Today in class we read "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan. At the end of the essay, Tan says that she "Began to write stories using all the Englishes I grew up with." Read Tan's short story "Two Kinds" and analyze where and how she uses different "Englishes". Find a link to the short story
here.
The English language is such a mystery. Every person uses it differently and bends it to their needs. Amy Tan, as a writer, does an amazing job of switching between English and "broken English". But why does she use it? Tan was raised in a family where two languages were spoken constantly. Regular English and Chinese, a mixture of English and Chinese, and broken English were all normal things to be heard. As she developed into a writer, she was probably told she didn't have a good sense of the English language. But in Tan's case, she didn't need to. She had created her own style of writing that was much more interesting than the conventional English seen in most literature.
ReplyDeleteEvery household has its own language. Terms and phrases used between parents and children are different than those of another house's. Tan shows this in her story. In one of her paragraphs, she quotes her mother saying "You can be best anything." The words feel powerful coming from a woman who believes America can give you everything. Tan could have paraphrased her mother's words using correct grammar, but she chose to leave them as they were. Some people might tell Tan she should be ashamed of her mother's way of speaking, and even the way she speaks when with her mother. But Tan proudly displays it in her writing. She is not ashamed of her mother. In fact, even with how they're relationship is in the story, you feel a deep sense of pride for her mother coming from Tan. She is proud of the way her mother has succeeded in this country. Tan uses this kind of writing only when showing how her mother speaks, separating it from the perfect English shown in the narrative.
The narrative is written completely differently. When narrating the story, her English is almost impeccable. She uses words that are easily understandable, but manages to tell her story with feeling that is related to the reader. She knows her audience and gives them easily understood words instead of using large words that don't fit the way her's do. My favorite line, "... I realized they were two halves of the same song." found at the end of the story, made me feel the realization she felt. It might just be a pianist thing, or it might have been her words, but I felt that connection she had with the music, and the experiences that go with it, even after all these years. I think this line relates Tan to her mother. They are both the same person, determined and hard working, but each have their own characteristics. Her narrative English is so simple yet beautiful.
Tan's understanding and use of the English language is very unique. She is able to change from broken English into a very masterful narrative English. I was never bored reading her short story. I felt captivated the whole time I read it and was easily able to keep up with her switches in Englishes. The whole story was fluid and well written. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
i loved what you said in the second last paragraph especially. that was my favorite part of the story, too! I also agree about how you thought it was enjoyable to read.
DeleteHannah, I really like the way you describe language in your first paragraph! You have a good way of explaining things without going overboard! I also like how you referred to the quote about the songs and being a pianist. Overall, great job on your blog!
DeleteYou're first paragraph is so right! We all use the English language differently and that's what makes it so amazing. And I totally got the same feeling about the "two parts of the same song." It just clicked! Overall, your analysis was very good and well written. Nice job!
DeleteHannah, I love the way you started your second paragraph. “Every household has its own language”. This makes me think about the way my family speaks, and I can relate to what you are saying. I was also fully engaged while reading Amy Tan’s short story. Great work!
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ReplyDeleteThe English language isn't as beautiful as some other foreign languages when spoken, but if you listen to the way people speak and use their English it can be an amazing thing. Everywhere you go people will talk in different ways. English words are formed and said in different accents all over in America. Sometimes people mix a little of a previously known language into their English sentences when they talk when they can't think of the right word. Maybe even someone knows the right English words to say, but can't fit them together into proper sentences. A lot of people don't like this and it is known as "broken" English. These people, like Amy Tan's mother, aren't breaking the English language, they are taking it and adding some of their past to it, bringing a special sentimental quality to their words. They make English beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhen Tan writes, she holds nothing back. Tan is so open with her stories and it makes them easy and enjoyable to read. In her short story "Two Kinds" she quotes a lot of conversations between a few different people including her mother and herself. One of the first quotes in the story is when she quotes her mother saying "You can be best anything." She also quotes her later on saying "Our problem worser than yours." Everyone knows this isn't technically proper English, so the question is why didn't Tan change her mothers words?
I personally love how Tan didn't change her mothers words. I can relate in the way that my grandmother came from Italy, and I guess the way she speaks is considered "broken", too. I wouldn't have it any other way though. Even when me and my cousins tell stories about something she had said, we never change her words because it just wouldn't be the same. Also, you can still understand what Tan's mother is saying, so there isn't and real need to change it. Leaving it in her mothers own words is part of what makes reading her stories so enjoyable to read. It makes her stories real. You also can really see how much respect Tan has for her mother by leaving her words too. It shows much she loves her and thinks she is good enough even without perfect English.
