"How to Tame a Wild Tongue" Quotes

Ariele Silva
English 1100
August 30, 2015
Prof. Young

Quotes:

"If you want to be American, speak 'American.' If you don't like it, go back to Mexico where you belong."

"Hocicona, repelona, chismosa, having a big mouth, questioning, carrying tales are all signs of being mal criada. In my culture they were all words that are derogatory if applied to women - I've never heard them applied to men."

"We are robbed of our female being by the masculine plural. Language is a male discourage."

Works Cited

Anzaldua, Gloria. "How to Tame a Wild Tongue". Teaching Developmental Writing. Ed. Susan Naomi Bernstein. Fourth ed. New York: Bedford/ St. Martin's, 2013. 245-225. Print.

"How to Tame a Wild Tongue" Responses

Ariele Silva
English 1100
August 30, 2015
Prof. Young

1. Discuss how the opening scene of Anzaldua in the dentist's chair connects to the overall point/message of the essay and title.
~     The opening scene connects to the overall message of the essay and title because since the dentist is telling her that he "has never seen anything as strong or as stubborn," it relates to herself and the struggle she has with her language and how people don't accept it.

2. Discuss Anzaldua's use of Spanish throughout her writing. Did it make sense? What was her purpose?
~     I believe her purpose was to show how Spanglish could be used and to show people what its like when you can understand certain things. It all made sense to me because I am Latina so I read it perfectly fine.

3. Can Academic English be defined as Spanish (Standard) and can Chicano Spanish be described as nonstandard? Why? What inferences, conclusions, can be made from referring to one identity (language) as standard versus nonstandard?
~     Yes it can be. Standard Spanish is with all the formalities and such while Chicano Spanish is more like a slang or in this can nonstandard. Its an evolved version of Spanish with mixtures of other dialects, that being the reasons of why it is deemed nonstandard.

4. Discuss the necessity of speaking and/writing in Academic English as an identity. Is it necessary?
~     Speaking and writing in Academic English is necessary because initially those skills are what could land you a job or not. If you hand in a resume and it has proper grammar it looks professional, while if you were to hand in a resume with slang and not proper English then that gives you the identity and appearance as an unprofessional person.

5. Anzaldua describes different types of Spanish, identities. Discuss the various types of English, identities, you know and use.
~     There are many forms of English. There is the American English that we use or British English with more proper terminology, there is also the dialect of Southern style English with terms of "Y'all" and such; and then finally the more modern identity of English that almost everyone uses now a days. Slang. I know that I for one use slang all the time. My favorite term that I use and say a lot is "sounds gucci". It means sounds good or like sounds like a plan.

6. Pachuco. Do you use a secret language, secret identity, to communicate to your friends? If so, what?
~     I don't use a secret language. Although my friends have been trying to teach me one. It's called Gibberish and let me tell you, it is very very difficult.

7. Chicano Spanish can be compared to non-standard English. What form of English (standard or nonstandard) do you speak with your friends (audience)? What forms of English do you speak when you talk to your mother (audience), professor (audience)? Why?
~     I speak in slang and casually to my friends in English. When speaking to my relatives and mother and father I speak casual Spanish as well as formal also. For my professors on the other hand, I usually speak to them formally in English.

8. "I am my language." What does this mean? How does this statement connect to a person's identity?
~     What it mean's is that we are who we speak. Spanish is my language so in a way it's also my identity. English is also part of my language as well so I also use it to identify myself. We are who we present ourselves to be. In terms of a persons language, I think it says a lot about themselves.

9. Talk specifically about how the introduction and conclusion connect.
~     They connect because just as how the dentist said her tongue was stubborn thats how she is describing herself and her people that no matter what they will continue to be stubborn and be proud of their language.

10. Can the language you speak be a part of you identity? Why?
~     Yes. I do believe that it is a part of your identity because not only is that how we speak but it also says a lot about us; like where we are from and how our culture is.

11. How important is identity to you? Does Anzaldua believe it's important to have identity? Use some examples from "How to Tame a Wild Tongue," to support your answer.
~     Identity is important to me because it really tells a lot about a person and who they are and about their background. Its important to me especially because I like to stay true to my roots and never forget or ever be embarrassed of my home and country. I also believe that Anzaldua is like that too because like she said "Humildes yet proud, quietos yet wild, nosotros los mexicanos-Chicanos will walk by the crumbling ashes as we go about our business." What she was trying to say was that no matter what or who tries to forces the English language on them, they will carry on their "business", as in keep what's true to them, their own languages.

