Amy Tan's Mother Tongue
After reading Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue”, I realized how many different “Englishes” I have spoken or used, as well as how many I have heard in my life-particularly while in the military. For example, how I speak with authority figures versus friends, and how I speak with my daughter as opposed to “educated” adults.
Although the English I speak with friends and coworkers is often filled with slang and swear words, I would never speak like that in many other settings. One of those times is, when spending time with my parents, it is always a “please and thank you” environment. Similarly when I’m with a boss at work or a professor at school I will always try to be as professional as possible, such as using sir or ma’am for example. As well as the English I use speaking with my five year old daughter, I speak softer and use smaller words. However, if I do use larger words, I always make sure to explain the meaning to her. I never miss an opportunity to expand my daughter’s vocabulary.
I’ve also had the opportunity while serving in the United States Air Force, to hear many different “Englishes”. Being in the military, you get to work with and spend a lot of time with people from all over America who speak in different dialects related to their social backgrounds. One day you might work with someone from the Deep South and the next day, someone from Maine. Then you might get lucky and work with someone from your own part of the country or, you might get two guys both from New York state - but one is from the city with that “rough Bronx accent” and the other may be from the Northern New York farming area. To my ear he might sound pretty “normal” (even if he does say “pop” instead of “soda”).
While in the Air Force, I’ve had the opportunity to travel all over the world. I have been to many parts of Asia and the Pacific Islands where, when they speak English, they just seem to plow right through it. For example, if you are shopping for clothes; they would say
Although the English I speak with friends and coworkers is often filled with slang and swear words, I would never speak like that in many other settings. One of those times is, when spending time with my parents, it is always a “please and thank you” environment. Similarly when I’m with a boss at work or a professor at school I will always try to be as professional as possible, such as using sir or ma’am for example. As well as the English I use speaking with my five year old daughter, I speak softer and use smaller words. However, if I do use larger words, I always make sure to explain the meaning to her. I never miss an opportunity to expand my daughter’s vocabulary.
I’ve also had the opportunity while serving in the United States Air Force, to hear many different “Englishes”. Being in the military, you get to work with and spend a lot of time with people from all over America who speak in different dialects related to their social backgrounds. One day you might work with someone from the Deep South and the next day, someone from Maine. Then you might get lucky and work with someone from your own part of the country or, you might get two guys both from New York state - but one is from the city with that “rough Bronx accent” and the other may be from the Northern New York farming area. To my ear he might sound pretty “normal” (even if he does say “pop” instead of “soda”).
While in the Air Force, I’ve had the opportunity to travel all over the world. I have been to many parts of Asia and the Pacific Islands where, when they speak English, they just seem to plow right through it. For example, if you are shopping for clothes; they would say