doctor to call her daughter, who at her arrival was able to communicate in “suitable” English her mother 's request. In another occasion, as Tan recalls, she had to call her mother’s brokers and pretend to be her. This as Tan explains was a less drastically example of the need for patients and willing to make an effort to understand those individuals who speak with an accent. As Tan points out, her mother goes direct to the point, a practice not well received in our
She explains that her mother does not have difficulties reading the Forbes reports, listening to Wall Street Weekly and communicating with her stockbroker on a daily basis. Adding that her mother reads Shirley McLane’s books easily. Conversely, Tan friends explain that most of the time, when her mother talks to them, they do not understand what she is saying. On the other hand, Tan believes that her mother speaks clear as she can understand what she means without any trouble. Perhaps due to the adaptation Tan has had over the years. She has adjusted in knowing what her mother means even if it sounds verbally incorrect to …show more content…
Tan’s doctor’s office, are not willing to make an effort to understand her. This actions may have repercussions. Tan talks about the time her mother’s doctor lost some CAT scan tests, and because Tan’s mother has lost her husband and son to brain tumors, she is concern and upset of the way treated. With her “Limited” English, she was trying to get the doctor to understand her dilemma. Like many others with the same predicament, Tan’s mother was not getting proper treatment and respect, not until Tan 's mother requested the doctor to call her daughter, who at her arrival was able to communicate in “suitable” English her mother 's request. In another occasion, as Tan recalls, she had to call her mother’s brokers and pretend to be her. This as Tan explains was a less drastically example of the need for patients and willing to make an effort to understand those individuals who speak with an accent. As Tan points out, her mother goes direct to the point, a practice not well received in our