Analysis of “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan: DRAFT Essay Example

Furthermore, she frequently utilizes words like "broken," "fractured," and "limited," which are consistently mentioned throughout the text.

These words imply how other people perceive her mother's English, which is influenced by her Chinese background. However, Tan effectively captures the reader's attention by using the opposite terms in the phrase "impeccable broken English." This contradiction of something being broken yet flawless is highly unusual. This phrase may suggest that although Tan's mother's English may be considered "limited" by some, she does not view it as incorrect as many others would. Tan explicitly says this when she mentions, "Some say they understand none of it, as if she were speaking pure Chinese."

Nevertheless, my mother's English is perfectly comprehensible and authentic to me. Moreover, she once again utilizes personification to highlight the evolving quality of her spoken English, describing it as "the intersection of memory upon imagination." In paragraph five, Amy shares various anecdotes and personal encounters to offer the audience a deeper insight into the hurdles she faced during her youth with her mother and the discrimination she endured.

In addition, Amy incorporates dialogue to give the readers a taste of her mother's language. The article aims to showcase that there isn't a single correct version of English; it exists in diverse forms and should be free from discrimination. Amy underscores this point by repeatedly highlighting the terms "English" and "Englishes" within the text.

Tan argues that people often hold narrow and prejudiced views of individuals from diverse cultural or linguistic backgrounds. She supports her claim by sharing her own encounters, particularly her mother's experiences. Tan gives the example of how people would dismiss her mother's credibility based on her

"broken" English, assuming she is uneducated. However, Tan also highlights that her mother reads Forbes magazine, which challenges these misconceptions.

An audience might be quite surprised to discover that an adult female from China, who has "watered-down" English, is able to comprehend complex matters such as listening to Wall Street Week, engaging in daily conversations with her stockbroker, and effortlessly reading all of Shirley MacLaine's books.

This demonstrates Tan's point about how society wrongly stereotypes people based on their language abilities. She uses simple language in the text, yet we can still grasp the complexity of her statement. The final paragraph emphasizes Tan's focus on her audience rather than seeking approval from critics, and she does not feel the need to write like a professor to effectively convey her message. Additionally, she consistently incorporates personal experiences throughout the text, further expanding on them.