Brianna O'Donnell
English 1100
September 21, 2016
Prof. Young

Students' Right to Their Language of Choice With Boundaries

From the day we are born to the time of adolescence, we learn how to speak the language that is accepted by our society. From the vocal sounds that we make at seven months old to the proper and formal sentences that we use when communicating with authority, we absorb and learn standard English. Although though we are taught that standard english is proper for speaking with authority and in public, over the years of adolescence we pick up on certain slang terms that we use when speaking with our friends or family. For example, when it comes to texting we use certain terms such as "lol" or "wyd" or "ttyl" etc. Now, we may use these slang terms when texting or speaking with friends or family but when it comes to speaking with a professor or a person with authority we use standard English or proper English. 

Do you think students should have a right to their own language? Some people may say yes, because after all according to the first amendment of the constitution we are permitted freedom of speech. However, there are certain boundaries when it comes to expressing yourself. For example, if you were a student it would not be acceptable to email your professor and say "What up bro" or "I got the meanest hangover so I won't make it to class lol." I believe that students should have a right to their own language but only when speaking with friends or family. I also believe students should keep it "clean" and standardized when speaking with people of authority, such as professors, bosses, unfamiliar elders, leaders etc. When speaking with people of authority, a student will sound more intelligent when expressing themselves with reasons, examples, names, numbers and sensory details. Using all of these things when speaking will only help a student's voice sound more brilliant and improve their identity because it will make them seem as if they are immensely intelligent, as well as experts in their language. Therefore, the authority that is being spoken to, may take the students words more seriously, rather than with a grain of salt.

When it comes to others such as artists and football figures a lot of people may say that they should have the right to freely express themselves, but should they? Should they be able to express themselves freely with their own language on public television and radio stations? I think artists and football figures should have the right to express themselves because they are people too, but only to a certain extent. For example, most mothers would not want their children watching postgame interviews with players that may say things such as "I do this for my niggas," or "Finna get my mother a new crib," or "them players are buggin dog!" Football players and artists all breathe and speak and preform the same daily activities that every other human being does , therefore they should be able to express themselves freely, but only with their friends and family. Since football figures play football for a living and artists make art, music or theatre for a living they should not have the ability to use slang or their own language in the workplace or when speaking publicly.  

Brianna O'Donnell
English 1100
September 6, 2016
Prof. Young

What Does Identity Mean to You?

Identity can be defined as many things such as race, gender, occupation, language, or


social economic status, but is most importantly defined by culture. Identity IS culture. Just as

Anzadula says in How to Tame a Wild Tongue, “I am my language,” people are his/her


culture. Culture is defined as the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual 


achievement regarded collectivity, or more simply the beliefs and customs of a specific


society, place or time period. A person’s identity consists of the things that they believe in


such as personal opinions, religion, political views, sexual orientation, a persons views on


what is right or wrong etc. A person’s beliefs could be anything from having faith that


something exists to believing that the earth is round. A person’s identity also consists of the


customs that they abide by which could be traditions, types of behavior, types of food, the


way people dress, the language people speak etc. Customs/traditions can be anything from


holiday celebrations to bedtime stories. One’s traditions, behaviors, interests, opinions,


religious beliefs, political views, sexual orientation and the way a person acts is a person’s


identity. It is what makes that person who they are. The things that a person does during


everyday life is considered his/her culture which is considered a part of his/her identity.


Different forms of entertainment that a person takes part in is a part of his/her culture. Daily


activities such as brushing teeth, brushing hair, taking a shower, getting dressed are all


things that a culture consists of, which in most cases are usually social norms. A person’s


culture is what defines him or her and his or her society.

Works Cited

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

Brianna O'Donnell
English 1100
September 5, 2016
Prof. Young

                                 Reading Response Questions to "How to Tame a Wild Tongue"

1. The opening scene of Anzaldua in the dentist's chair connects to the overall message of the essay and title because the dentist is trying to control her tongue while removing the metal from Anzaldua's mouth. The overall point of this essay instructing how to control uninhibited language.

2. Anzaldua uses Spanish throughout her writing because it is her native language. It made sense because a translation followed each of the Spanish phrases. Anzaldua's purpose was to inform/entertain the reader with phrases of her native language.

3. Academic english can be defined as standard because it uses the characteristics acceptable by english native speakers. Chicano Spanish can be described as nonstandard because according to the essay, "How to Tame a Wild Tongue," Chicano Spanish is usually spoken with an accent and that is not accepted by Native speakers due to incorrect pronunciation or grammar. The conclusion can be made that referring to one identity or language as standard, would mean that the person was brought up/raised speaking this language. Referring to one identity or language as nonstandard would mean that the person is now learning how to speak this language and was not raised speaking this language.

4. The necessity of speaking/writing in Academic English as an identity would only be necessary when speaking or writing to English natives or fluent English language speakers. English native or English language speakers would only have the ability to understand the writing/speaking if it is expressed the correct way with the proper use of pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, etc.

5. Standard English is a type of English identity which is considered acceptable by most people that speak English. Slang is a type of English identity in which words or phrases are informal. Broken English is a type of English identity in which a person speaks English with difficulty, making several mistakes because he/she does not know the language well.

6. I do not use a secret language or identity to communicate with my friends.

7. When speaking with friends, nonstandard English is most often used because it is improper or "broken". When speaking with a parent or professor, standard English is used because it is more respectful and proper.

8. "I am my language" means that a person's native language is a part of his/her identity. Language is a part of what makes a person who they are. It is how a person communicates with peers and how a person completes/gets through everyday life.

9. The introduction and conclusion connect because they are both expressing the point that it is important to identify ourselves because no matter what happens in the world, our identities and cultures will remain a part of this world. No one has the ability to stop another from speaking or censoring one's language because everyone is entitled to the First Amendment right, freedom of speech.

10. The language that a person speaks can be part of his/her identity because language is what a person is made of. Language is used by a person to complete everyday life by participating in actions such as reading, speaking or listening.

11. Identity is very important to me because it makes a person who they are and defines them, socially, culturally, economically, physically, and mentally. Anzaldua believes it is important to have identity. In the essay she states the following, "...what recourse is left to them but to create their own language? A language which they can connect their identity to..." Anzaldua believes it is important for a person to speak a language which correlates to his/her identity. In the essay, Anzaldua also states the following, "My "home" tongues are the languages I speak with my sisters and brothers, with my friends. They are the last five listed, with 6 and 7 being closest to my heart." Anzaldua's language is close to heart and that is a part of her identity. Lastly, in the essay Anzaldua says, "Ethnic identity is twin skin to linguistic identity-I am my language." Anzaldua's language is what makes her who she is and is an important part of her identity.