ipl-logo

English-Only Policies By Martin Espada And Hunger Of Memory By Richard Rodriguez

721 Words3 Pages

About 400 unique non-English languages are spoken in the United States, making it one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. Even after almost 450 years since the colonization of America by the British, controversially, an official language has yet to be named. According to Martin Espada, writer of “The New Bathroom Policy at English High School,” the ability to speak native languages in America is a right that should be respected and not infringed upon by English-only policies. Conversely, Richard Rodriguez, author of “Hunger of Memory,” claims that English-only policies are precisely what non-native speakers need to be successful. As Espada and Rodriguez both offer valuable perspectives on the role of language, I believe …show more content…

He asserts that the suppression and ignorance of non-English languages in America only causes hostility and discrimination against minority language speakers. Espada tells of an unfortunate case, “In Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1987, a Cambodian schoolboy was drowned by his white counterpart over degradation and bilingual education” (lines 158-161). If the installation of English-only policies further encourages ignorance towards non-English languages and leads to extreme violence, it should not continue to be considered as a viable option, as Espada highlights within his claim. Outside of his various interactions with individuals he has spoken to, Espada too has experienced blatant discrimination. While speaking with a politician about a bilingual education organization, a man approaches Espada. Reflexively, he acknowledges the man, responding, “‘Como Estas?’” (88). The man threatens to rip out Espada’s tongue for simply speaking to him in Spanish. Such sensitivity to others that differ from us, especially in today’s diverse America, only leads to disunity and anger within our …show more content…

Espada shares his enthusiasm towards fighting for Spanish, “Defending the right of all Latinos to [speak Spanish]... creates in me a passion towards Spanish itself,” (18-20). Alike Espada, I believe that language is a right, and speakers of non-English languages should have the freedom to speak in a comfortable environment. I also believe that such tolerance is a stride towards making America a better, more united place. Rodriguez suffers from the lack of accommodation for him to maintain his native language while also learning English. After the public language seeps into his own home, Rodriguez tells of how he was affected. He explains, “But the special feeling of closeness at home was diminished by then,” (123-125). I believe that success in America should not need to be prioritized over one's own culture, such as the loss Rodriguez

Show More
Related

Rhetorical Devices In How To Tame A Wild Tongue

929 Words | 4 Pages

Rhetorical Analysis on Anzaldua’s How to Tame a Wild Tongue The passage How to Tame a Wild Tongue is a very defensive and straightforward argumentative essay which defends her language and the people who speak it against the discrimination that the author herself has experienced first hand (Ethos). From this text we can infer that the author is most likely from hispanic descent as she is speaking spanish a lot of the time throughout the text. This text mainly speaks about the discrimination many Mexican-Americans suffer because they are spanish speaking.

Read More

Analysis Of The New Bathroom Policy At English High School By Martin Espada

488 Words | 2 Pages

Espada declares: “I witnessed in court the association of the Spanish language with sloth, deceit, ignorance, even savagery.” (Line 172). Espada argues that English speakers in court dismiss Spanish speakers and treat bilinguals unjustly. He points out his experience as an example: “...if an interpreter was available, he or she was assigned to the criminal court, since jailing Latinos was a higher priority than evicting Latinos.” (Line 178).

Read More

Annotated Bibliography: How To Tame A Wild Tongue

1259 Words | 6 Pages

In the essay “How to Tame a Wild Tongue,” Gloria Anzaldua insists that one’s identity is deeply bonded to the language in which they speak. She explains how the Chicano language has developed and sustained abuse. She insists that Chicano is a whole, complete, and not a bastard language. Gloria warns, “If you really want to hurt me talk bad about my language.” Gloria becomes passionate about her wild tongue and encourages others to embrace theirs.

Read More

Analysis Of Hispanic Pride Vs. American Assimilation By Stephanie Cox

487 Words | 2 Pages

Her story reflects this; “(w)hile she felt strongly about the importance of English for her son, she herself was proud of her Mexican heritage and had no desire to become an English speaker.” Cox tells another story to support her second and third ideas. She explains: “It was not uncommon for Hispanics to travel between their native and adopted countries on a regular basis. These frequent visits help reinforce the customs, values, and language of Latin America.” She also writes about how Chicanos, American-born Mexicans, “often humiliate new immigrants attempting to learn English.”

Read More

What Are The Barriers In The Devil's Highway Urrea

742 Words | 3 Pages

Very few, if any, immigrants have the chance to learn English before traveling to the U.S. Because of this barrier, it is nearly impossible for organizations such as the Border Patrol to warn, aid, and communicate with them as they travel to the U.S. Although there are helpful signs along the border, they are written in English and are therefore indecipherable. Furthermore, the language border hinders an immigrant’s ability to survive in American society once they arrive. English is the written and spoken language in almost every city, thwarting immigrants’ opportunity to find jobs and interact with others. As they struggle to communicate, they become ostracized and do not fit in.

