Right to use own language

Holly Leonard
Sept. 21, 2016
Prof. Young
ENGL 1100, Writing Workshop
Right of Language

I personally believe students should have the right to use their own language, but to an extent. I do not have another language to use so I cannot relate to the struggles of some other bilingual students might feel, but I can say that I would find it very difficult to understand. I only speak English with a small understanding of Italian, but not enough to speak in full sentences. By mainly speaking English, I would be very lost in conversations or in class discussions if everyone were speaking in their own native tongue. I have nothing against those who can speak multiple languages, I believe it is an amazing thing to be able to do, but I don't think that in a classroom it would be appropriate. If students were to write in German, Italian, Spanish, or any other language, than professors would need to know and understand every language a student may use. It seems almost impossible to achieve. Every American citizen has the right to use whatever language they would like, but I think it would be best if they used the main language of English to help those like me who would not understand. It may seem unfair that there is no respected freedom of language in a classroom, but a classroom could not successfully function if there were 10 different languages being used. If there were a freedom of language, nobody could learn properly because nobody would understand. If there were specific classes for German speaking or Spanish speaking students, than it would not count as a freedom of language but more of segregation for the native tongues. Student should have the right to use whatever language they find most comfortable, but it is now practical to try and bring it into a classroom.

Identity Freewrite

Holly Leonard

Sept. 8, 2016

Prof. Young

ENGL 1100, Writing Workshop

Identity Freewriting

Identity to me is something that someone sees in themselves and bases who they are off of it. Some may find that their identity makes up their entire image or personality. Identities are very important to some people because it makes them who they are. I personally find being a woman is very important part of my identity. Women and men were treated very differently in some countries, fields of work, or even simply at social gatherings. Throughout history women were never equal or better than men but in recent years that has begun to change.

I personally am aspiring to be in the mathematical field, a field of mostly men. As a woman I have the chance to stand out and show men that women can do the same workload as men and deserve the same pay and benefits for it too. My gender gives me the chance to break a stereotype and have a successful career with the possibility of having men work under me. I have the ability to prove that men and women are equal and deserve equal rights. But not only in the business world, in social settings women are belittle also. Women are seen as weak or unable to provide for themselves and need a man to take care of them; but that is not true, as a woman I have the ability to do whatever I set my mind to do as does any woman.

“How to Tame a Wild Tongue” Reading response Questions

Holly Leonard

Sept. 3, 2016

Prof. Young

ENGL 1100, Writing Workshop

“How to Tame a Wild Tongue” Reading response Questions

1. When Anzaldua is in the Dentist chair, the Dentist is asking how one tames a wild tongue that is stubborn and strong. Anzaldua thinks also thinks the same question. This ties into the overall message because everyone wants her native language “tamed” and “controlled”. Her having her tongue physically tied down and tamed by the dentist is the same level as a human being telling Anzaldua to use English and not her native language.
2. Anzaldua’s Spanish throughout her writing is challenging at certain parts to understand because her native language is of a certain dialect that I do not understand being brought up hearing English. Certain terms she uses do not have the same effect on me as it would someone who gets the dialect in which she is using.
3. Chicano Spanish versus standard Spanish is different and non standard because it is a slang use of Spanish words.
4. The necessity of speaking and writing in Academic English is important and part of one's identity because if you’re brought up learning proper English, you will use it as your normal dialect. It is necessary if someone wants to be part of a typical or “normal” lifestyle meaning they wish to be like everyone else that went through American school systems.
5. Different types of American identities could be described as being from the South, out West, Boston or New England, or even New York dialect; some Americans say Jimmy’s while others use the common term Sprinkles, or some say sneakers while others might say kicks. All different area of America have different accents and dialects with different terms.
6. I do not use a secret language with my friends but there is definitely a different way that I speak to my friends than I would my parents or a professor.
7. To my friends, I speak very relaxed as in the Spanish language is Chicano; but to my parents or a professor or any elder I would use standard English because it would be disrespectful to use otherwise.
8. “I am my language” would mean that that is the language someone was brought up with, raised with, and always used at home or with family aside from any other language. A person is their language because is represents who they are and where they came from.
9. The introduction and conclusion tie together by showing in the intro a question of how someone tames a wild tongue, and in the conclusion Anzaldua answers the question by stating her tongue and the tongue of her people “will remain” and that the are unbreakable.
10. I believe 100% that your language is part of your identity; what language you speak or in a certain dialect shows who you are and where you are from and what you are made of. Your language shows where you were brought up and raised.
11. I think is important to me, but not as important as others may find it. Anzaldua finds identity very important to her and she states, “when other races have given up their tongue, we’ve kept ours.” meaning she takes pride in her native language and her people have never been tamed nor will they ever. She also states, “Ethnic identity is twin skin to linguistic identity- I am my language.” Anzaldua takes pride in who she is though it is a “poor” language. “Until I can take pride in my language, I cannot take pride in myself.” Needless to say, Anzaldua takes pride in her identity and believes she is her language.

Works Cited

Anzaldua, Gloria.”How to Tame a Wild Tongue.” Teaching Development Writing.

Ed. Susan Naomi Bernstein. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s 2013. 245-255. Print.