The immediate context for this essay about Tan's mother's use of English is
her Chinese heritage
, and the broader context includes immigration and second-language acquisition.
What is the main purpose of Mother Tongue by Amy Tan?
The purpose of Amy Tan's essay, “Mother Tongue,” is
to show how challenging it can be if an individual is raised by a parent who speaks “limited English”
(36) as Tan's mother does, partially because it can result in people being judged poorly by others.
What is the claim of Mother Tongue by Amy Tan?
In her essay “Mother Tongue,” Amy Tan indeed argues that
a speaker's command of a language belies their knowledge, thoughts, and worth
. She demonstrates this claim by illustrating that her mother's “broken” English caused people to dismiss her.
What is the summary of Mother Tongue?
“Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan is
a story about the different ways to speak English she used to communicate with different people throughout her childhood
. I agree with her that our intelligence is judged by the way we speak.
How does Tan feel about her mother's tongue?
Tan, author of “Mother Tongue,” explains that her mother's language had the greatest influence on her understanding of English. … Tan believed that her mother's English
reflected the quality of what she had to say
-that the imperfections in her speech meant that her ideas were just as imperfect.
Why is the Mother Tongue important?
Mother tongue is
vital in framing the thinking and emotions of people
. Learning to speak in the mother tongue is very necessary for a child's comprehensive development. … It associates him to his culture, ensures enhanced cognitive development, and supports in the learning of other languages.
What is a good thesis statement for Mother Tongue?
Thesis Statement: Even though there are many aspects and characteristics of mother tongue that are important in facilitating skill in language and literature, the most important ones are the
educational qualifications and academic expertise
, mastery in the use of emotions to express ideas, and the appeal to shared …
Who is the target reader of Mother Tongue?
The intended audience of Amy Tan's essay “Mother Tongue” is
the people who criticize and judge Tan's mother's version of spoken English
. Tan uses the essay to convince her audience that her mother's version of English communicates effectively and is a powerful language.
What is the conflict in mother tongue?
The story points out the conflict
when Tan's mother would receive an item she needs on time only when Tan talks for her
. As a reader with a similar background, my parents came from a native land and we have been given less respect for not speaking English properly.
How would you describe Tan's relationship with her mother?
Despite the hardships people placed on Amy Tan and her family, Tan's relationship with her
mother grew stronger because of it
. To others, Tan's mother spoke a “broken” and “fractured” English, labeling her mother as limited when it came to the English language.
How did Amy Tan feel about her mother's English as a child?
In this text “Mother Tongue”, Amy Tan went in depth discussing her mother's language, which is Chinese. … The quote, “when I was growing up,
my mother's ‘limited' English limited my perception of her. I was ashamed of her English
. I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say..”.
What is the overall tone of Mother Tongue?
⚡Tan uses the diction in her work to show the reader her mothers troubles mastering the English language. In addition, her tone is
defensive, remorseful, and angry
. Using this diction, emotion, and tone she is able to feel what its like to be in her shoes and to see from her point of view.
Should mother tongue be given importance in primary education?
Research indicates that having a strong mother tongue foundation leads to a much better understanding of the curriculum as well as a more positive attitude towards school, so it's vital that
children maintain their first language
when they begin schooling in a different language.
What is the difference between mother tongue and first language?
Mother tongue is the
in-born language
, which a baby has already familiarized even in the gestation of mother before it was born. The first language is the language which a child acquires either through schooling or socialization, such as family.
What was the greatest challenge in teaching and learning mother tongue?
Some problems encountered by the teachers in implementing mother tongue – based instruction include
absence of books written in mother tongue
, lack of vocabulary, and lack of teacher-training. Nevertheless, the study indicated that major attention and effort are still necessary to be given to the approach.
What rhetorical devices are used in Mother Tongue?
In the story of “Mother Tounge”, the author has used
Appeal to pride ( an emotional appeal) device
to grab the attention of the audience. Amy Tan also uses other rhetorical devices such as anecdote and oxymoron to express her embarrassed and guilt, but loving attitude toward the broken English language of her mother.
