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.