Gloria Anzaldua’s “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” focuses on the importance of language, specifically, how it shapes a person’s identity. Her publication outlines the different languages Anzaldua speaks that being Chicano Spanish, Pachuco Spanish, Standard Mexican Spanish, and North Mexican dialect. In addition, when asked about her culture, she would say she is mexicana, Chicana, tejana, and raza. Her languages intersected with her identity as she considered herself all four. Consequently, after reading Anzaldua’s story, I have contemplated my languages that intersect. As a result, my languages are Spanish, English, and Spanglish.
The first language I learned was Spanish as it was my parent’s primary language. It was the language I used to interact with people and entered elementary with. I would say words such as hola, como estas to greet people or me puedes ayudar when asking for help when I was at school. Or when at home, I would say tengo hambre to tell my mother I was hungry and no me siento bien when I felt sick. Overall, at that time Spanish was the only language I could use and I was accepted by others as I used it. I live in a Latino community where I share Spanish with others. It was until I went
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The languages shift depending on the person I am talking to. When I am speaking with my parents, I would only speak Spanish. When I am presenting, participating, or talking to a teacher I speak English. When I am speaking with my friends or people who know both languages and are familiar with Spanglish that is when I would use it. Being able to shift my languages and balance them out, I become a more bilingual person as my ability to speak the languages get stronger. Also, my skills of communicating improve as I can talk to anyone in my community or on the outside of my home. Overall, my three languages shape my identity and improve my