"B" ?

Ariele Silva
English 1100
August 25, 2015
Prof. Young

      ~ Rate yourself as a writer: A, B, C, or D. Explain why. ~


 I think of myself as an okay writer. I'm not going to be the next Fitzgerald or Rowling or anything but I think I'm alright. I only really write if it's for myself or for class. I don't think I could rate myself an "A" but I'm not so sure I would rate myself as a "C" either. I'll just say I think I'm a mediocre "A" or in this case a "B". I could always improve myself because there is always room for improvement right? So I rate myself as a "B". Neither amazing or awful just okay and good.

Writing Skills and Life

Ariele Silva
English 1100
August 25, 2015
Prof. Young
     
      ~ What is most important for you to learn this semester? ~



 I could answer this in many ways. If asked about what I want to learn in class, then I could answer it like this: I want to better myself in my writing skills. I want to find a way to captivate a reader and have a better understanding of the subject while also improving my writing to a profound and deeper level. The question, in terms of myself as a college student; then I could answer it simply. I want to learn to be independent. I want to explore and experience new things and open up my horizons. I want to learn what I can do for myself and what the future will have in store for me. I want to learn all these things this semester.

I'd survive without it

Ariele Silva
English 1100
August 25, 2015
Prof. Young

       ~ Do you use social media and if so how often do you use social media: Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram? ~


 I believe with the way our generation is right now that we do use social media a lot. I think I check it an average amount. I only really use Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. I'm not a big fan of Facebook; I have one, but I haven't used it in years. Facebook used to be the thing when I was in middle school so I was very active with it then, but now I don't use it at all. My new favorite social media though is vine. It's great ! I find so many funny videos on vine and I love it. (cause I mean you know, who doesn't like a good laugh?) But anyway I don't think I'm one of those people who is addicted to social media. I just check it every once in a while; but if I'm in class or at an event of some sort I can defiantly survive with out checking it.

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪

Ariele Silva

English 1100

August 24, 2015

Prof. Young

   ~ What type of music do you listen to and who is your favorite artist? ~

I listen to literally all kinds of music. It varies from Rock to Rap to Pop to Reggeton. But recently I've been listening to one song a a lot that is currently my favorite. Its called Nightmare by Miley Cyrus. I guess I could say she's my favorite artist. I have so many favorites that I couldn't possibly pick, but I'll say it's Miley since her song is currently my favorite one.

I think its really good. It's supposed to be about when her and Liam Hemsworth broke up and ended things. 

Young times two.

Ariele Silva

English 1100

August 24, 2015

Prof. Young

   ~ How would you describe your writing experience in high school? For example did your teachers allow you multiple times for you to revise your essays to earn a higher grade? Did you learn grammar rules and structure ? Did you learn about the five paragraph structure? ~

Coincidentally Prof. Young, my high school AP Literature and Composition teacher's name was also Young. Mrs. Young to be precise. Mrs. Young made my writing experiences very fun and allowed me to learn and improve from my mistakes. We were always allowed to write our paper and if we handed it in before the due date she would correct it and hand it back to us with her feedback on how to improve it. We could do this as many times as we liked until the actual day the essay was due. Not only that but near the end of the marking period, she would give us the opportunity to rewrite one essay of our choice. (Most typically the essay we did worse on or got a lower grade on) We would rewrite that one essay and she would re-grade it and if the grade was lower there would be no change, but if you improved she would erase the grade it was previously and replace it with the new grade. Mrs. Young also taught us about the five paragraph structure but wasn't a very big fan of it. She would always say "just write as much as it takes to get the job done." meaning it was fine if our essays were less than five paragraphs as long as we got our point across and have enough evidence to support it. (although we never went under five paragraph the minimum would be four if we ever went under five) As far as grammar rules and structure goes.. well.. the whole "just write as much as it takes to get the job done." sort of covers the whole structure thing; and for grammar we didn't really go over it that much. We would just expand our vocabulary and that was about it. Everyone  basically knew about there, their, and they're and you're and your. (at least I hope)

F r e e s t y l e

Ariele Silva

English 1100

August 24, 2015

Prof. Young

   ~ When you write, do you just sit at the computer and allow the words to flow or do you have an outline? ~

When I write.. It kind of just happens.. I suppose? I don't use or make an outline of any sort. I sort of just write and type exactly when I'm thinking. There's not process in between or thinking about it. I guess I could best explain it as freestyle writing? but in a difference sense. A sense in which there's no though about it what so ever.

