"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.