October 26

“How to Tame a Wild Tongue”

1. For homework, write three of your ten questions here. Then, thoroughly answer one of them. Be ready for your Socratic Monday. We are going to do this one differently.

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Posted October 26, 2012 by tashak38 in category Uncategorized

About the Author

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area--Big Up to the East Bay

40 thoughts on ““How to Tame a Wild Tongue”

  1. Bilguun B.

    Bilguun Batdorj
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English 2*
    8 Nov 2012

    1.) Why does Gloria Anzaldua of “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” start her essay with her experience with the dentist?

    2.) Why did the people in Anzaldua’s early life treat her so badly just because she had a accent when speaking English?

    3.) What situation in the story did you feel a connection to?

    3.) While reading the essay I felt a strong connection to Anzaldua when her English teacher stated,” If you want to be American, speak ‘American.’ If you don’t like it, go back to Mexico where you belong. I have always had trouble trying to say the things I want to in English. I always thought that I have a strong foreign accent and always had trouble forming up words.

    Reply
  2. Maria F.

    Maria F.
    Period 2
    AP ENG. 11

    1)Has anyone every missed judge you my your accent?

    2) Why is there so many different forms of spanish speaking?

    3) Why is the esaay called “How to tame a wild tongue”?

    3) I think that the essay has its name because in the essay it basically explains how people tongues has a mind of its own.

    Reply
  3. Dartise

    1. Why do you think there are so many different categories of Spanish?

    2. Why is it so important for Hispanics to speak Spanish as if they were natives when all cultures have different variations on the way they speak?

    3. How do you think Anzaldua felt when she wasn’t accepted in any of the cultures?

    3. She felt left out and separated from both cultures since she spoke different types of Spanish and didn’t have the right accent.

    Reply
  4. Niauni Hill

    Niauni Hill
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English, Period 1
    29 October 2012

    1) What does “Muchachitas bien criadas” mean?

    2) There are a lot of events writhing the story, what is the main theme?

    3) Why does the author show different typed of Spanish in different ways?

    Answer to 3) I feel the author shows different types of Spanish in different ways to prove a point. I believe the author is trying to prove that regardless of what type of Spanish you speak, it all relates.

    Reply
  5. Merritt W.

    Merritt Walker
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English 2
    28 October 2012

    1. Why did the author name all of the different languages?
    2. Why was speaking English so important to Anzaldua’s mom and in her school?
    3. Why did Gloria Anzaldua struggle with her identity?

    Anzaldua struggled with her identity because people were telling her not to be herself. “I remember being caught speaking Spanish at recess-that was good for three licks on knuckles with a ruler”. The teachers would hit her for speaking her own language, and they made the Hispanic students take speech courses to lose their accents. They wanted her to become and American, but she didn’t want to lose her Hispanic heritage. She learned different types of Spanish to and English to identify her identity. By the end of the autobiography she found her identity, and she is proud of who she is.

    Reply
  6. Yarelli Lopez

    Yarelli Lopez
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English 11. Per. 1
    28 October 2012

    1) What does Anzaldúa mean when she says,”Because we speak with tongues of fire we are culturally crucified?”
    2) The saying, “Dime con quien andas y te diré quien eres. (Tell me who your friends are and i’ll tell you who you are.)” Do you believe that by the people who you surround yourself with, someone can make a conclusion about who you are?
    3)Have you ever been discriminated or put down because of your ethnicity and/or culture and how did you feel?
    3A) Yes sadly i have been put down because of who i am, the language i speak, and my skin color. It feels awful and i must admit that sometimes i wish i could be someone else that no one judges ,but this society is shaped with stereotypes that seem to never have an end. Fortunately, I’m beginning to learn that i should not let anyone talk bad about where i come from because in the end we are all humans.

    Reply
  7. Oscar G.

