How to Tame a Wild Tongue

Jane Owusu
August 31, 2015
Prof. Young
Engw 1100 3J
Reading Response Questions to How to Tame a Wild Tongue

1. The Dentist is looking for a way to control her tongue, and through out the story Anzaldua talks about controlling the way she speaks and how there are many different types of Spanish she could speak and also how she should be entitled to speak what she wants, when she wants,

2. Anzaldua use of Spanish changed through out the story. She knew different types of Spanish and used them for different people. It did not make sense just because she mixed all of them together but it did show her purpose which was show the complexity in her language.

3. Academic English can be defined as Spanish because it teaches the basics in English and Chicano Spanish can be described as nonstandard because it is a slang and picks up certain things from all types of Spanish languages.

4. Speaking and Writing English is one thing most people know how to do. If there's a language whereby someone doesn't understand you can always turn to English and expect that the person knows the language. I think it is necessary to speak and write English because it is a common language known by the whole world.

5. English I think is different in every state, each state has their own twist and slang to English. An example could be the use of English in New Jersey and the use of English in New York. New York tends to add an "r" at the end of a lot of words. For example New Jersey would just say "data", while New York would say "datar'

6. Yes I do use secret language to communicate with some of my friends. If I know someone is from the same country as I am I would immediately say something in our language which is Twi.

7. When I'm with my American friends, parents and professors I speak normal English  but when I'm with my Ghanaian friends I sometimes speak pidgin and sometimes speak with a Jersey slang or sometimes just normal English

8. "I am my language" means I am different, I speak differently from everyone else and I am from a different country. This statement shows how a person is unique and different based on the language they speak or where they came from.

9. The introduction and the conclusion connect because in the beginning the Anzaldua mentioned how her tongue is stubborn and strong and pushes back the drills, the long thin needles. In the conclusion she inferred back to the introduction and mentioned how stubborn, persevering and impenetrable as stone her mouth can be.

10. Yes the language you speak can be a part of your identity because it differentiates you from everyone else.

11. Identity is very important me because it shows who I am. It is what makes me unique. Anzaldua believes it's important to have identity because she says "I am my language. Until I take pride in my language, I cannot take pride in myself".