For our next class, 2/7/24, please read Anzaldua’s “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” on Perusall, post at least three (3) comments, and respond to at least three (3) of your classmates’ (or my) comments on Perusall as well. Also answer these questions and post here in the response section:
Questions for “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”
A) Why were Anzaldua and other Chicano students required to take two speech classes at their university?
B) How does Anzaldua describe Chicano Spanish?
C) What are three of the languages Anzaldua lists as spoken by Chicanos today?
D) Use your own words and in 2 to 3 sentences, describe Pachuco.
E) According to Anzaldua, what are some of the differences between Chicano Spanish and Standard Spanish?
F) According to Anzaldua, how do Chicanos and Chicanas who grew up speaking the language feel about it?
G) How does Anzaldua say the way to “really hurt” her is?
H) What does Anzaldua mean when she says, “Chicanos straddle the borderlands”?
If you have any questions, contact me at jbelknap@citytech.cuny.edu or profbelknap@gmail.com or 212-220-1422.
A) Anzaldua and other Chicano students were required to take two speech test in their university so they will be able to get rid of their accent.
B) Anzaldua describes chicano spanish as a spanish/anglo colonization and a mutilation of spanish which is a border tongue that developed naturally and also a living language.
C) Standard Spanish , North Mexican Spanish dialect , Standard English
D) Pachuco is a type of slang made up of english and spanish which is made for not outsiders to understand and to use and it has been kept a secret from people.
E) Chicano spanish is diverse linguistically as it is regionally and standard spanish as spoken with an accent.
F) Chicanos and Chicanas who grew up speaking the language had an internalized belief, that they were speaking poor spanish and also their language has been used against them by dominant culture, which has made them use the language differences against each other.
G) Anzaldua said the way to really hurt her is to talk badly about her language.
H) What Anzaldua meant by chicanos straddle the borderlands was on one side they were constantly exposed to the spanish of the mexicans and on the other side the anglo demanding them to forget their language.
A) Anzaldua and other Chicano students were required to take two speech classes at their university because the university’s purpose was to get rid of their accents.
B) Anzaldua describes Chicano Spanish as a mutilation of Spanish, border tongue which developed naturally and a living language.
C) The three languages Anzaldua lists as spoken by Chicanos today is:
D) Pachuco is a language of rebelion and it is a made up slang words that is close to English and Spanish. Also that Pachuco is a secret language and that no adults of that culture or outsiders can’t understand that language.
E) Some of the differences between Chicano Spanish and Standard Spanish is that chicano’s use “archaisms” words that are no longer spanish and it has developed significant differences in the Spanish that people speak. Also the Standard Spanish is the first language that people speak more and they speak more is Standard Spanish then Chicano Spanish.
F) Chicanos and Chicanas who grew up speaking the language feel uncomfortable talking in Spanish to Latina’s because they have internalized belief that they speak poor Spanish and that it is a illegitimate, a bastard language, so they use their language differences against each other.
G) Anzaldua say the way to “really hurt” her is to talk bad about her language.
H) What Anzaldua means when she says, “Chicanos straddle the borderlands” is that they are exposed to the Spanish of Mexicans because they believe that being Mexican has nothing to do with which country one lives in and that being Mexican is a state of soul, not one of mind, not one of citizenship, and the ocean, neither animals respect borders.
Questions for “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”
A) Why were Anzaldua and other Chicano students required to take two speech classes at their university?
A: to get rid to their accents.
B) How does Anzaldua describe Chicano Spanish?
A: She describes as a new language. As change, evolution, enrichment.
C) What are three of the languages Anzaldua lists as spoken by Chicanos today?
A: Standard English, Standard Spanish and Pachuco.
D) Use your own words and in 2 to 3 sentences, describe Pachuco.
A: 1. words that knowing their meaning you would not know what they really mean. 2. Pachuco is a fun language, like riddles.
E) According to Anzaldua, what are some of the differences between Chicano Spanish and Standard Spanish?
A: absorbed by adjacent vowels, leave out initial and final syllable, and don’t use the word vosotros(as).
F) According to Anzaldua, how do Chicanos and Chicanas who grew up speaking the language feel about it?
A: “Pena. Shame. Low estimation of self”
G) How does Anzaldua say the way to “really hurt” her is?
A: talking bad about her language
H) What does Anzaldua mean when she says, “Chicanos straddle the borderlands”?
A: It means to me that you are part of both places.
1- they were required to take two speech classes at their invitation to get rod their accent s
2- Anzaldua describe Chicano Spanish like a border tongue which developed naturally
3- The three of the languages Anzaldua lists as spoken by Chicanos today are :
Standard English, standard Spanish and standard Mexican Spanish
4- Pachuco is a kind of languages that Anzaldua choose to speak with kids and people in her age , is a mix between standard English and standard Spanish
5- Some of the differences between Chicano Spanish and Standard Spanish are they collapse two adjacent vowels into a single syllable and sometimes shift the stress in certain words
6- They believe that they speak a poor Spanish
7-when she said “if you wanna really hurt me talk badly about my language “ I feel like she is really linked with her language and she feel jealous or kind of it if someone talk badly about her language
8- she means that Chicanos can’t decide what land they belong because of their language , so they are in between Spanish land and English land
a. Anzaldua and other Chicano students are required to take two speech courses in college to help them improve their communication skills. The University wants to ensure that all students have the ability to express their ideas effectively through spoken language.
b. Spanish is influenced by a variety of linguistic and cultural factors, including indigenous languages, English, and regional Mexican dialects.
c. Spanish, English and Pachuco
d. It is a special language that has a phonetic mixture of Spanish and standard English and is associated with a unique style.
e. Chicano Spanish often incorporates regional differences, slang, and cultural influences specific to the Mexican-American community.
f. Chicanos and Chicanas may also face challenges and discrimination for speaking Spanish, especially in environments where English is dominant.
g. I feel language is an important aspect of her identity and any attack on it is deeply personal to her. In short, she believes that damaging or disrespecting her language is a powerful way to cause real harm.
h. She frequently navigates and experiences life on the borders of Mexican and American cultures, facing challenges and embracing hybrid identities that incorporate elements from both.
