In Tan’s “Mother Tongue” the author speaks of her experience with language and how she uses it to suit her listeners. There are many ways that individuals use language. In my personal opinion, I think that language is one of the main principles that differs us from one another. One example of how I used language where my listeners can understand, is that I speak very formally to many of my customers. I, too, use language that my listeners will understand.
A true definition of language is, “ the system of words or signs that people use to express thoughts and feelings to each other” (Webster Dictionary). Amy Tan’s definition is a bit different. She believes that language can “evoke emotions and show a visual image” (Tan 358). Everybody has their
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Personally I do not see a problem with the way my friends and I communicate. We use slang words and language as you would say is “in style”. There are times when my friends and I would
have an inside joke and nobody would understand. That is because it is our inside language that we share that nobody else will understand. According to Amy Tan, “It has become our language of intimacy, a different sort of English that relates to family talk, the language I grew up with”(Tan 359). I too, have a special “intimacy language” with many of my close friends. Many people would assume that co-workers speak to one another formally and precise. But in my situation, my fellow co-workers and I communicate like we would with any of our other friends. We do not believe we have to speak to one another formally. I work at a restaurant as a waitress, and I speak to all of my customers with respect and precise language. I do consider my co-workers as friends, and I do not feel the need to speak to them in such precise or proper English. We do curse and we do use many slang words with each other. My manager is very lenient as well about how we use informal language in the restaurant. We have to make sure the customers do not hear us using curses and speaking with slang