    Oscar G.
    Period 1
    1. Why do you think the title of the essay is, “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”?
    2. Does the constant mispronunciation of your name bother you? Why or why not?
    3. Have you ever felt limited to not being yourself?
    1. I think that the essay was titled, “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” not just because in the opening story it involves a dentist struggling with the patient’s tongue. But because in theory the tongue is what allows us to talk. Adding on, so if somebody is talking back, or they say something they are not supposed to say they are considered a “wild tongue.” Which is what the people who do not speak English, in this case the Mexicans, are being classified as.

    Reply
  8. Phuong-My N.

    Phuong-My N.
    Keeble
    AP English, Per. 2
    28 October 2012

    How to Tame a Wild Tongue

    1. What’re the differences between the eight languages? They all include English and Spanish; so why must it be listed in eight different ways?
    2. How did the Nortenos or North Mexican border people become a gang? How did it go from Norteno music to Norteno gangs?
    3. What does the author mean when she says, “Even our own people, other Spanish speakers nos quieren poner candados en la boca. They would hold us back with their bag of reglas de academia.” (P. 24, Paragraph 4).
    3. I think the author means that other Spanish speakers want to seal their mouths and minds and follow the academic rules because she heard two women say the word “nosotras” for the first time. Since she is a Chicana, she believes that her dialect of speaking is getting robbed by the masculine plural; therefore, it was odd to hear the Puerto Rican and a Cuban women say a word of the feminine plural.

    Reply
  9. Caitlin H.

    Caitlin Huie
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English Per 2
    28 October 2012

    1. Have you ever been in a situation where you couldn’t speak a certain language?

    2. Why do you think she used the story of the dentist in the beginning?

    3. Anzaldua said she lost her Pachuco tongue. Have you ever lost a language you once knew?

    3. When I was younger I knew how to speak basic Chinese. I knew the basic words like the colors and the numbers. Like Anzaldua, I lost this language because I didn’t practice it and I didn’t have anyone else to talk to. Everyone around me spoke English; it went into my brain while Chinese came out of it.

    Reply
  10. Amacalli Duran

    Amacalli Duran
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English
    29 October 2012

    1) Why is Chicano not believed or embraced as an ethnicity?

    2) How does the author dehumanize herself?

    3) How does the Hispanic view of Chicanos differ from the American View?
    A: Hispanics view Chicanos as “Panchos” or in other words “White- Washed” Hispanics. To Hispanics, Chicanos are individuals who do not take pride in their true heritage. Chicanos are individuals who attempted to fuse two cultures that cannot and should not be mixed together. Chicanos do not have the time or patience to fully learn Spanish, and instead they created Spanglish. Overall, to Hispanics, Chicanos are a disgrace. To Americans, Chicanos are viewed as the typical Hispanic. Americans do not notice the difference between the two ethnicities and stereotype them under the same category. Overall, Chicanos follow neither of these prejudice judgments, and is instead its own unique ethnicity.

    Reply
  11. Rebekah N.

    Rebekah N.
    AP English, Period 5
    26 October 2012

    1.) Are the author’s insecurities of her native tongue or speech just as strong asmy insecurities about what I wear?

    2.) Why would the author include quotes of a different language knowing not all readers will understand?

    3) Does the Author realize that by repeatedly using quotes of a different language it makes the non-spanish-speaking reader feel inferior just as she did when she was in school.

    Question 1’s answer: Yes, the author’s insecurities about her accent and native tongue are just as strong as my own insecurities. However, being that mine are vastly different from her’s supports her theory in how the setting of were we have grown up in or are brought up in can determine our future challenges. For example, later in the author’s adulthood she had to accustom herself to the way’s of the American Spanish-speakers just how I now deal with being a prideful and an inconsiderate person. Growing up, I was always taught to be proud of who I am or want to be. This later would blind my judgment in whom to put trust in and i now have a hard time not being naive or having my judgments swayed easily to please the people around me.

    Reply
  12. Rebekah N.

    Rebekah N.
    AP English, Period 5
    26 October 2012

    1.) Are the author’s insecurities of her native tongue or speech just as strong as my insecurities about what I wear?

    2.) Why would the author include quotes of a different language knowing not all readers will understand?

