Mother Tongue

Dr. Peih-ying Lu

Nov. 5, 2009

Human Conflict

Pre-reading questions

Discuss the differences between formal language (language you might use with a teacher), informal language (language you might use with a parent), and slang (language you might use with a friend).

Explain how cultural differences are reflected in language.

Explain how one’s language skills affect his or her chances for success in the world.

In-class discussion

Explain what Tan means by “different Englishes” How does Tan’s mother’s ability to speak English differ

from her ability to understand it? Why is Tan uncomfortable using the words “broken” or

“limited” to describe her mother’s English? How does the English spoken by Tan’s mother affect

the way she is treated by other people? Why did Tan’s teachers steer her toward math and

science?

Why does Tan think there are not more Asian American writers represented in American literature?

Why, as a beginning writer, did Tan produce such stilted sentences as “ That was my mental quandary in its nascent state”?

Explain why Tan finally writes stories “using all the Englishes [she] grew up with”.

Language plays a role in determining one person’s perception of another: and the language used in the home has a potential effect on a child’s success.

Tan discusses her own experience as the child of immigrant parents to illustrate her points.

Ex1. She was not taken seriously by service people such as clerks and waiters.

Ex2. hospital

Tan shows how she has effectively combined her “mother tongue” and standard English. She finds value in all of her Englishes: her mother’s English, her own standard English, her English translation of her mother’s Chinese, and her mother’s “translation of her Chinese if she could speak in perfect English.”