A quote from Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” is: “I was ashamed of her English. I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say.” This quote emphasizes the internalized shame and discrimination that can result from using non-standard English. Tan demonstrates on her own feelings of embarrassment caused by her mother’s limited English proficiency, and how this influenced her impression of her mother’s intelligence and worth.
This quotation is significant because it reveals Tan’s personal struggle with societal expectations and preconceptions regarding language proficiency. It demonstrates how language can be used to discriminate and emphasizes the negative impact that these attitudes can have on individuals and their relationships. Tan’s willingness to reflect on her own biases and how they have influenced her relationship with her mother demonstrates her writerly contemplation and empathy.