When you look at the way that Tan writes and speaks, she is quite the opposite of her mother. Tan speaks in a very clear, relaxed English. She goes back and forth between these two English's so easily that you almost don't notice. She doesn't try to over complicate it, and she doesn't try to overcompensate with extremely proper English and grammar to make up for her mothers way of talking. She leaves in simple and keeps it the way it is in everyday life. Tan simply writes the words the way she remembers them and the way they were said.
Tan is very smart in her writings. She writes in a simple yet intelligent way that makes people want to continue reading. She writes what she knows and what she has experienced even if the sentences don't fit into the dictionary. Tan has a real gift with writing and really connects with her readers.
Felicia, I love the line in your opening paragraph, "bringing a special sentimental quality to their words. They make English beautiful." That was a really good point, and you expressed it beautifully! I also like how you brought a personal experience into your response. It made it even more enjoyable to read. You had a lot of great points. Good work!
DeleteFelicia, I absolutely love how you related your grandmother to Tan's mother. It helped me see the bigger picture of the story! I also agree with Hannah about that line in your first paragraph. It was a great way to put things! All in all, you did a fantastic job on your blog!
DeleteLanguage is used every day by everyone. Whatever it may be, English, Chinese, Spanish, or sign language, it represents who a person is. Well, sort of. What language a person speaks typically defines their nationality. But, their language does not define a person as a whole. English is an amazing language to know how to speak. People from different areas of the United States have accents and call things differently from our area. You can get to know a person better by truly listening to their language. When a person learns English as their second language, they tend to have troubles. They mix up words and have difficulties with the order of words in a sentence. They also leave articles out of sentence, like Amy Tan's mother did. But her mother spoke English the way she wanted to, and that was how she got her point across. It might not be considered "proper", but in the end, who really cares?
ReplyDeleteTan's mother expressed her opinion without worrying about who me might hurt. She just wanted the best for her daughter. I feel as though Amy Tan writes the way she does because of her mother and her supposed "broken" English. Tan wanted to be the best her that she could possible be. Tan was proud of how her mother spoke. She kept her mother's words the way she said them, not caring that it isn't correct grammar to the rest of the world. This is one of the ways Tan uses many "Englishes" in her writing. It's not just the fact that her mother talks this way, but the fact that Tan accepts her mother for her language. I feel like many of us would not accept our parents if they constantly spoke with "limited" or "broken" English today. That's something we all can learn from Tan.
Tan has the ability to let her audience understand exactly what she means. She writes with passion, excluding the big words that no one truly knows the meaning to. I think that is one of her best qualities as a writer. She can go from talking to her mother with "broken" English, to speaking flawlessly and straightforward. There's just something about her word choices that makes me want to read more.
I find it very interesting that Tan can switch from the so-called "broken" English to simple words that most people can understand. This quality makes her a better writer because she had to find a way to switch without it being recognizable.
English is a good language; the people who speak it with their own flaws and habits make it absolutely extraordinary. There are so many ways to say one thing and still being able to get to the point. Tan makes me want to be a better writer.
I agree, I want to be a better writer after reading what she writes! She is so passionate! But I also think that she wasn't always proud of her mother's "broken" English. I feel like she only started to appreciate it as she grew up and then, like us, she understood how individual and beautiful each persons way of speaking is. Your blog was really good, you really seem to get her writing and her meaning behind what she has written. Good job!
DeleteNatalie, you are correct with the idea that if Tan’s English is not considered “proper”, it does not mean that the language is bad. I have the same opinion about how Amy Tan is able to grab the audience’s attention easily. I like the last sentence in your blog. Tan makes me want to improve as a writer too! Good job!
DeleteI completely agree with what you said about most people today not being able to accept if their parents spoke "broken" English. I believe that a lot of society is like that in today's times. We, as a whole, do not like change or anything (or anyone) that is different from us or what we are used to. I also agree that we can all learn a great amount from Tan about accepting what we cannot change. Outstanding job, Natalie!
