Should Student have the Right to their Own Language?

Jackeline Aguirre

English 1100

September 22, 2016

Prof. Young

                                          Should Student Have the Right?

   Should Students have the right to their own language? In my opinion students should have the right to their own language but depending on the setting, location and environment. I do believe that the way we speak is part of who we are but it should be represented in certain ways depending on where and whom we are with. In an academic setting and to a professor students should speak properly out of respect. Student in a proper essay should write in Standard English because it’s appropriate for the occasion.

   For an essay or an academic setting students shouldn’t use “ Waz up” “ Where u at” or other fraises that are commonly used with friends. I also believe that students should be able to speak their minds and opinions comfortably in an essay’s and when speaking to professors but with respect. For example when speaking to Professor Young I wouldn’t say “ Hey how you doing? What’s up with that essay did you grade it yet? Instead I would say something like “ Professor I was wondering if the essay will be ready later today to start my revisions.” As a curtsy there are certain way of communication depending on the circumstances.

      The Conference on College Composition and Communication stated “ We affirm strongly that teachers must have the experiences and training that will enable them to respect diversity and uphold the right of students to their own language.” I also believe this to be true because those teachers should be able to understanding different types of writing and communication but when it satisfies the needs of an academic essay. If student would be aloud to have their own language completely would there be proper essays? Would there be proper communication between students and teachers? Would essays with examples and empirical evidence exist? I believe not so much. Essays most likely contain vulgar words and other inappropriate words to those in authority. 

    In the song “Fu*k The Police” by N.W.A words that are expressive but not very appropriate for police officers who are the authority. Yes these individuals have Freedom of Speech but can it be done in a different manner with out being offensive? “ Beat a police out of shape and when I’m finished bring the yellow tape- to tape off the scene of slaughter”. This part of the song shows anger and hate towards the police and I’m not saying at times it’s not understandable but words are powerful and I think they are using it incorrectly.

      I agree that we as students should have a right to our own language. I also agree that we need to show Professors and other forms of authority like the police respect. Respect starts with presentation and what we say. We should have a choice but one that respects all and specially those in authority.

Identity to me

Jackeline Aguirre

September 7, 2016

Professor Young

Engw1100 Writing Skills Workshop

What Identity Means to You

                                                                   My Culture

My culture and my language are part of me; my language is part of my identity.  I was born here but I am Colombian.  I was raised in a Colombian household full of empanadas, café, and arepas. I am who I am because I grew up in a Hispanic home filled with orgullo and happiness.

  I would be classified as an American speaking Spanish but to me that is incorrect. As I am proud of being born in America, that’s not who I am. I am a Hispanic who speaks Colombian; I say this because it’s unique to me different from the other Spanish’s from different countries. “ A language which they can connect their identity to” (Anzalúa 247).  My language to me means more than just words or ways of communication it is my memory.  When I speak Colombian I speak the memories with my abuelito, the memories with my father teaching me how to ride a horse where he grew up; that is my language.

    Gloria Anzaldúa in the essay “ How to Tame a Wild Tongue” expresses the lost of her identity through her language which is something a lot of us could relate too.  When I was younger in many occasions I have been told brutal confusing words that no child should hear “This is America speak English!” As an eight-year-old child I felt violated. Colombian Spanish is my language, I choose to speak Spanish because it is me it is part of me. “Who is to say that robbing a people of language is less violent than war?”(Anzaldúa 247).  Being young I was robbed of my sanctuary of the tranquility of my home, my culture my sense of right and wrong. To me language and culture means everything it marks a journey of self; every detail of my personality and perspective is tied to what I know and who I am, my identity, my language, my purpose.In that moment I realized like Anzaldúa that each and every aspect of ones identity like language and culture is one to stand for and firmly believe in.

