Mother Tongue and When I was PR – AJ

Part 1 – Mother Tongue

“Lately, I’ve been giving more thought to the kind of English my mother speaks. Like others, I have
described it to people as ‘broken” or “fractured” English. But I wince when I say that. It has always
bothered me that I can think of no way to describe it other than “broken,” as if it were damaged and needed
to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness and soundness. I’ve heard other terms used, “limited
English,” for example. But they seem just as bad, as if everything is limited, including people’s perceptions
of the limited English speaker”

Amy isn’t feeling how she refers to her moms English. She feels it belittles or oppresses their way of English. She doesn’t like at all though that there is no other way she can describe her moms ways of speaking the English language. She believes saying that her mom English is “broken” or “fractured” is wrong because its like referring to English needing work, like it doesn’t meet a standard. Also the term “limited”, just illuminates how there’s a standard when speaking the English language.

3 Vocab Words:

“Like others, I have
described it to people as ‘broken” or “fractured” English. But I wince when I say that.”

Wince – Noun: a slight grimace or shrinking movement caused by pain or distress.

“But I do think that the language spoken in the family, especially in immigrant families which are more
insular, plays a large role in shaping the language of the child.”

Insular – Adjective: ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one’s own experience.

“I later decided I should envision a reader for the stories I
would write”

Envision – Verb: imagine as a future possibility; visualize.

Part 2 – When I was Puerto Rican

“I don’t care what their rules say,” I answered. “I’m not going back to
seventh grade. I can do the work. I’m not stupid.”
Mami looked at Mr. Grant, who stared at her as if expecting her to do
something about me. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
“Meester Grant,” I said, seizing the moment, “I go eight gray six mons.
Eef I no learn inglish, I go seven gray. Okay?”
“That’s not the way we do things here,” he said hesitating.
“I good studen. I learn queek. You see notes.” I pointed to the A’s on my
report card. “I pass seven gray.”
So we made a deal.”

Esmerelda was very rebelling in this moment because she really wasn’t trying to get put back a grade. She heard the school rules but sated she didn’t care because she felt that she was smarter than the the 7th Grade learning curriculum. So she pleads a deal with Mr.Grant, she figured it would be her only way to get what she wanted and to fill in his rules as well. In the End she got what she wanted while, her getting put in 7th grade on the line if she doesn’t meet the requirements.

3 Vocab Words:

“I was in 8–23, where the dumbest most
undesirable people were placed.”

Undesirable -Adjective: not wanted or desirable because harmful, objectionable, or unpleasant.

“What have I done?” I
kicked myself with the back of my right shoe, much to the surprise of the
fellow walking behind me, who laughed uproariously, as if I had meant it
as a joke.”

Uproariously – Adjective: provoking loud laughter; very funny

“I started
up the stairs, my stomach churning into tight knots”

Churning -Verb: (with reference to liquid) move or cause to move about vigorously.