ENG122 Diablo Valley College Directions Mother Tongue by Amy Tan Questions

1.Gloria Anzaldúa’s essay How to Tame a Wild Tongue highlights the various forms of English and Spanish the author is comfortable with. Describe these forms of language and their importance to the author. Why are the author’s views on language so strong? Use at least three examples from the text.

2.Dennis Baron’s essay Who Owns Global English? discusses the use of English in non-English speaking societies. Provide two examples that Baron gives that illustrate other countries’ perspective on the spread of English. Describe the debate between “bad” English and “new” English. Use at least three examples from the text.

3.Maxine Hong Kingston’s essay Tongue Tied describes the reluctance of the author as a little girl to speak in school and “find her voice.” What explanation does the author provide for her silence? When and why is the narrator comfortable speaking around others, and when and why is she unable to? Use at least three examples from the text to support your claims.