DeleteIn a way, we are all similar to Amy Tan. We all have our own language within the English language. There are times when I will use an expression or word that I have heard my own family use and no one will understand it. Our languages are like inside jokes; they belong to us and are shared with all those who hear us when we use it. There is no such thing as perfect English anymore. English has been changed constantly throughout time and will continue to change as life goes on.
ReplyDeleteIn "Two Kinds" Tan uses both of her languages. Much of the story is written in the plain English that we are used to but when her mother speaks its something completely different. To Tan, it is important that she does this because her mothers English is as important to the story as plain English. If Tam had excluded the way her mother spoke the story would've lost so,e of its impact and its truth.
In "Mother Tongue" Tan mentions how her mother has a different flow and certain emotional quality to the way she speaks and to me this is quite evident in "Two Kinds". Her mothers words seem to have a certain passion so that the anger and disappointment are almost enhanced by the way she speaks. Tina's choice to write the way her mother spoke was a good one because it intensifies the experience of the story.
"Two Kinds" takes me back to the times when my mother was disappointed in me. I remember that whenever she and I would have an argument my English would fail and my sentences would become a mass of jumbled, meaningless words. In the story, it's almost as if Tan's mother is the same as me. The way she speaks and the words she uses make her opinions and emotions so apparent that there is never any doubt of how she is feeling. This makes her mother feel real for me.
Tan's multiple languages do nothing but increase the believability and excellence of her writing. It makes her works personal and honest as if the reader were a very good friend listening to her life story. Once I started reading her story I could not put it down. Her writing draws me in and I look forward to reading more.
Ann, I love how you related the story to a past experience with you and your mom. That was a very smart thing to do to help relate to the story and understand it better.
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DeleteAnn, I completely agree with your opinion that Tan's style of writing is personal. I also felt like I knew Tan and her mother by reading this because she writes vividly and with such emotion that you feel like you're there. I also enjoyed the comparison between Tan's relationship with her mother and your mother-daughter relationship because while reading it I was reminded of the sometimes antagonistic relationship between you and your mother.
DeleteAnn, I really like your third paragraph. I enjoyed how you noticed how Tan's mothers English changes depending on her mood. Like you, I also enjoyed her work and am excited for more. Good perception and expression!
ReplyDeleteWhat does speaking the English language mean? To each person the definition may be a little different. Some people may think of the English language as including all of the modern day slang terms used. Others may think of it as proper English. To many people though, like Amy Tan, it means a whole lot more. To her it meant another language to have to comprehend. So not only, did she have to learn English and Chinese, she had to be able to comprehend the slang in the English language, and her mother "broken English". She managed all of these things extremely well, and it lead her to become a great writer.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the English language is taken for granted. It is used everyday, without a second thought. For Amy Tan it must have been difficult to become a writer with all of the languages to know, especially because the English language is not an easy one. She makes it seem so easy to be able to not only use all of these languages, but be able to comprehend them all separately. This definitely helps her stick out as a writer. It is extremely impressive how she doesn't change how her mother spoke, it makes it so much more personal. I think that when her mother was alive she was embarrassed by her "broken English", but once she was gone, it was a trait that was missed. It's kind of a sad reminder, when people leave you, there are always those little reminders of them left behind. I admire Tan for writing about it because it is probably a constant reminder of her mother.
I really enjoy stories that have emotion put into them, I can't seem to stay away from them. Amy Tan puts a lot of emotion into her writing, but she does it though different styles of writing, or her "different languages". This is very interesting for the reader's perspective because it almost seems as though, they are different authors. I throughly enjoyed reading from Amy Tan's "different languages".
Erin,
DeleteI agree with when you said that the English language is taken for granted. Many people do not find it a challenge or a problem to speak English. However, for Amy Tan, growing up was difficult because of her mother's 'broken English.' Great Response!
Erin, I like how you said that for Amy, English was another language to comprehend. Sometimes people don't realize how hard it can be for foreigners to understand the English language. Like you said, English is sometimes taken for granted. Great work Erin!
DeleteGreat job with telling how you related the story with your liking of emotional literature, Erin! I have to agree with both you and Tori; The English language is very often taken fro granted, especially by those who learned it as a first language. We think that anyone who does not speak it the way we do is wrong or is not as good as us in the world. Fantastic work!