A)Anzaldua and the other Chicano students had to take two speech classes at their university to get rid of their accents.
B)Anzaldua says that Chicano Spanish is “for a people who cannot identify with either standard (formal, Castilian) Spanish nor standard English…A language which they can connect their identity to, one capable of communicating the realities and values true to themselves”.
C) The list of languages spoken by Chicanos today are Standard English, Standard Spanish and Tex-Mex.
D)Pachuco is a mix of English and Spanish invented so that strangers won’t understand it.
E) Chicano Spanish is described for people who have Mexican ancestry and standard Spanish could be described as the language of Hispanic people.
F)According to Anzaldua, “Chicanas who grew up speaking Chicano Spanish have internalized the belief that we speak poor Spanish. It is illegitimate, a bastard language. And because we internalize how our language has been used against us by the dominant culture, we use our language differences against each other.”
G) If you really want to hurt her, talk bad about her language.
H)What Anzaldua means when she says “Chicanos are found on both sides of the borderlands” is that on the one hand Spanish continues and on the other hand there is the fear that the language will be lost.
Questions for “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”
A) Anzaldua and other Chicano students are obliged to take classes at their university because they really need to be able to communicate with total veracity of what they mean whatever they transmit
B) Anzaldua describes Chicano Spanish as the dialect created in his town when it is in the middle of two crosses of cultures between English and traditional Spanish, being the Chicano la Gerga” or I don’t know if I can call it that the way to express his culture from the root in each word and entrenched phrase of his Chicano people.
C) Standard English, Standard Spanish, Pachuco or Tex- mex
D)Anzaldua chooses Pachuco as the language that unites both horizons such as standard English and standard Spanish, in this way she communicates with the little ones because she does not want that culture of her native language to be lost.
E) Of the biggest differences between Chicano Spanish and standard Spanish is the pronunciation of some syllables and consonants, in turn until the disappearance of them in some words, or the replacement given to them. It’s a very marked accent in his gerga
F) Those who have grown up in the middle of this linguistic battle, have felt discrimination in one way or another and this is experienced by many more when they relate to native English, however they have determined to give it place and continue to believe in their root and culture transforming into an opportunity they have when speaking English and Spanish
G) When they misrefer to their language and offend their roots, Anzaldua fights against that discrimination and on the contrary repudiates that this is a reason for mockery of students or people of their culture.
H) She means that Chicanos are between those two cultures “two borders” that being different are united by their ancestors, roots that they cannot erase and that generation after generation will always live, because each cycle there will be those who identify more with Chicano and others with English or Spanish but in one way or another they continue to live together in the same place
A) Why were Anzaldúa and other Chicano students required to take two speech classes at their university?
Answer: They had to take speech classes because their way of speaking, Chicano Spanish, was considered wrong by the university.
B) How does Anzaldúa describe Chicano Spanish?
Answer: Chicano Spanish is seen by Anzaldúa as a lively and valid way of talking, reflecting the unique identity and history of Chicanos.
C) What are three languages Anzaldúa lists as spoken by Chicanos today?
Answer: Chicano Spanish, Tex-Mex, and Pachuco.
D) Describe Pachuco in 2 to 3 sentences.
Answer: Pachuco is a unique youth culture among Mexican-Americans in the 1940s, known for a specific style of clothing, language, and a rebellious attitude.
E) According to Anzaldúa, what are some differences between Chicano Spanish and Standard Spanish?
Answer: Chicano Spanish has different words, pronunciation, and mixes various languages and dialects, setting it apart from standard Spanish.
F) According to Anzaldúa, how do Chicanos and Chicanas who grew up speaking the language feel about it?
Answer: They feel strongly connected to their language, but societal judgments can create internal conflicts.
G) How does Anzaldúa say the way to “really hurt” her is?
Answer: Ridiculing or suppressing her language, Chicano Spanish, hurts her deeply as it’s a vital part of her identity.
H) What does Anzaldúa mean when she says, “Chicanos straddle the borderlands”?
Answer: Chicanos live between two worlds, Mexican and American, facing the challenges of being in the middle, experiencing a sense of displacement
1) They were required to take two speech classes to get rid of their Spanish accent.
2) She describe it as living language which combined by Spanish and English using words with no formal accent.
3) standard English : Tex-Mex, Pachuco.
4)
4) Pachuco is a language formed with slang words of both English and Spanish. Pachuco is a language commonly spoken by kids and young adult.
5)They have developed significant difference in Spanish and English , the collapse two adjacent vowels into a single syllable and sometimes shift certain words and use a lot the Anglicism.
6) According to Anzaldua, Chicanas who grew up speaking Chicano Spanish belief that speak poor English. They feel shame and low self-estimation, They always were afraid to speak and other Chicanas.
7) Anzaldua says ” So if you want to hurt me, talk badly about my language.” She said the way to really hurt her her is to speak badly about her language, that she is her language.
8) She means that, They are combined with both identify as Mexican- American.