“Speaking In Tongues” by Zadie Smith and “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldùa. 
Rafiq, Nabil
Professor Homer
English 101
November 13, 2014
“Language Equals Identity” For some language might be just something you speak to communicate but for others it defines who they are. Some may realize this from the start but others ponder on it after they lose that sense of belonging with their own. As we know, The United States of America, is a melting pot and with us we bring our own identity such as: language, culture, religion, and traditions. Losing any of these traits could results in losing who you are, as we read in, “Speaking In Tongues” by Zadie Smith and “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldùa. Smith and Anzaldùa both shared a similar problem. They were afraid that they may lose or already lost their voice/language. While Anzaldùa did everything to prevent that, “I had to “argue” with one advisor after the other, semester after semester, before I was allowed to make Chicano literature an area of focus” (Anzaldùa 376). Smith on the other hand just tried to fit in, “A braver person, perhaps, would have stood firm, teaching her peers…….I went the other way” (Smith 1). Instead of trying to hold on to her identity, she lost it on the way by blending in. For instance, President Obama and Shakespeare were able to speak in different tongues which Smith lost. They were able to switch back and forth depending on the audience they were speaking to. She calls her language an “exotic garment” because it was very precious and dear to her. Smith is bringing this issue to light because she envious of others capability of speaking in different tongues. She wants to prevent others from making the same grievous, error of losing your “voice”. The reason Smith tried to fit in with the American society was because she did not want feel like the outsider. She lived to regret because she gave into the peer pressure. On the other hand, Anzaldùa took a different approach. Although her parents wanted her to forget her language, “I want you
Professor Homer
English 101
November 13, 2014
“Language Equals Identity” For some language might be just something you speak to communicate but for others it defines who they are. Some may realize this from the start but others ponder on it after they lose that sense of belonging with their own. As we know, The United States of America, is a melting pot and with us we bring our own identity such as: language, culture, religion, and traditions. Losing any of these traits could results in losing who you are, as we read in, “Speaking In Tongues” by Zadie Smith and “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldùa. Smith and Anzaldùa both shared a similar problem. They were afraid that they may lose or already lost their voice/language. While Anzaldùa did everything to prevent that, “I had to “argue” with one advisor after the other, semester after semester, before I was allowed to make Chicano literature an area of focus” (Anzaldùa 376). Smith on the other hand just tried to fit in, “A braver person, perhaps, would have stood firm, teaching her peers…….I went the other way” (Smith 1). Instead of trying to hold on to her identity, she lost it on the way by blending in. For instance, President Obama and Shakespeare were able to speak in different tongues which Smith lost. They were able to switch back and forth depending on the audience they were speaking to. She calls her language an “exotic garment” because it was very precious and dear to her. Smith is bringing this issue to light because she envious of others capability of speaking in different tongues. She wants to prevent others from making the same grievous, error of losing your “voice”. The reason Smith tried to fit in with the American society was because she did not want feel like the outsider. She lived to regret because she gave into the peer pressure. On the other hand, Anzaldùa took a different approach. Although her parents wanted her to forget her language, “I want you