"How to Tame a Wild Tongue" Response to Questions

Nicolette Van Duysen

September 2, 2014

English 1100

Responding Questions to “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”

1.     The opening scene of Anzaldua’s dentist chair imagery connects to the overall meaning of the story. In the visual the dentist is talking to the girl about controlling her tongue and telling her to “train it to be quiet” (making comments on it being so strong and stubborn). As we all know without the tongue people would not be able to speak any language, it is symbolic for the rest of the story because the story talks about people being told what is the right or wrong language to speak. As the dentist “robs” the girls tongue on her visit, society “robs” other people’s tongues trying to tell them what is the right language to speak.

2.     Not all of the Spanish Anzaldua used in her writing made sense to me; however, I think she did that to demonstrate how each person has their own identity through different language. What one person might speak, another might not understand (just makes you different).

3.     Academic English and Spanish are two different languages, but they both would be classified as standard. Chicano Spanish can still be classified as standard because, there is a group of people following it and that is what they would call themselves. Standard language is a set language, while nonstandard would be like if someone were to speak English and Spanish, using both languages for different words.

4.     Writing or speaking in Academic English is necessary if it is the language you speak and that is where you live.

5.     This packet really opened my eyes to all of the identities that a language could have. I do not really know a variety of English identities aside from “broken English”, what we speak in America, and the English that is spoken in England.

6.     I do not use any secret languages involved with Spanish, however in English if you are from a certain town you might have a different slang than another town would. Some of my friends use different words that my other friends would not know, even though everyone speaks Academic English.

7.     When I am with my friends I speak nonstandard English, and when im with my parents I speak standard. This is because, when I am with my friends we really do not have to watch what we say or worry about saying the wrong words incorrectly; but when you talk to an adult your speech becomes more proper.

8.     Each person might speak different or take pride in their language in different ways. Each person’s language resembles who they are and that is tied into identity.

9.     Even though the imagery from the introduction to conclusion is not the same, the meaning of the words remain equal. For instance, the introduction talks about how the girl’s tongue is strong and powerful and would not be silenced, and the conclusion talks about even though other races could have given up it’s tongue, their not giving it up as well. They both use the word “stubborn”, and talk about how their tongues will not back down.

10.  The language you speak can be a part of your identity because, it represents who you are, how you talk, and how you live.

11.  Identity is important to me. I believe everyone is different and have their own traits that make up who they are. It is evident that, Anazaldua believes it is important to have identity when she said, “ So if you want to really hurt me, talk badly about my language. Ethnic identity is twin skin to linguistic identity- I am my language. Until I can take pride in my language, I cannot take pride in myself.”  Throughout the text she explains what kinds of languages she speaks, when she uses them, and ensures the reader that she is not giving up on her strong, unsilenced tongue.