DeleteThe English language is a part of everyday life. English is so unique because of all the different ways that it can be expressed. Everyone uses English in their own way. English is a difficult language to comprehend because of all of the rules involved, but it is also filled with a variety of meanings. At the end of “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan, she starts to use the “Englishes” that she grew up with. Tan began to use English in a way that was simple to read. Amy Tan’s mother told her that if a book was easy to read, it was well written.
ReplyDeleteAmy Tan’s English is special. This is because she displays her personality in her writing. In “Mother Tongue” and “Two Kinds” she relates to events that occurred in her lifetime between her and her mother. This is useful to people who read her stories because it is uncomplicated to grasp what the point is that is trying to be proved. Amy Tan’s mother was hard on her throughout her life, but not because she did not like her daughter. Tan’s mother wanted Amy to be successful. She pushed her daughter to be a prodigy. Some of the things that Amy Tan’s mother did were probably not the right thing to do, but she did all that she could to help her daughter.
In each of Amy Tan’s short stories, she explains what her mother has put her through during her life. Yet, in each of her writings there is a sense that she supports her mother. Amy Tan speaks in a way that in the end, she totally agrees with the decisions that her mother made. Her mother definitely believed in Amy because in “Two Kinds” she said “You can be the best anything”. This quote must have truly been an inspiration for Amy Tan. The passion between Amy Tan and her mother was dazzling.
Amy Tan’s writing is enjoyable to read. This is because she is without a doubt very honest. Her English may not have been fundamentally sound all of the time, especially when she used English from her mother. Is this what makes her stories so remarkable? She talks about the many failures that she has fought through that have only helped her to grow on her journey to success. She does an excellent job of interacting with her readers. Amy Tan knows very well how to get her point across, and she does it in a way that everyone can understand her.
Drew,
DeleteI like your choice of the word 'dazzling' to describe the passion and relationship between Amy and her mother; it truly was special. I think even though Amy's mom pushed her to the extreme when she was younger, she appreciates it now. Great response!
Drew, I felt you really captured what Amy went through in her life. You did a great job of explaining the two different types of English. I enjoyed your closing paragraph. I agree that Amy is without a doubt very honest. Great response!
DeleteOverall, I enjoyed reading Amy Tan's short story, "Two Kinds", beginning to end. Amy Tan is a truly remarkable writer. I believe the title itself has multiple meanings. For one, I think it describes the two different lives that were happening in the story. Amy's mom wanted Amy to be a prodigy and have her be good at something. On the other hand, Amy seemed content to be whoever she wanted to be. I think the title also relates to the piano piece that Amy played. The song had two parts to it, almost like the two personalities or the two different 'Englishes' of Amy and her mom. On a side note, It is so easy to become engrossed in her stories; it is far from boring, tedious reading.
ReplyDeleteAmy Tan grew up speaking two different 'Englishes'. When she was around her family and mother, she used mostly a broken English with little words left out here and there. A good example of this broken English is when her mom is yelling at her for not always trying her hardest. She says, "Who ask you to be genius? Only ask you be your best." This is the kind of dialect that Amy Tan grew up with. Although, she also learned that sophisticated English can help you get pretty far in life.
As a writer and speaker, Amy Tan uses correct, grammatical English. However, she seemed to have made up her own English style when she writes. She almost has a way of mixing the two. She combines her mom's broken Chinese English with the regular English, and it flows nicely in her writing. I think that is why her style of writing is so unique and appealing to many readers. Another reason why I think many readers like her style of writing is the choice of words she uses. She chooses simple, everyday words that everyone hears. She gets her point across without sounding over the top. Her narratives are very easy to understand and follow; they are very interesting as well, which is a big plus!
I felt like I could relate to her when it came to playing the piano. Practicing and playing the piano can be quite stressful and tiring at times. It can seem very frustrating and challenging when starting a new piece. Every once in a while I find myself crying and becoming overwhelmed while practicing. Amy Tan is a great inspiration, and she makes me want to incorporate more of my own personal style into my writing.
Tori, I felt that we read Amy's story then same way! I really enjoyed your first paragraph discussing the title. You did a great job of explaining and analyzing what you read! Great job!
DeleteTori, I found your remark about Tan's writing being easy to read because she uses simple words very insightful. I have enjoyed reading both of her essays and also found them to be easy reads. However, I did not realize that simple words were the cause. It was a very interesting observation.