Matt's and Mike's starting a trend..

Ariele Silva

English 1100

August 24, 2015

Prof. Young

   ~ What is your nickname and how did you get this name? ~

Well.. When I first started middle school, I and the entire student body realized that there was an absurd amount of kids named Matt and Mike. At every corner of the hallway you would see a Mike and or Matt and if you were to call out to them and say hi, for example "Hey Mike" you would have seven kids stop. turn around. and respond then they would all look at each other confused and wonder to who it was directed to. So in order to avoid all the Matt and Mike chaos; we gave them nicknames. (keep in mind we were all in fifth grade so the nicknames were that elaborate) ... (okay lets be honest they weren't even clever either but we though it was ground breaking and revolutionary) The nicknames we gave them was by just calling them by their last name; or abbreviating their last name. For example for my friend Matt his last name was Riccitelli. So we all called him that or we just abbreviated the last name Riccitelli and called him Ric. Since all of the boys were getting these nicknames the girls wanted in on it too. (cause I mean why not? girls wanted to have some kind of nickname too right?) Anyway that same friend, Matt, is who gave me my nickname. Since my last name is Silva he took away the "a" and replaced it with an "s" creating "Silvs". (Don't ask me how he did it. All I knew at the time was that it was like I was given the most amazing nickname ever) So since he made up Silvs it sort of stuck around with me. My friends and other people would call me that in the hallway. I would end up using Silvs in almost if not all of my usernames for everything. I thought it was pretty cool and I still do. Personally its my favorite. I don't know what is it but I believe it gives my name that little PA - ZAZZ if you know what I mean. It gave it that little something to make it special.

* Fun fact. I also gave him a nickname. Mafru.

Singing Mosaics?

Ariele Silva

English 1100

August 24, 2015

Prof. Young

   ~ What are you most passionate about? For example, in your free time, what do you enjoy doing most? ~

I guess I've always been passionate about singing and art. I sing almost (if not) everyday. I've been apart of choir for eight years and a acoustics (a more select group) for four years. My favorite person to sing with would be my friend Joey. Although he may not believe it, he is actually very good and could be the next Harry Styles (his words). Whenever we hangout we somehow always end up singing at least maybe four or five songs minimum if not more. But other than singing, I'm also very passionate about art. Especially mosaics. I've been working on one mosaic particularly for about two years now. It's still a work in progress but I'm determined to complete it. My mosaic was actually featured in my high school's Creative Arts Festival as a work in progress. It's a 17 x 15 mosaic of the common "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil." but with a twist. Instead of it being the typical monkeys.. I decided to make them skeletons instead. Its taken over hundreds of tiny glass pieces but I managed to get the outline done. I'm currently working on filling it in, but as of right now.. it's still a work in progress and I haven't given up on it yet.... even though it does get frustrating..

Cheerleading

Ariele Silva

English 1100

August 24, 2015

Prof. Young

   ~ If you play a sport, what type of sport do you play? How long have you been playing this sport? Give details. ~

                

I've always been involved in sports, ever since I was little. I played soccer in second grade.. that is until I got a soccer ball to the face and my mom pulled me out of the sport. But ever since I stopped playing soccer, I started a new sport and found my passion and love for it. Cheerleading. I started cheerleading in fifth grade and let me tell you I love it. Especially since I'm tiny, because then I would be the flyer or front spot. I've been cheerleading for eight years along side my friends. Some cheerleading teams don't get along but not my team. We didn't just get along.. we were family. We were always there for each other whether it was sticking it out at our first game of the season when it started pouring and we had to wear ponchos to taking home that win at Met Life and getting our undefeated season. My team was like no other, they were the best girls to cheer with and I wouldn't change that for anything in the world. They especially gave me the best four years cheering with them in high school. The memories we made we truly unforgettable. The sparkles, the bows, nike pros and the insane amount of hairspray we would use, I would do it all over again with my team. Just to step on the mat with them was the best and I will never forget that. Pce, Luv, Cheer and Hoi Yah to my Cheer Fam♡