Student Question
What does "different Englishes" mean in the context of "Mother Tongue"?
Quick answer:
In "Mother Tongue," "different Englishes" refers to the various forms of English Amy Tan uses in different contexts. These include "proper English," which signifies her assimilation into American culture and detachment from her mother, and "limited or broken English," which symbolizes her familial bond. Tan highlights the prejudice her mother faces due to her English, underscoring the social implications of language diversity.
In "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan, "different Englishes" are the various forms of English languages and the different circumstances in which the author utilizes them. Every form of English represents something different to her.
At the start of the piece, she talks about the various kinds of English she would use with her mother and others; she then states how English was not her strongest specialty at first, and later on, she writes about the problems her mother experiences as a result of how she communicates in English and the discrimination she encounters.
What we would describe as "proper English" signifies both Tan's adoption of the American culture and a detachment from her mom. Tan emphasizes this division when she expounds on giving her speech, stating that the "proper English" terms that she was using felt weird to utter when her mom was in the room.
Additionally, Tan states that she uses "limited or broken English" when she is with her mother, symbolizing the bond between the author and her family.
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