DeleteAmy Tan's short story called "Two Kinds" was a very enjoyable read. Amy and her mother seemed to a,most be two completely different kinds of people. Which was why the title was so fitting to the story. Amy's mother hoped for and tried to make her daughter a prodigy, but Amy just wanted to be herself. Also, the two different types of English used were remarkable. Amy's mother used what they referred to as " Broken English", where Amy had more of proper English speaking. AmyTan did an incredible job telling her story which made me respect her even more as a writer.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how she related her story did actually events that occurred in her life. This made the reading much more interesting. Amy grew up hearing "broken English" from her family. Her mother would constantly speak improperly which would make it hard for Amy to ever be able to speak proper English. This is incredible that Amy was able to speak in basically "Two Different Englishes". Amy basically used the broken English when she was with her family, and then spoke proper English any other time.
I find Amy Tan to be a remarkable lady. Even after all her mother put her through in hopes or being a prodigy, constantly nagging her, and pressuring her, Amy was able to stay strong and eventually stick up for herself and be what she wanted to be not to be her mother's slave. Overcoming a situation like this should make other readers admire the work Amy did.
Amy Tan is a very good writer. She kept me interested throughout the entire story. The fact that's he was able to speak and completely understand two kinds of Englishes makes her an even better writer than imagined. She has a fascinating way of writing. I hope to read more of her stories to hear more about her life.
Jolene, I like how you said that Amy had to understand "Two Different Englishes". It was remarkable how she could speak grammatically correct English and the broken English of her mother. I also hope to read more stories about Amy Tan. Nice work!
DeleteJolene, you did a fantastic job with including parts form the story like how her mother tried to her the perfect daughter. You also did a great job including how Amy spoke the same language but in two completely different ways. I'm with you in the respect that I would like to read more of Amy Tan's writing throughout my upcoming life.
DeleteJolene, I like how you said that Amy was nagged by her mother until she stood up for herself. I think that was a very important part of Amy's life. Good job.
DeleteAmy Tan makes an interesting point about the English language. English can be presented in two different ways. She switches between grammatically correct English and what could be described as broken English. Everyone who speaks English presents it in a different way. That is what makes the English language unique. People can speak it in different ways and others will still understand what they are trying to say. What truly matters when speaking English is your intent behind the words. Amy makes this apparent in her story “Two Kinds”. It does not matter if you speak broken or grammatically correct English, what matters is that the words have meaning and explain your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteIn Tan's short story "Two Kinds" she switches between her mother's broken English and her own grammatically correct English. I think it's important that Tan uses her mother's broken English, instead of just summarizing her mother's words, because it gives the readers a feeling of what her English was like. For example, Tan's mother says "You can be best anything." Her mother's English is short and to the point. When I read the mother's dialogue I almost say it in a Chinese, abrupt voice. I think that is what Amy Tan was going for. She wanted readers to be able to understand what her mom's English was like and how it sounded.
It's interesting how Amy Tan did not care about how correct her mother's grammar was, even in her own story. She kept phrases like "Only ask you be your best", just the way her mother said them. She could have paraphrased her mother’s dialogue into correct sentences, but she did not. After Amy’s mother’s dialogue, Amy would switch to perfect English sentences. An incorrect English sentence followed by a correct English sentence in a story, would be considered choppy and uneven, but in "Two Kinds" the story flows. I think it flows because of how Amy portrays her mother as a character. The incorrect sentences are no longer sentences; rather they turn into meaningful words and phrases because they come from a mother who cares.
I guess people will always judge you by how you speak. Someone who speaks broken English won’t be taken as seriously as someone who speaks grammatically correct English. I think learning English is probably one of the most important things a person can do. My dad always told me there are two things you need in life, English and math. It does not matter if you love English and writing or not. Words are how you present yourself, and that’s a fact. I understand that the nature of people’s thoughts are still present in broken English, but you sell yourself to other people through words, and if you can speak English correctly and portray your thoughts and feelings through your own words, you can be successful in life.
Ian, I like how you said that people who speak broken English won't be taken as seriously as much as people who speak proper English. I also think that it was important that Amy Tan used real quotes from her mother. Nice job.
DeleteLanguage is a big part of how the world is today. It allows people to communicate with one another, but there are also boundaries that occur because of the many different languages. English is considered one of, if not the most, difficult language to learn. This is because the English language is a jumbled combination of a multitude of different languages.
