Response to Mother Tongue

Although I found Amy Tan’s article Mother Tongue more tedious than interesting I found it in my grades best interest to continue through. Tan’s article brought up some interesting points I have never considered myself about the my native English language and how we use it differently when speaking to others and different kinds of people. Tan’s mother’s first language is not English yet she has found a way to express herself in the language using simple words and uncomplex grammar. I also agree with Tan’s view on how broken or limited English makes the subject of these terms seem limited mentally or emotionally when they are not and they can express themselves rather efficiently in words they can use. I also find it interesting that although Tan’s strong suits in school were math and science she choose english because she is somewhat of a rebel and wanted to challenge herself. By choosing her subject audience as someone like her mother for her book I think is a new innovative way for us that English is our “mother tongue” can understand how English as a language is viewed and perceived by a majority of immigrants struggling to be understood who have had to learn English as a second language without a formal education.