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Tame Wild Tongue

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In “How to Tame a Wild Tongue,” Gloria Anzaldua argues for the permission to define her own Chicano/ Feminist voice without being hindered by stereotypes and limitations. Gloria argues that, “wild tongues can’t be tamed, they can only be cut out,” but specifically argues that different accents stir up one big culture. She says “We oppress each other trying to oust Chicano each other, tying to be the “real” Chicanas, to speak like Chicanos.” meaning each Spanish is a variation of two languages, and that there’s different ways she speaks to others in certain situations like having two tongues. Gloria also argues that she shouldn’t be embarrassed by her language and accent by saying “I am my language” meaning her language is what makes her special and unique. Also …show more content…

“We speak a patois, a forked tongue, a variation of two languages” (208), meaning she had a language that was neither Spanish nor English, but a language she could relate to when speaking with others, “We needed a language with which we could communicate with ourselves, a secret language”. Pointing out that Chicanos took the initiative to create a language that is a mix of all the different languages they speak. But even with their efforts no matter how much they try she says, “We oppress each other trying to oust Chicano each other, trying to be the “real” Chicanas, to speak like Chicanos. (210)”. They oppress each other by thinking that their way of speaking is better than the others way. By doing this they make not only themselves uncomfortable speaking Spanish but get others to think that they aren’t the ideal Chicano/a. That’s why Anzaldua tells herself, “I will no longer be made to feel ashamed of existing. I will have my voice: Indian, Spanish, white. I will have my serpent’s tongue—my woman’s voice, my sexual voice, my poet’s voice. I will overcome the tradition of silence.

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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.

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Gloria Anzaldúa, in the essay “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” (1987), claims her experiences as a Chicano taught her that her culture was not looked at highly in comparison to the English language. Anzaldúa argues her view about her Chicano language by giving examples of both cultures Chicano Mexican and American cultures. Anzaldúa’s purpose is to inform her audience on how it is to grow up in a Chicano speaking family. Anzaldúa writes in a frustrating tone throughout the story of her life experiences. Thesis: Anzaldúa use of her personal experiences, and Music, Film and Literature are relevant sufficient and

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Written by Gloria Anzaldua, “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”, is an opinion easy , a retrospection of her past and a story about identity and recognition of a wild tongue. The following is a rhetorical analysis and personal response of this easy . My analysis will be divided into 4 separate parts including intended audience, main claim, purpose and situation. (a) Intended audience : The first thing that anyone who even skims through this easy would notice is Anzaldua’s multi-lingual language use.

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My Rhetorical Analysis Language is a part one’s identity and culture, which allows one to communicate with those of the same group, although when spoken to someone of another group, it can cause a language barrier or miscommunication in many different ways. In Gloria Anzaldua’s article, “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”, which was taken from her book Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza, she is trying to inform her readers that her language is what defines her. She began to mention how she was being criticized by both English and Spanish Speakers, although they both make up who she is as a person. Then, she gave convincing personal experiences about how it was to be a Chicana and their different types of languages. Moreover, despite the fact that her language was considered illegitimate, Anzaldua made it clear that she cannot get rid of it until the day she dies, or as she states (on page 26) “Wild tongues can’t be, they can only be cut out.”

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