"How to Tame a Wild Tongue" Questions

Jackeline Aguirre

September 4, 2016

Professor Young

Engw1100 Writing Skills Workshop

"How to Tame a Wild Tongue"

                                                     How we Identify with Language

1. Discuss how the opening scene of Anzaldua in the dentist's chair connects to the overall point/message of the essay and title. 

  In the opening scene the tongue is being wild and tamed physically, it's also not allowing her to speak.  In this part of the essay someone other then herself is in her mouth taking away her privacy and taking control of her tongue with this the dentist is also taking her voice away.

2. Discuss Anzaldua's use of the Spanish throughout her writing. Did it make sense? What was her purpose?

  Throughout the passage Anzaldua spoke a lot of Spanish to emphasize her identification with the Spanish language. For me personally, it did make sense because I speak spanish.  The purpose for her to speak spanish in the passage was to show that the spanish language is part of her and that she shouldn't conform to the language of the norteamericanos.

3. Can Academic English be defined as Spanish (Standard) and can Chicano spanish be described as nonstandard? Why? What inferences, conclusions, can be made referring to ones identity (language) as standard versus nonstandard? 

  Academic English I believe can be defined as standard because it's what we speak with our professors, adults outside of our families, and anyone we don't have a personal connection to.  Chicano spanish to me can be described as nonstandard because as Anzaldua put it, it's a spanish that is different from other countries spanish. Standard language is one we speak because we have to as means of communication but nonstandard language is one we speak because of comfort.

4. Discuss the necessity of speaking and/writing in Academic English as an identity. Is it necessary?
  Speaking and writing in Academic English is necessary because it is part of your identity as a student and an educated individual.

5. Anzaldua describes different types of Spanish, identities. Discuss the various types of English, identities, you know. 

The various types of English identities I know are Academic English, Slang English, Home English and self English. All these types of English is part of your identity because you use each one to show a different part of yourself.

6. Pachuco. Do you use a secret language, secret identity, to communicate to your friends? If so, what?

  I do not have a secret spoken language with my friends. To the people close to me with a simple look we know what the other is thinking.

7. Chicano Spanish can be compared to non-standard English. What form of English (standard or nonstandard) do you speak with your friends (audience)? What form of English do you speak when you talk to your mother (audience), professor (audience)? Why?

   The English I speak with my friends is nonstandard.  I would define it as nonstandard because when I speak to my friends I shorten words and/or sentences.With my mother I speak Spanish because it's home, spanish is comfort. With a professor I would speak Academic English as a form of respect.

8.  "I am my language." What does this mean? How does this statement connect to a person's identity.

  In my opinion Anzaldua means that each of the languages are part of her. Each form of language she listed ties up to some part of her identity (family, work, friends, public).

9. Talk specifically about how the introduction and conclusion connect. 

  In the introduction it talks about how physically the tongue (that represents language) is attempted to be tamed. In the conclusion she says that even though her tongue has been attempted to be tamed others like her who wont give up their language or identity will not be tamed and still stand firm.

10. Can language you speak be a part of your identity? Why? 

  The language one speaks is part of ones Identity. How and what we speak reflects on who we are. I speak mostly spanish (other then school) because I identify with the spanish community.

11. How important is identity to you? Does Anzaldua believe it's important to have identity? Use some examples from " How to Tam a Wild Tongue," to support your answer. 

 Identity to me is very important because it forms you and the different part of you. Yes, Anzaldua believes identity is important because it shapes every aspect of who she is. "The first time I heard two women, a Puerto Rican and a Cuban, say the word "nosotras," I was shocked. I had not known the word existed. Chicanas use nosotros whether we're male or female. We are robbed of our female being by the masculine plural." (Anzaldua 2948). In this quote she talks about the importance of being a female and how that part of her identity has been taken away or tamed.

" For some of us, language is a homeland closer than the Southwest - for many Chicanos today live in the Midwest and the East." (Anzaldua 2948). In this quote she says how language is like home and how she identifies her language as her part of her homeland. This is a reflects on how important language is to her identity to her home.