    3) Does the Author realize that by repeatedly using quotes of a different language it makes the non-spanish-speaking reader feel inferior just as she did when she was in school.

    Question 1’s answer: Yes, the author’s insecurities about her accent and native tongue are just as strong as my own insecurities. However, being that mine are vastly different from her’s supports her theory in how the setting of were we have grown up in or are brought up in can determine our future challenges. For example, later in the author’s adulthood she had to accustom herself to the way’s of the American Spanish-speakers just how I now deal with being a prideful and an inconsiderate person. Growing up, I was always taught to be proud of who I am or want to be. This later would blind my judgment in whom to put trust in and i now have a hard time not being naive or having my judgments swayed easily to please the people around me.

    Reply
  13. Maribel Rodriguez

    Maribel Rodriguez
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English
    28 October 2012

    1) Anazulda talks about all the different forms of Spanish that she knows how to speak. What are the ones that she likes the most?

    2) Why do you think Anazulda prefers these languages? What makes them so special?

    The author of this essay tells us about the languages that she feels more comfortable with. I think they are special to her because she grew up with them and she knows how to speak them well.

    3) Why do you think Anazulda started off her essay with the story of her at the dentist? What does this have to do with the main idea of the essay?

    Reply
  14. Dominique

    Dominique
    AP English 11 Per 2
    October 28, 2012

    1. Why is it such a crime to speak a different language in America in this time period?
    2. Why is language domained by the masculine?
    3. Why does Anzaldua say “I am my language?
    I think that Anzaldua says that “I am my language because I believe that she takes alot of pride in her language and overall culture. Anzaldua not only considers language as her communication but also her identity. Her language makes up who she is as a person and tells stories about her and her journeys through life. Different languages can alter the experiences one goes through and it changes the effect of how they are seen by society. I feel that Anzaldua takes her language personally because it is important to her and to offend her language is to offend her.

    Reply
  15. Jhoann B.

    Jhoann B.
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English 11 Period 2
    28 October 2012

    1. Why did Anzaldua format her essay the way she did? What did she hope to accomplish in doing so?

    2. Why did the author write this essay?

    3. How does Anzaldua relate self-identity and language?

    2. Anzaldua writes “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” to demonstrate how language reflects an individual’s identity. She argues that Chicanos make up one unique culture, even though they speak various forms of Chicano spanish. Anzaldua dislikes how people criticize Chicanos for not speaking “orthodox” Spanish and believes that being Chicano is something to be proud of.

    Reply
  16. Areli S.

    Areli Sanchez
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English 11, Period 2
    October 28th 2012

    1. What role does language take in defining a person? Does it play a role in your life?
    2. Gloria speaks about different names/ labels used in the Latin community, do you think it helps unify the culture or seperate the people with different classifications of what they are ?
    3. Have you ever dealt with a clash in your identity regarding culture and language?

    2. Personally, I believe the different names given to us “Latinos” is in reality segregating us from one another. I believe tbt labeling yourself as Mexican, Latino, Chicana , Mestiza,ect. actually causes the people to see each other differently. I believe we should all just refer to each other as Nicantlacan which just means indeginous people. I am guilty of classifying myself as these labels though.

    Reply
  17. Caleb M.

    Caleb Matthews
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English, Period 2
    October 28, 2012

    1. What makes languages powerful enough to oppress an entire group of people, like the Chicano people mentioned in the story?

    2. Is the negative view of Chicano Spanish by traditional Spanish speakers similar to view of urban slang by people who speak proper English? Explain.

    3. Does Anzaldua purposely try to write in a style that replicates Chicano Spanish in the efforts to make the narrative seem more perceptible?

    The negative views on Chicano Spanish and English slang by traditional spanish speakers and proper english speakers, respectively, are very similar. In both scenarios, the traditional/proper speakers see their language as being superior because of its longer age. In almost all scenarios today, older generations look down upon new trends that are made by they younger generations, so the same could be said about language styles as well.

    Reply
  18. Haley Rosano

    Haley R.
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English 11 per. 2
    28 October 2012

    1. Why is it so wrong for people to speak a language other than English?

    2.How come mainly women have derogatory names and or terms attached to them?

