"RIght to use your own language in an academic setting." response

David Son
ENGW 1100
September 17, 2015
Professor Young

The right to language in your class.

     Yes, I think that student's should have the right to use their own language in class. Even if others

do not understand the specific language that the person wrote in their essay or something else, it is a

part of their own style and identity. It's what makes them feel the most comfortable in their

environment, it helps express what they can't say on paper. The reason that Gloria Anzaldula had

written some of her book, "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" in Spanish, was to express her identity and

show that she wasn't going to be suppressed or changed in her way of writing. Sure, some students

can still write very well without their personal language attached to the story, but if they need their

language to help express who they are and how they write, then they will have problems with how

they do things in general. In extreme cases, their could be students who begin to have doubt about

their own identity, if they re blatantly told they are only aloud to use "American" language in their

essay, and begin to shape themselves into the supposed "perfect" image of American society.

Essay response to "How to Tame a Wild Tongue"

David Son
ENGW 1100
September 2, 2015
Professor Young

                              What is identity?

     Identity is what makes up who we are, it is what defines our entire being. 

For example, if Gloria Anzaldua had given up her language and instead 

embraced the american way, this story would have never been written, and 

she wouldn't be known as the person who stood up against every challenge  

put up against her, she stood up against sexism, racism, and even withstood and did not get a low self 

esteem, to make people understand that they shouldn't give up and give into the ways that others 

force you to become. If she never did any of this, she would have just looked like an other Spanish-

American that lives with us today. She became a symbol to others who were struggling with the 

same problems that she had to live though, and led them to follow her path. Identity to me though, it 

symbolizes me. What I mean is that it is what defines and shapes me to my own unique stature. If I 

were to like different things or if I were to take different paths throughout my life, I would not be the 

same person I am today. I am unique to my own form, some may have similarities, or even have 

nearly all the same likes and dislikes as me, but they will never be me. As Gloria Anzaldua had said 

in her story, "I am my language." Meaning that what had molded her throughout her life, can never 

be taken away from her, she will not be broken, even if you criticize her language, she will remain 

strong, she will always have the will to fight back because her language is a part of her that she grew 

up with, and she will never let someone take a part of her away.

Works Cited

1. Anzalduá, Gloria. "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" Teaching Developmental Writing. Ed. Susan Naomi Bernstein fourth ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013. 245-255. Print. 

Quotes for "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" Response

David Son
ENGW 1100
August 30th 2015
Professor Young

Quotes for "How to Tame a Wild Tongue"

1. “We’re going to have to control your tongue” the dentists says. 

2. "And I think, how do you tame a wild tongue, train it to be quiet, how do you bridle and saddle it? How do you make it lie down?"

3. “Who is to say that robbing a people of its language is less violent than war?”-Ray Gwyn Smith.

Works Cited

Anzalduá, Gloria. "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" Teaching Developmental Writing. Ed. Susan Naomi Bernstein fourth ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013. 245-255. Print. 

How To Tame A Wild Tongue Response

David Son
ENGW 1100
August 30th 2015
Professor Young

Taming a Wild Tongue

1. Discuss how the opening scene of Anzaldua in the dentist's chair connects to the overall point/message of the essay and title.

In the reading Anzalduá couldn't control her tongue very well because of the cotton that kept moving around in her mouth, she kept doing things that would hinder the dentists progress. "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" connects because her tongue was out of control and wild, meaning that it would not stay put and only have English as its language but stay true with her Spanish heritage.

2. Discuss Anzaldua's use of the Spanish throughout her writing. Did it make sense? What was her purpose?

When Anzaldua used Spanish throughout the story, it made no sense and didn't need to be tgere at some points. It represented how she wanted to express her story and how she felt comfortable with the way she wrote.

3. Can Academic English be defined as Spanish (Standard) and can Chicano Spanish be described as nonstandard? Why? What inferences, conclusions, can be made from referring to one identity (language) as standard versus nonstandard?

Yes, the reason is because both Standard Spanish and Academic English are used while talking to parents and formally used to talk to teachers or professors. Chicano Spanish is very informal and not normally used to talk to older people and contains simple words that are cut and mean a different meaning. Nonstandard vs. Standard concludes that people who use Standard are more educated.