ReplyDeleteAs a Chinese immigrant coming to America, Amy Tan’s mother must have had many problems with the language. It could be said that she never fully mastered it. While Tan was growing up her mother mostly spoke in English. This could be because she did not want her daughter to face the same difficulties and discrimination she herself had met. By simply using “broken English” in everyday life, Tan’s mother helped her gain an increased understanding of the English language.
Tan puts her different Englishes to use in the interaction between her and her mother. If Tan had corrected her mother’s words into “proper English”, the strong character of her mother would have been lost. The “broken English” truly conveys her mother’s thoughts and feelings. It also makes the reader feel as if they are really there.
The different Englishes are also pulled together in the arguments between Tan and her mother. In the midst of shouting at one another they are both using different forms of English; her mother uses broken English while Tan herself uses perfect English. It is important to note that even though they are speaking completely differently they are still able to understand each other. Each is able to properly convey their feelings despite their different capabilities with English.
Tan’s essay “Two Sides” shows a deeper meaning of many things. There are always two sides of a story and two sides of an argument. When her mother said simply, “You just not trying,” it gives a complete understanding of their past argument. Her mother had never been upset that Tan was unable to do great things. She was just upset because she knew Tan was not doing the best that she could do. Tan’s ability to play the piano piece at the end signified the truth behind her mother’s belief that Tan was always able and also lent to the belief that people can be anything they want to be.
Meaghan,
DeleteI agree with what you said about her mom speaking mostly English to help Amy achieve more in her life. Amy's dad was American so she did have him to influence her speech too. A couple of times her mom does speak Chinese and Amy understands it which shows her mom did teach her her native tongue also. I especially like how you wrapped up your post using the piano piece to show that Amy truly didn't try while she was growing up.
Amy Tan is not a genius. She is far from one actually. Tan may be famous now, but in her short story "Two Kinds" she tells of growing up having to speak two different types of the same language. Her mother, speaking only "broken" English, lived in a different world than the rest of society.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, Amy describes having to pretend to be her mother on important phone calls because people would not take her seriously because of how poor her English was. Although Tan was often embarrassed about how poorly her mother's English was, when she got down to it, she liked her mother's version of the language. Maybe not so much when her mother was still alive, but after she died, Amy Tan missed how her mother spoke and cherished the moments she remembered.
I believe that growing up how she did made Amy Tan the writer she is today. She uses both, what society would consider, proper English and the "broken" or "limited" English that her mother spoke. She has a very unique way of switching off between the two. She does this not only in her writing, but also in her conversations of every day life.
Amy's mother pushed her to be this famous prodigy her whole life while Amy, tried her hardest to fail at everything her mother made her do. Tan's mother only wanted the best for her daughter. She didn't want language to be the thing that stopped her from succeeding in life. I bet if her mother looked at her now though, she would be proud. She would be proud of how much she did to get her where she is today. Amy Tan really is an inspiration to all.
I agree that Amy has a way of trading off between dialects. She makes her stories fun and enjoyable to read because of this style. I don't think she realized the lasting effect her mom made on her life until she was older. Even though her mom pushed her to become something great she actually helped Amy realize who she truly is and not to try to compare herself to others. She is her own person and by her mother's misguided pushing found her own thing to be good at, writing. Without her mother's influence she wouldn't be as inspirational to her readers.
DeleteLanguage is an important part of everyday life throughout the world. Without it people would not be able to communicate. English is a particularly interesting language. It is interesting because of all the different ways to speak it. In Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue" we learn one of these ways. Tan explains her mother's "Broken English" which is one of these ways. With the understanding of her mother's English, she began to write with a style that was easier to understand.
ReplyDeleteIn Tan's "Mother Tongue" and "Two Kinds" she writes in a narrative style to explain some of the time she spent with her mother. This narrative form also makes her stories easier to understand by the common reader. Tan is also not shy about sharing facts about her family to really get her point across. This makes her stories personal which allows her to connect with the people who read her writings.
Amy Tan's relationship with her mother is relatable to many people's relationship with their mother's. Just like many mothers, Amy Tan's mother believed that her child was special and born to be great. Even sometimes Tan's mother would get so excited that she would make her daughter out to be way better then she was at some of the things she participated in.
To me Amy Tan's writings are enjoyable to read because of the stories she tells of her and her mother. She explains the "broken English" her mother uses in a way that is easily understood because of the narrative style she writes in. Amy Tan is a great writer and she is sure she always gets her point across.
