How to Tame a Wild Tongue

How to Tame a Wild Tongue

The Different Kinds of language Anzaldúa says she speaks

The different languages that Anzaldúa says she speaks include;

• Standard English
• Slang and working-class English
• Mexican Spanish
• North Mexican Spanish
• Chicano Spanish
• Tex-Mex
• Pachuco

The principle used to create the list is the population size of the people who speak the language. The principle indicates the language preference based on the population of people speaking a specific language. The list produced using the principle tells us that the Chicano community preferred learning English over other languages but still valued their Mexican origin, thus embracing Spanish.

How Anzaldúa Uses Definition

Anzaldúa defines various Spanish and English terms to show her experience with the two languages. She uses the definitions to explain her understanding of different languages and her passion for different languages. She also uses definition to prove her identity, thus demonstrating the relationship between language and identity. For instance, she is proud of her language and clearly defines the words used in her language to support her claim that her native language should be respected even when the majority of the population may speak other languages. The main effect of using definitions is to show the audience the significance of language in maintaining identity in a society where the largest population shares a different identity.

Anzaldúa’s Sense of Herself as an American Compared  to Audre Lorde’s

Audre Lorde and Anzaldúa have a similar sense of self shaped by their experiences in society. For example, the two characters are isolated from society, thus pushing them to focus on developing their identity. The two also embraced the American identity because they studied and grew up in America and are accustomed to the American way of life even though they are of Spanish origin. However, the two women did not feel American at some point because they could not speak English and were not white.

Switch Codes

Switch codes refer to a situation where a speaker alternates different languages. Switch codes are mainly used when the audience can understand all the languages used in the conversation. One of the life situations where I switched codes was during my tour around France. I had to switch between English and French when conversing with the locals in France because they could not understand some of the English terms I was using, thus making it easier for us to communicate.

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE

We’ll write everything from scratch

How to Tame a Wild Tongue

Read Borderlands Chapter 5, How to Tame a Wild Tongue, by Gloria Anzaldúa.
Write an MLA Format one-page analysis using your assigned prompts and key questions.

For Discussion and Writing

1. List the different kinds of languages Anzaldúa says she speaks and organize them according to a principle of your own selection. Explain that principle and what the list it produces tells us about the Chicano/a experience with language.

2. How does Anzaldúa use definition to discuss her experience with lan- guage, and to what effect?

3. connections Compare Anzaldúa’s sense of herself as an American to Audre Lorde’s in “The Fourth of July” (p. 239). In what way does each woman feel American? In what way does each not?

4. In her discussion of moving back and forth between the varieties of languages she speaks, Anzaldúa uses the term “switch codes” (par. 27). Define that term and write about situations in your life in which you switch codes.