    3.Why do Americans always try to “Americanize” people of another ethnicity?

    3. I believe Americans try to make others like them because they feel like they are helping them. By helping them I am saying that Americans want others to be identical to the American lifestyle; Everyone should supposedly do everything the exact same way, like robots. When you come from another country, everything is foreign. You should not be expected to automatically pick up the ins and outs of America. Americans themselves should learn somethings form other cultures like originality.

    Reply
  19. Gonzalo Haro

    Gonzalo Haro
    AP Lang. and Comp.
    Ms. Keeble
    Oct. 29, 2012

    1)Why did Anzaldua’s mother hate the way she spoke English?

    2) Why was Anzaldua shocked when she heard the Puerto Rican ladies say “nosotras”?

    3) Why was Anzaldua punished for speaking Spanish at school?

    1) Anzaldua’s mother hated the way she spoke English, because she spoke it “like a Mexican”; with an accent. She didn’t like that because she thought it was uneducated and low-class. Her mom wanted her to be more American because she wanted her to have a better chance of getting a good job later in life. She also thought that there was no point of an education if Anzaldua was to speak like a Mexican.

    Reply
  20. Ross H.

    Ross H
    Apeng 11
    Keeble
    28 October 2012
    1.Do you think most people tie language and personal identity so closely together?

    2.Are people made fun of for their language to this day?

    3.Why do people make others ashamed of their language?

    2. I know that people are mad fun of today for there language. I have seen it happen. I have seen people openly make fun of a teacher at school for the way she talks. That she not for america so her language is much more formal than the average person. I think that people are made fun of just for what side of the country they are in. Most of my family is on the east coast and they even make fun of how i talk. They say that they cant understand my California talk or that I talk to fast. They try to imitate how I talk. In the modern age people are still made fun of for how they talk.

    Reply
  21. Joelynn D.

    Joelynn D.

    Ms. Keeble

    AP English – 2nd

    How to Tame a Wild Tongue Questions

    1) How is her tongue at tongue at the dentist’s metaphorical for her “wild tongue?”

    I think that her tongue at the dentist is metaphorical for the way she expresses herself and speaks. Many people told her that her language was different, bad, and even awful. They tried to suppress her language, her identity, and event her self-expression. Similarly to the dentist who told her that her tongue was wild and needed to be restrained. It is metaphorical for the language and identify other’s try to suppress, and the fight she puts up against her oppressors.

    2) Why are languages important to people, and why do individuals feel the need to identify with a language?

    3)How does a person’s language and way of speaking affect how they see themselves?

    Reply
  22. Rachel N.

    Rachel N.
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English Language & Composition
    29 October 2012

    1) Would you agree that a wild tongue that has spoken its native language forever, cannot be tamed, but only cut out?

    2) Should you let shame of speaking your native language stop you from being confident about who you are and where you come from?

    3) Is it your duty to identify with every ethnic group you come from in your past? Or is it up to the person whether or not to identify with a certain race or not?

    1) If someone has spoken a native language since they were born and are now forced to become completely Americanized, that tongue can be tamed, but will never be completely cut out. When you speak a certain language, it has an overwhelming impact and influence over your life both emotionally and throughout society. To have someone completely step in and try to take that part of you away is impossible. You may learn how to navigate through your new environment and relate to it so you can get around, but it will always affect your perspectives and determine the way you interact with your society. A wild tongue can be tamed to a certain degree, but will never be completely cut out.

    Reply
  23. Rachael B.

    Rachael B.
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English 11, Period 2
    28 October 2012

    1. Has having an accent ever been an issue when communicating with another?
    Well, it wasn’t me who had an accent that made it difficult to communicate. Either way, it is a problem when you can’t make sense of the words that someone says.

    2. How is limiting someone’s tongue, their language, is a form of oppression, a form of violence and murder?
    It’s a form of oppression because of the fact.that the person who wants to speak another language doesn’t have the freedom to do so because someone is stopping it from happening. In a way, it is like murder/violence because without the use of a language, it is dying. In other words, that means the language disappears since it’s not used enough to be memorized, etc.

