How to Tame a Wild Tongue

Abbigail Rugel

August 31, 2015

Professor Rasheda Young

Writing Skills 1100

How to Tame a Wild Tongue Response

Language and Identity

1. In the beginning of the article How to Tame a Wild Tongue by Gloria Anzaldua mentions a visit at the dentist. At this visit, her dentist complains about how stubborn her tongue was and her first thought was “how do you train a wild tongue, train it to be quiet…?” The main purpose of the article is to express how she feels she should be able to speak the language she desires that is a part of her identity and not have to be forced to change her culture to be socially accepted in the United States of America. She wants to be respected and does not want to change or be “tamed”.

2. Anzaluda uses some Spanish phrases and words throughout her entire article. She does give context clues in her writing to help readers understand what is being said. Anzaluda speaks a mixture of Spanish and English and commonly switches between the two while speaking naturally which is why these phrases and words are scattered throughout her article. The author also was uncomfortable at moments in her life because of the language she spoke so this was her way of sending that uncomfortable feeling back to her readers so we can feel what she has been feeling all her life.

3. Neither can be defined as standard or non standard and this is because both are used by people and by calling either standard or nonstandard, causes one to be viewed as less valid than the other. 

4. How we speak and write in Academic English can also help define who we are as a person. It can give sight as to how we explain and discuss certain materials in a professional way and is necessary in formal times such as the classroom or workspace.

5. Anzaluda does mention several types of Spanish, identities. There are several English identities such as those who live in Minnesota and say pop instead of soda or those from New York like Long Island and Staten Island where certain phrases and slang are used and are not common in other parts of the country and even those from down south who have different morals and beliefs than other parts of the country. I was born and raised in New Jersey which plays a role in my identity resulting in my morals, values, beliefs, accent, and use of slang words.

6. I suppose that I do use a secret language to communicate amongst friends with use of slang words as well as using denotation throughout conversation. The slang I use with my friends can be considered another language in a way because those who are older may not be able to understand what is being said nor will those who are not from the area. 

7. When speaking to my friends and sometimes with my family, I use nonstandard English because we are all comfortable with each other and can be informal and use slang. I use standard English when addressing professors as while as my bosses when at work to be proper and respectful.

8. When one says, “I am my language”, they are referring to the culture that comes with the language. Anzaluda writes about how her childhood memories like woodsmoke perfuming her grandmother’s clothes and skin. All these emotions and images that she refers back to is connected to her language. She mentions how she takes pride in her language and the values that come with it. 

9.  In the introduction, the author writes about a specific visit to the dentist visit where the dentist makes and observant comment about how stubborn her tongue was. In the conclusion, the author ends the article with the sentence “Stubborn, persevering, impenetrable as stone, yet possessing a malleability that renders us unbreakable, we, the mestizos, will remain.” The word stubborn is mentioned again connecting the introduction to the conclusion explaining how she and her people will not be tamed and will keep their language and fight for the respect they deserve.

10. Yes the language you speak can be part of your identity. Different languages originate from different countries and each country has their  own culture and belief system which all plays a role in identity. I am hispanic and I understand Spanish more than I can speak it but by being hispanic and knowing the language, I have obtained different customs and beliefs. For example, often times when I meet someone new I shake their hand and give an air-kiss where my cheek touches the persons cheek but my lips simply kiss the air. This comes from my background of being hispanic and my language. I often times use Spanish words or phrases when speaking but it is not a common occurrence. 

11. Identity is very important to me. Having an identity determines who you are as a person whether it is how you view yourself or how others view you. Everyone has their own identity and is entitled to one. Anzaluda clearly believes that having an identity is important. She speaks about how she identified herself, how her siblings identified themselves, and how she identifies herself now. She believes everyone should have their own identity and should not be forced to alter their culture and self to other cultures. 

Citation

Anzaldua, Gloria "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" Teaching Developmental Writing.

Ed. Susan Naomi Bernstein.

Fourth ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013. 245-255.

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