The Most Meaningful Takeaway: How to Tame a Wild Tongue

In class today we were asked to get in groups and discuss what we read (in depth) over the winter break. It was asked of us to read “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” and “Woman Warrior”. After reading them both and having the group discussion in class, there was a question that Mohammad asked that really stuck with me; ‘does using multiple languages in the author’s writing exclude or include other people who do not speak the languages written?’  

In my opinion it includes people more than excludes people. What I mean by this is that people who speak Chicano Spanish can read this as well as people who speak English. Thus it can relate to both English and Spanish speakers. However I believe that the author didn’t really care about everyone else who was reading this. This was for her, who she was, and how she’s able to show herself through her writing. And people who do not speak any of the languages that were written should not feel excluded because they do not know the language. For instance: I do not feel excluded that I cannot read the Spanish parts of the text because I understand that this is for the author and how she wants to use writing as a creative outlet to express herself. Much like I do not feel excluded that I can’t read texts in Swedish or French, because I do not know the language. 

However I understand why this question could be asked often, and that’s brings us to language and power. Because English is such a world renowned language nowadays, I understand why people might feel excluded that they can’t speak or understand it. Because in reality English is one of the most spoken languages in the world right now and it is only progressing in terms of it growing. 

Another way that this text shows language and power in my opinion, if she truly wants to show that she is a proud Chicano Spanish speaker and “she really is her language”, why is she writing most of text in English? This is definitely a form of linguistic imperialism. This is because it shows the author’s language as being dominated by a more powerful one (Chicano being dominated by English). This is an utter portrayal of aspects of the dominant language being transferred along with the culture that the person(s) are in. For the reason that since the author is living in the United States it appears to be that the culture and language have rubbed off on her. Not saying that she doesn’t relate back to her culture, and language but more of the fact that she could be drifting away from it due to the location she is in. 

In conclusion in How to Tame a Wild Tongue the relationship between language and power is portrayed through the author’s writing (whilst writing mostly in English), and how since English is so popular nowadays people might feel excluded or discriminated against in places where this aspect of the country’s culture is shown (displaying linguistic imperialism).