    3. When she explains that people look down on her because she spoke Spanish, how do you think that made her feel?
    It probably made her feel ashamed because people looked at it as a bad thing to do.

    Reply
  24. Alicia O.

    Alicia O.
    AP English
    Ms. Keeble
    28 October 2012

    1. How is hitting someone for speaking the language of their culture result on the fading away of that language?

    2. Why would listening to the music of your own culture be embarrasing?

    3. Why is it that just like Gloria said, that people feel more comfterable speaking their language with people their own race?

    In my opinion hitting someone for speaking the language that is not English is a form of getting rid of that language. In many cases this is done since a young age so if kids see that not speaking English gets them in trouble they would not do it again. They do not want to get hit so instead they will just not talk that language again. Them not practicing the other language just English is what will make the language fade away since less peolpe will be speaking it.

    Reply
  25. Aaron Chon

    Aaron Chon
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English 11
    29 October 2012

    1) What is the objective of the author in using Spanish and English interchangeably in the text?

    2) How does the culture of a person affect them both positively and negatively?

    3) Where should society draw the line between what is acceptable and what is not in creating distinctions for different cultural groups, and should such distinctions exist in the first place?

    Answer to 1) The author uses two different languages to portray ideas that can only be presented accurately in that way. Often, when I am watching a show that has been dubbed into English from its original language, it loses much of its context and effect as contrasted to to the version that had the original language.

    Reply
  26. Heather H.

    Heather House
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English 11- Period 2
    28 October 2012

    1.What does the author imply by listing different versions of the same language as different languages all together?

    2.Is the pressure to assimilate still prevalent in this day and age?

    3.How does the Chicanas’ use of “nosotros” even when “nosotras” is appropriate relate to today’s society?

    In society, the term “guys” is used to refer to groups of all genders. Also, “he” is the pronoun most commonly used when the gender of an individual is not known. While I do not think this is in any way intentionally sexist, it is interesting to think about how quickly we jump to male pronouns.

    Reply
  27. Canyon R

    Canyon Riley
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English 11, Period 2
    28 October 2012
    1). Throughout the essay, Anzaldua writes in both Spanish and English to get her opinions across. Why does she use both languages when she could just use one? What does this say about her persona?
    2). Anzaldua describes language as being “… a male discourse.” What does she mean by that? Why does she say,” … other Spanish speakers nos quieren poner candados en la boca”?
    3). What does Anzaldua consider to be “linguistic terrorism” and why?
    1). Anzaldua writes in both Spanish and English because it is comfortable for her. Anzaldua prefers to be true to her rather than following a strict guideline. Both languages make up who she is as a person. She moves forwarding by accepting English into her life, but does not forget about her roots.

    Reply
  28. Jasmine J.

    Jasmine
    AP English 11, 1st Period
    Ms. Keeble
    28 October 2012

    1. Why would restraining ones native tongue be considered a form of injustice?

    2. Do you feel Gloria and people like her feel embarrassed about who they are? Why or why not?

    3. Do Chicanos experience a different kind of discrimination than the rest of us? Why or why not?

    3. I feel like Chicanos experience a different kind of discrimination because they get it from both sides of the border, per say. Americans discriminate against them because of their accents and they’re not like us. Mexicans discriminate against them because they feel like they’re “whiter” than the rest of them. They have to create their own identity because they don’t have the option to fit themselves into they identity associated with their race.

    Reply
  29. Desiree N.

    Desiree N.

    Ms. Keeble

    AP English 11

    28 October 2012

    1. Why does Gloria Anzaldua start her essay off with the dentist telling her she has to tame her wild tongue?
    2. How is controlling someone’s tongue, language, a form of oppression?
    3. Why do Chicanas feel uncomfortable talking in Spanish to Latinas?
    2. Controlling someone’s language is oppression because language is someone’s identity, it shows who they are, where they come from. Language is how people express themselves, if you tame and control a language, you are stopping a person from being who they are and what is comfortable to them.