4. Discuss the necessity of speaking and/writing in Academic English as an identity. Is it necessary?

It is necessary because it shows the different intelligence levels of people who use Academic English and others who don't, it also shows better professionalism. Yes it is necessary for everyday use.
5. Anzaldua describes different types of Spanish, identities. Discuss the various types of English, identities, you know.

I don't really know any other types of English Identities, they never really shown up in my life, I probably didn't pay enough attention to hear one or didn't understand it at the time.

6. Pachuco. Do you use a secret language, secret identity, to communicate to your friends? If so, what?

I don't have a secret language between my friends, it would be too time consuming for myself and overall a waste of time. I could say that the way I say the English language is different between my friends, certain ways of saying things, my tone between them and such.

7.Chicano Spanish can be compared to non-standard English. What form of English (standard or nonstandard) do you speak with our friends (audience)? what form of English do you speak when talk to your mother (audience), professor (audience)? Why?

I speak nonstandard English to my friends because that is how they speak to me, if they want to speak in standard English then I will do the same. When I speak to my parents I mostly speak in a nonstandard English way, with standard English mixed in, my parents can't speak English very well so the words that they can understand is a mix between nonstandard and standard English. I speak as formally as I can with my professor, since I should respect the man or woman who teaches me and grades me.

8."I am my language." What does this mean? How does this statement connect to a person's identity?

It means that it connects deeply with who you are, your heritage, culture, nationality, language and many others that make you who you are and no other person can change that.

9. Talk specifically about how the introduction and conclusion connect.

The intro connects with the conclusion because it shows how even when she continued to speak Spanish in the beginning of the story and when the teachers scolded her for doing so, she did not waver with her choice and continued to speak Spanish. She did not change who she was as the quote, "I am my language" shows that she is who she is and will never change, only making her stronger with the choice she made.

10. Can the language you speak be a part of your identity? Why?

Yes, I have mostly used English as my choice of language for myself, mainly because I have forgotten how to speak in Korean. If I were to completely forget English and re-learn Korean, none of my friends except for a select few would understand what I said, and my friends who almost all speak English would not understand a word I said, essentially making me a stranger in front of them.

11. How important is identity to you? Does Anzaldua believe it's important to have identity? Use some examples from "How to Tame a Wild Tongue," to support your answer.

Yes, identity is important to me, it basically shows who I am, and what makes me essentially me. If you were to take away my identity, I would be nothing but a ghost that no one would know, let alone see. It is who I am, my beliefs, my passions, talents, looks, emotions and many other qualities that are connected to my identity. She has shown that being a Spanish-speaker has made her not only a stronger person with all the hardships she had to endure, but to make others understand how important you identity can truly be, everyone has their own identity, even if some were to be similar is some ways you are unique to the identity that you molded and shaped throughout your life to become who you are.

Getting to know you

David Son

ENGW 1100
8/25/15
Prof. Young



1. If you play a sport, what type of sport do you play? How long have you been playing this sport?

I don't play a sport, I found no interest in participating in any of the games, playing video game is more interesting.

2. What are you most passionate about? For example, in your free time, what do you enjoy doing most?

I enjoy playing video games in my free time, but I also like to read books that are interesting to me,

3. What is you nickname and how did you get this name?

David, it's my middle name that was given to me by my parents.

4. When you write, do you just sit at a computer and allow the words to flow or do you have an outline?

I'd prefer using an outline to give me a basis of how to actually start the writing prompt, but if I have to do it from scratch, then that's how it will be done.

5. How would you describe your writing experience in high school? For example did your teacher allow you multiple times for you to revise your essay yo earn a higher grade? Did you learn grammar rules and structure? Did you learn about the five paragraph structure?

I first would say that my writing skill is fair, yes, my teacher had allowed me once or twice to revise an essay they had me write, I have learned grammar rules and structure and have learned the five paragraph structure.

6. What type of music do you most listen to and who is your favorite artist?

I really don't listen to music, so I don't have anything to put here.

7. Do you use social media and if so how often do you use social media: Facebook, Twitter, Snap Chat, Instagram?

I have a Facebook that I check up on from time to time, nothing else really.

8.What is most important for you to learn this semester?

I guess my Major is most important, as well as keeping up my grades.

9. Rate yourself as a writer: A, B, C, or D. Explain why.

Between C and B, I have always had some trouble writing my own essays, short answers and such, but with a little help, I can write a decent essay.