Homework 3 Prompt Respond With 300 Words Read How To Tame A
Read “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldua. This essay is a definition essay and explores language and identity. How does Anzaldua use definition to discuss her experience with language? How effective is it? She moves back and forth between the varieties of languages she speaks and uses the term “switch codes” (par. 27); how does that connect to the non-academic discourse assignment you will be writing? What communities are you part of that require different ways of speaking and communication? Please write as a non-native speaker and don't make the essay look like an American writer or as a first language. I need it to look like as a second language. Please check the attached file, thanks.
Paper For Above instruction
In Gloria Anzaldua’s essay “How to Tame a Wild Tongue,” she discusses language as an important part of identity and cultural heritage. Anzaldua uses definition as a tool to explain her experiences with language, especially how different ways of speaking are connected to her sense of self. She describes her language as a “living thing” that can change and adapt depending on the context and community she is in. This helps her show that language is not just words, but a reflection of her complex identity as a Chicana and a person living between different cultures.
Anzaldua moves back and forth between her Spanish and English languages, as well as her own dialect and slang, which she calls “switch codes” (par. 27). This term refers to how she shifts between different language varieties depending on who she talks to or what situation she is in. By doing this, she highlights how language is flexible and serves different purposes for different communities. This idea connects to the non-academic discourse assignment because I also have to adjust my language style for different communities. For example, with family and friends, I use informal speech, while in a formal setting like school or work, I try to speak more clearly and politely. Each community demands a different way of speaking, and understanding this helps me communicate better and feel more part of each group.
As a non-native speaker, I experience similar challenges with language and identity. For example, I often speak my native language at home, but I switch to English when I am at school or with colleagues. This switch helps me fit into different environments and shows respect for the customs of each community. However, it also makes me feel sometimes caught between two worlds, because I want to express myself fully in my native language but also need to adapt to the expectations of others. The essay by Anzaldua reminds me that language is a tool for identity, and it is natural to switch between different ways of speaking depending on the community and situation.
References
- Anzaldua, G. (1987). How to Tame a Wild Tongue. In Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza. Aunt Lute Books.
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- Zentella, A. (1997). Growing Up Bilingual: Puerto Rican Children in New York. Blackwell Publishing.