    Reply
  30. Jessica A

    1. What is one possible justification for the multiple versions of Spanish that are spoken?

    2. What can you tell about what the Chicano’s beliefs given their use of “nosotros” rather than “nosotras” for females?

    3. Why is “American” written in quotes on page 23?
    – A common misconception that people have is that the United States is really America. In reality, United States is part of America, along with Canada, Mexico, and let’s not forget to mention southern and central American countries. Living in America, doesn’t mean you speak American. Being American may be a culture and America may be a continent, but it is not a language. For example, living in Mexico doesn’t mean you speak Mexican, and if you live in Austria, you speak German, not Austrian.

    Reply
  31. Veronica

    Veronica
    Ap English
    Oct. 28, 2012

    1.) What do you think triggered Anzaldua to write this excerpt?

    2.) How do you think judging someone by their native tongue affects the way they perceive themselves?

    3.) What are some of the things Anzaldua learned through this experience?

    2.) By judging someone on how they talk makes them think they aren’t as important as everyone else because they can’t speak the native language as well as others. They might also feel out of place and make them feel bad since they really wouldn’t be able to communicate. It’s also disrespectful to judge someone by their native tongue because it causes them to look down upon themselves and make them feel worthless. It’s part of who they are and where they came from which should never be shameful.

    Reply
  32. Kiloni D.

    Klioni Driskell
    AP English, Period 2
    Ms. Keeble
    28 October 2012

    1) How does Anzaldua’s language effect her experiance in the outside world?
    Anzaldua’s language effected her because she felt like it was a violation of the first Admendment. Anzaldua was trying to help the teacher pronounce her name in the correct way and the teacher cuts her off and says “If you want to be American, speak American. If you don’t like it go back to Mexico where you belong.” The speaker felt she had to be somebody she wasn’t.

    2) What was Anzaldua’s purpose of this arguement?
    Anzaldua’s purpose was to let people know that their language identifies who they are. You shouldn’t be forced to speak another language. Someone’s language is their culture and accept them for who they are as a person and not how they look and sound.

    3) What are the other subtle ways the speaker internalize identificaiton?
    The way the speaker identifies herself is the smell of food, the stench of cow manure, wood smoke curlling in the blue sky, homemade white chesse sizzling in a pan, melting inside a folded tortilla and etc.

    Reply
  33. Efrain E

    Efrain E.
    October 28, 2012
    Period 1

    1) Have you ever been ridiculed for the way you speak?

    2)Would you identify more with the country you live in or the country you or your parents were born in?

    3) How would you react if you were not accepted by society because of your culture?

    I identify myself more with the country that I live in simply because I’ve been living here my entire life and I am accustomed to it. There are some things from Mexico that I prefer, but most of my identity comes from the United States. If I lived in Mexico then I might identify more with that country, but I was born in the United States so I don’t.

    Reply
  34. Jonathan v

    Jonathan V
    Ms.Keeble
    Ap Eng and Comp
    Period 1

    1. What does Anazaldua mean when she talks about some people having forked tongues?

    2. How would you feel if somebody approached you and said that the language that comes out of your mouth is wrong?

    3. What do tou think influenced the idea to hit a Chicano if they spoke the only language they knew?

    1. Anazaldua talked in one of her paragrahs about a forked toungue. I think she means or she is refering to a person that knows two languages, in her terms I have a forked tongue because I can utilize these and speak them well. Snakes can do different sounds with their toung because it is forked; those sounds can be used in certain occassions. Alike humans that can speak two languages, can use this conversion of”sounds” when needed.

    Reply
  35. Sidney

    Sidney M
    AP English
    Period 1
    1) what languages does the author claim Chicanos today speak?
    Anzaldua  claims their are eight different languages/dialects that are spoken. The most used by her are Chicano Spanish, Tex-mix , and Pachuco amongst the languages of standard Mexican Spanish, North Mexican Spanish, standard Spanish, working class English slang, and standard English.

