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A Reflection of Mother Tongue and Snow
What Language Does for its Speaker
Language is important because it facilitates communication. Language is a double-edged sword; it has both advantages and disadvantages. Worth noting, language can be an enabler or a deterrent to communication. In the articles Snow by Julia Alvarez and Mother Tongue by Amy Tan, language was important in shaping the authors’ experiences. Tan went through both good and bad experiences because of her language. As an immigrant, it was obvious that she struggled a bit with perfecting language, but once she made up her mind that she would become a writer, there was no looking back. Despite her teachers telling her to take up a career in accounting and she would not excel in English, she decided to become a writer. She eventually perfected her writing and speaking skills. This empowered her to the point that she would confidently give speeches with hundreds of audience. On the other hand, Tan’s mother did not have such a good experience as her daughter. Her English was rather broken, and this presented a communication barrier. It made him be treated unequally at stores and in the banks where people pretended not to understand her. Furthermore, in Snow, Alvarez’s experiences were not exciting either. As an immigrant who had just moved to New York, she could not communicate effectively like other children, and as a result, she could barely express herself well. However, with the help of Sister Zoe, she eventually improved her vocabulary and, by extension, her language.
Why Language is a Political Instrument, Means and Proof of Power
James Baldwin once said that language is a political instrument, means, and proof of power, and I could not agree less. Language is a political tool because world leaders and politicians employ it to push the agenda. Language is the basis of communication’ it enables people to communicate with each other. If a person is not familiar with a language, there are less likely to be actively involved in decision-making because of the language barrier. Politics speak the language of power, and people who are not familiar with the language tend to be excluded from politics and decision-making.
Is Language a Key to Identity?
Without a doubt, language is key to identity. People who share a common language tend to relate and identify with one another, while those who do not share a common language barely understand each other. Language gives people identity because it connects people that come from the same geographical region. People that share a common language can easily have a meaningful conversation. For instance, in the article Mother Tongue, Tan writes, “When I was fifteen, she used to have me call people on the phone to pretend I was she. In this guise, I was forced to ask for information or even to complain and yell at people who had been rude to her.” Tan can easily have a conversation with her mother because they are from the same ethnic background. Other people complain that they can barely understand what her mother says, but Tan understands everything. Tan is the one that translates to other people what other people are saying. This is a clear indication that language is crucial in identity formation.
Does Language Reflect Family, Education, and Future Influences?
Yes, I agree that a person’s language reflects their family, education, and influences on the future. This is because how a person expresses themselves tells a lot about their level of education and background. If a person speaks good English, it is an indication that they come from well of background. High economic status is an indication that the individual was taken to the best schools where they attained the best educational training. People that speak good language stand out from the crowd, and they have an opportunity to shine. If they place themselves in the right company, their careers will likely take off, leading to an even better future.
