"How To Tame A Wild Tongue" Response Questions

1: In the opening scene the dentist tells Anzaldua to control her wild tongue because it is pushing out the cotton and pushing back the drills as well. This connects to the overall theme of the essay because the entire texted is named “How To Tame A Wild Tongue”. In my opinion, it seems as if Anzaldua was offended by what the dentist said.

2: Throughout the text, Anzaldua wrote in both English and Spanish. Although I do not speak any Spanish, I was able to use the english text before and after the phrases in Spanish to help try and break down the meaning. However, I couldn't not understand a few part that were written in Spanish so I used google translate to help find the meaning.

3: I do believe that there is a standard, proper Spanish language and Chicano Spanish is known as nonstandard. It is very similar to the many dialects of Italian that I am familiar with. My family is from the south of Italy so they speak there own dialect with different words than the northerners speak. If somebody is from the far south and the far north, they may both technically speak Italian but they will have no idea what they are each saying because the dialect is so different. 

4: Speaking in Academic English, I feel, Is very important to becoming identified as and American. Although people may be able to speak English, speaking is correctly will make a large different when peaking it to another person. Many people may speak English but it may come across as if the words are in the wrong order, almost as if the person thought go the words in their native language and translated them word for word in their head and spoke them. In most languages, the way sentences are worded vary based on each language.

5: The forms of English identities that I know are: Proper English, Standard English, Working Class English and Broken English.

6: I personally do not use a “secret language” when communicating with my friends, although I defiantly tend to use more swear words and put downs while with my friends. 

7: When speaking with my friends I would consider the language I use as non-standard English. However, while speaking to my parents, customers at work or a professor, I tend to use standard English. I use standard English because I do not want to come across as uneducated or disrespectful when speaking to adults or people I am not friendly with.

8: The statement “I am my language” means that whatever language you speak resembles your culture and where you come from. For example, all through America, english is spoken many different ways with difference accents. If somebody from New York was speaking english and somebody from Alabama was speaking English, you would be able to tell the general area where they came from. 

9: During the introduction, Anzaldua was told by a dentist how she needs to control her tongue. To Anzaldua, this resembled her losing her culture and her language . However, in the final paragraph, Anzaldua says how many cultures have given up there language due to societal pressures. They connect because it shows how Anzaldua will be strong and not give up her Los Chicanos culture, even if society wants her to become a regular, average American.

10: I believe that the language you speak defiantly shows a major piece of your true identity. Your language resembles where you came from and your cultural beliefs. However, that is only 2 of the 8 pieces of identity. Language does make up your entire identity, things such as personality, race, gender and many more pieces are what also make up true identity. 

11: To me identity is some what important, but not the “end all be all”. It is important to have an identity that is true to what you believe is right and who you want to be, but it is not the most ruling piece in who somebody truly is. Somebody identity to one person can change when they speak to somebody else. Anzaldua, I believe, feels it is important to identify as somebody they want to be. For example, Anzaldua identifies as a Chicano woman who is proud of her culture. An example of this is when Anzaldua says “Chicano Spanish sprang out of the Chicanos’ need to identify ourselves as a distinct people”(245). This shows how Anzaldua is proud to be a Chicano an wants to be identified as one, not as somebody that doesn't resemble her culture.