Austin, I agree with your statement that English is interesting because of all the different ways to speak it. I like how you said Amy Tan is not shy and her writings are very clear to the readers. Good work on the part where you talked about mother-daughter relationships!
DeleteGood job, Austin!
In "Two Kinds," Amy Tan does not change the way her family spoke to proper English, instead she uses it as a way to show their own uniqueness. Her mom is a major part in this literary piece because she is the one with the "broken" English. Amy's mother wanted Amy to live up to her ideal American dream, becoming a prodigy. You can see this during all the little after-dinner tests Amy's mother gave her speaking the whole time in her incomplete English.
ReplyDeleteAmy's mother's English was staccato sounding just like some of the piano pieces she had Amy play as a youth. Each word sharp and separate from the other. Each sentence not flowing in a rhythmic way. Her Auntie Lindo also spoke in this unique melody, never speaking a complete sentence. Together they are the one side of the song in the piano book.
Amy on the other hand, speaks impeccable English. She doesn't have the staccato sound of her mom and aunt. She instead speaks in a fluid tongue, easily understood by others around her. She is the night to her mom's day, her page to her mom's opposite page in the piano book.
The two songs "Pleading Child" and "Perfectly Contented" parallel Amy's and her mom's two different speaking styles. Alone they are completely different and set different moods but together they blend into one. The same is with Amy's and her mother's tongues, they are very different but when put together they make up the colorful dialect that was Amy Tan's life growing up.
Erin, you made some very good points! I liked how you said the two songs in "Two Kinds" paralleled Amy Tan and her mother's different styles of speaking. I also agree that Amy Tan's mother played a huge part in her successful career as a writer. She shows uniqueness and creativity in her works. I enjoyed how you said they speak with different tones and moods, but can still come together to create a remarkable dialect.
DeleteGood analysis, Erin!
Erin, I really liked the comparisons in your response. It was very interesting for you to pick out her mother and compare it to how Amy Tan played the piano. Also the two songs were good comparisons to Amy and her mother. I find it ironic how Amy Tan's mother pushes her to be a prodigy, when Tan could speak ten times better English already. Great job!
DeleteCommunication plays a huge role in our world. We communicate with people in many ways. One way is through spoken language. Amy Tan is a writer who thinks a lot about the English language. She explains the complexity of English because it can be spoken in several different ways. In "Mother Tongue," Amy Tan explains how she usually uses "broken English" to get her points across. People can relate to what she is saying without staring at huge words that they can barely pronounce.
ReplyDeleteAmy Tan is also the author of a short story, "Two Kinds." She uses different "Englishes" in this work also. She switches between conventional English and broken English to create her own unique style of writing. Growing up, people did not think she had a good grasp on the English language because she had a Chinese background. In her writing, she uses phrases and words that came out of her mother's mouth. She chose not to re-word them because she is not ashamed of her mother. Rather, she is proud of her.
When I read things written by intelligent and well-educated people, I am sometimes confused at the point they are trying to make. As I sit there leafing through a dictionary looking up every other word, I realize that their writings did not make an impact in my life. Amy Tan keeps her audience in mind when writing. Who is going to be listening to me? This is the question she asks herself when choosing what "type" of English she will be using.
Any Tan's writing is simple and understandable. Yet she has the ability to capture and entertain nearly everyone. This is because her stories seem more real and relatable. At the end of her short story she wrote, ".. I realized they were two halves of the same song." This is one of my favorite lines from the story. It also relates to the topic I am currently writing about. Even though this language is spoken in many different ways, it is all a part of what makes English so remarkably beautiful. In "Two Kinds" and "Mother Tongue", Amy Tan does not paraphrase her mother's quotes even though they may not be "proper" English. I think this is why I find her writings so enjoyable.
Overall, Amy Tan is a very creative writer. She found her own style. She was very determined even when people, including her teachers, told her she didn't understand English well enough to become a writer. I think her hard work is what made her famous. At times where most people would have felt ashamed, Amy Tan remained confident. When people looked down upon her mother, she proudly held her head up. Her writings truly became a work of art when she began to write stories using all the Englishes she grew up with.
Sam, I definitely agree with what you said about understanding reading, if it is easy to understand, then it will make more of an impact on your life. I liked how you said that her writing has become a work of art, nice job!
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