    2) what definitions of words used surprised you? 
    As a Spanish speaker myself, I never realized that the language Pachuco had these definitions. I have heared these words used millions of times by different people but never knew their exact definitions. For example Rucca meaning girl. How do I know the male version of the word but not female? 

    3) What situation in the story did you feel a connection to? 
    When the author began talking about how other Chicanas try to avoid each other because they are afraid to see the truth of their similarities, I felt a connection. I hear how some people speak Spanish and I’m afraid that I speak as terribly. So in order to avoid giving someone the opportunity of judging my Spanish, I prefer to speak to a known English speaker, in English. 

    Reply
  36. Hannah R.

    Hannah Reddy
    Ms. Keeble
    AP English 11, Period 2
    29 October 2012

    1. Have you ever experienced a situation like the one Gloria did when dealing with her tacher?
    2. Has having an accent ever been an issue when communicating with other?
    3. Have you ever been ashamed of who you were?

    Even though English was my primary language and my first language at that, I sadly did have an accent. I formed my accent from my grandmother who had a mixture of an English and Indian accent. It was truly very hard and sometimes embarrasing and frustrating to communicate with other people. No one could ever understand what I was saying, and after twenty unexaggerated times of telling the person my name or any other type of information, I gave up and had to whisper what I wanted to say in my mothers ears for her to relay the message. A lot of the times my older sister’s friends used to think my accent was so cute they used to mimick me, which I then began to become less and less fond of them! I didn’t completely lose my accent until the sixth or seventh grade, which for me seemed like eernity.

    Reply
  37. Elisha Hussain

    Elisha Hussain
    AP English 11, Period: 5
    October 27, 2012

    1) What were some of the insults and putdowns that Anazaldua heard from her others?
    As you read more into the essay you come across people accusing Anazulda of not fitting into a certain culture. For, example when she attended Pan American University, it was reqiured for her and other Chicano people to take two speech classes. This was becuase their accenty wasn’t perfect like the American accent, and people wanted to tame their wild tongues. Also, Anazulda explains on page 24 that many of her own people said to her that she was speaking the opressor’s language and that she was ruining the Spanish language.

    2) What languages did Anazulda speak, and which ones were closest to her heart?
    Anazulda spoke standard English, working class and slang English, standard Spanish, standard Mexican Spanish, North American Spanish dialect, Chicano Spanis, Tex-Mex, and Pachuco. Chicano Spanish and Tex-Mex were clsoest to her heart.

    3) What does Anazula mean when she says “There are more subtle ways that we internalize identification..”
    In my personal opinion I believe that Anazula means that there are many ways that people identify us, but in reality there is only one way that matters and that is the way we identify ourselves.

    Reply
  38. lizeth jacinto

    Lizeth Jacinto
    Ms. Keeble
    AP.English
    1.Why do you belive that the author explains diffrent types of spanish usesor ways?
    2.When she expalins that people look down at her because she spoke spanish how do you think that made her feel?
    3.The authoer uses certain qoutes to emphasize the idea of the essay why do belive that she does this?
    I belive that the author uses certain qoutes because she is trying to show that no matter what language you speak you tounge always has control over what you say.Also to give examples to what she was writting in her essay.

    Reply
  39. Tanzeel H.

    Tanzeel Hak
    AP English, Period 2
    Ms. Keeble
    26 October 2012

    1) How is limiting someone’s tongue, their language, is a form of oppression, a form of violence and murder?

    2) What is the closeness of language, culture, and identity? Why would talking bad about someone’s language be harmful?

    3) What does the author mean by saying, “She describes the shame that many Chicanos feel because either their language isn’t English enough or Spanish enough, and how many Chicanos will be hostile to each other because of the language spoken?”

    2) Someone’s language, culture, and identity defines who they are. Language and culture are two things that go hand in hand within a person’s background. People’s culture and language were made together a very long time ago. Each language has a different culture. Together they define one’s uniqueness. A person’s culture consists of how they act, what they eat, the things they do and basically how they speak. If you criticize somebody’s language you basically criticizing their character and who they are along with their culture.

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