Read More

Summary Of English Only By Warren J. Blumenfeld

1295 Words | 6 Pages

In “English Only” Warren J. Blumenfeld considers the troubles of establishing the English only laws, he also visits the fact that although America hasn’t established an official language, there is still an implied code of language throughout the country. He argues that the need to establish English as our official language is unnecessary and demeaning to those who don’t speak English, he also argues that we should stop the discrimination by language and accept our diversity as a country. He shows that some states have already passes the English only law, then sympathizes with those immigrants who don’t know English, saying that these “laws fall under linguicism” (Blumenfeld). Blumenfeld insists that people will continue to speak their native

Read More

Compare And Contrast Richard Rodriguez And Anzaldúa

701 Words | 3 Pages

Richard Rodriguez and Gloria Anzaldúa are two authors who both immigrated to America in the 1950s and received first hand experience of the assimilation process into American society. During this time, Rodriguez and Anzaldúa had struggled adjusting to the school system. Since understanding English was difficult, it made adjusting to the American school system increasingly difficult for Rodriguez. Whereas Anzaldúa, on the other hand, had trouble adjusting to America’s school system due to the fact that she didn’t wish to stop speaking Spanish even though she could speak English. Both Rodriguez and Anzaldúa had points in their growing educational lives where they had to remain silent since the people around them weren’t interested in hearing them speaking any other language than English.

Read More

Con Respeto I Am Not Richard Rodriguez Summary

1106 Words | 5 Pages

Altman believes English-only policies are unneeded. People’s cultural backgrounds can provide them with an advantage in learning and communicating with others, even in the public sphere. Conversely, Rodriguez explains assimilation is vital as it enables people to achieve public

Read More

Skrentny's The Minority Rights Revolution

811 Words | 4 Pages

Primarily, the idea behind bilingual education is that ““primary and secondary school students who do not speak English well or at all should be taught in some or all subjects in their native language while they learn English” (Skrentny 179). The law targeted limited English proficiency students and especially the Hispanic community who had the high rate of dropouts at schools. While Gann, Duignan, Moore and Pachon insist on the role of Hispanic movement in supporting bilingual education, Skrentny's analysis of bilingual education demonstrates that Hispanics claimed bilingual education as a civil right issue after the emergence of bilingual education. He does not deny the role of the Hispanics but does not put the merit of bilingual education on them. In fact, Skrentny explains that the strongest support for bilingual education came from organizations such as the National Education Organization which argued that forcing immigrant children to give up their mother tongue and native culture in order to assimilate might cause important damage on the self-esteem of the children.

Read More

Bilingual Education Richard Rodriguez Analysis

1014 Words | 5 Pages

In the essay Rodriguez challenges the idea of bilingual education, he takes us through his personal experience of a bilingual childhood where he talks about what he encountered in America as he attempts to adjust to the American culture, and how he preserved his intimacy with his family even through the language barrier. Throughout the essay, we soon see that his identity and success is tied to the place and how he was raised, his parents are a major part of his success. Richard Rodriguez was Born in a Mexican immigrant family, him and he’s family moved to California, so he had to adapt to the new and unfamiliar situation, where the culture and language is completely different, therefore making him feel like he did not belong in the American culture. There was something Richard said that was really interesting, he said “An accident of geography sent me to a school where all my classmates were white.”

Read More

Immigrants Shaping American Identity In 'Mother Tongue' By Richard Rodriguez

445 Words | 2 Pages

Rodriguez implies how a competition has arise in America between Hispanics and African people, yet “ In Latin America, one sees every race of the world. One sees white Hispanics, one sees black Hispanics, One sees brown Hispanics who are Indians, many of whom do not speak Spanish”(pg.89). Thus, this reveals how Hispanic people come from many different backgrounds and are all over the places and how some even do not know Spanish which many people would assume they do. Eventually, Immigrants have identify American

Read More

Hunger Of Memory By Richard Rodriguez

1504 Words | 7 Pages

Richard Rodriguez’s autobiography, Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez, depicts his transformation from a socioeconomically disadvantaged first generation child of Mexican-American immigrants to a successful author, academic, and intellectual. During his metamorphosis, however, Rodriguez goes through an arduous process of assimilation that grants him a mastery of the English language and an embrace of American culture at the expense of his cultural heritage. His struggle to find a balance between these two worlds is prevalent throughout his autobiography, demonstrating the complex nature of identity and the manner in which language and culture impact it. In the text, identity seems to be formed at times around perceived similarities,

Read More

Recognising And Addressing Linguistic Bias In Jury Trial

1219 Words | 5 Pages

This essay argues that the judicial system may address linguistic prejudice by recognizing linguistic diversity, offering education

Read More

Should English Be An Official Language Essay

830 Words | 4 Pages

In the article “Why is Official English Necessary?” by Usenglish, they argue that “providing a common means of communication [...] encourages immigrants to learn English in order to use government services and participate in the democratic process” (Source D). The author highlights that by requiring people to learn English, they will be able to take part in different democratic activities, such as voting or contacting government officials. The participation of minorities in democratic activities is necessary because it allows their voices to be heard. For America to live up to its ideal of equality, everyone’s opinion must be acknowledged.

Read More

English Only Movement Essay

623 Words | 3 Pages

Ratifying legislation such as the ELA conveys to the public that there is a supreme form of speech among the 350 languages spoken in the United States. As a result, it is simply not possible to assert one language as dominant and ‘better for communication’ without inherently demeaning all the others, as the English-only movement attempts to do. This deprecation of different languages pressures immigrants and citizens to assimilate by learning English and reject their mother tongue. As many Americans disregard their foreign roots in order to better fit in society, the nation grows further from the diverse democracy it was intended to be, which is anything but unifying.

Read More

More about English-Only Policies By Martin Espada And Hunger Of Memory By Richard Rodriguez

Open Document