People express their feelings and thoughts with varying levels of grammar proficiency. The essay by Amy Tan discusses this phenomenon, stating that her version of English differs from one situation to another. The author notes that while she makes grammar mistakes when she speaks to her mother, but she uses literature English to people who expect her to express thoughts with high proficiency in the language. Her mother, in turn, continually uses “broken” or “limited” English, and Tan discovered that this imperfect way of expressing one’s thoughts affects other’s people perception of her mother’s intelligence, despite the fact that these two notions were not connected. As Amy Tan began her career as a fiction writer, she looked at her work from the position of a reader and asked her mother to help her with early drafts of her stories. She realized that in order to convey her message clearly, she must use all types of English she grew up with. The author claims that by implementing various levels of language proficiency, it is possible to make one’s work more accessible.
The author’s argument that the way people express themselves does not always represent the broadness of their perception is valid, as Tan writes that her mother’s “broken” English “belies how much she actually understands.” It could be difficult for an immigrant to grasp at all nuances of a language that is foreign for them, however, it is not a conclusive representation of their intelligence. In my opinion, such a verdict requires a closer relationship with that person that would reveal all the connotations and influences that affect their linguistic skills. Placing people under a certain stereotype based on their usage of vocabulary and grammar skills only adds to the issues within society.
I partially disagree with the second point that the author makes in regard to the language that should be used in literary works. The usage of “broken” or “simple” style can be used in direct speech to depict certain aspects of a character, such as their origin. Tan used a mixture of levels of language proficiency to show her mother’s “intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her thoughts,” which is an understandable literary device. However, the narrative text in one’s creation must stay as close to literary norms as possible in order to keep the standards of quality intact.
In conclusion, the essay “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan depicts the author’s views on the complexity and application of English in daily life and in literature. It provides an in-depth look at her life choices and her perception of grammar mistakes made by her mother. Tan argues that one’s linguistic ability is not sufficient data to render a verdict about that person and that literary works must use language that is closely related to the reader’s expectations of their complexity.
By analyzing this essay, I have learned how to note the implications and intents that the author puts in their work. In order to make a proper conclusion from the provided material, I have read it multiple times and highlighted the main ideas within the text by finding critical points within the paper. The essence of the article might not be stated outright directly, therefore, it is crucial to understand connotations within the reading material.