Questions for Discussion

  1. How is Amy Tan’s use of the phrase “mother tongue” ambiguous?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 10 - Mother Tongue - Questions for Discussion: How is Amy Tan’s use of the phrase “mother tongue” ambiguous?
  2. What does Tan mean by “the power of language” (para. 2)? What does that phrase mean to you?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 10 - Mother Tongue - Questions for Discussion: What does Tan mean by “the power of language” (para. 2)? What does that phrase mean to you?
  3. What are the “different Englishes” (para. 3) Tan describes in this essay? How does each have its own type of power?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 10 - Mother Tongue - Questions for Discussion: What are the “different Englishes” (para. 3) Tan describes in this essay? How does each have its own type of power?
  4. How would you describe Tan’s attitude toward her mother?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 10 - Mother Tongue - Questions for Discussion: How would you describe Tan’s attitude toward her mother?
  5. What does Tan mean when she says, “I think my mother’s English almost had an effect on limiting my possibilities in life as well” (para. 15)? To what extent do you think that speaking a non-standardized English (through grammatical differences or an accent) “limits . . . possibilities” for people in the United States today?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 10 - Mother Tongue - Questions for Discussion: What does Tan mean when she says, “I think my mother’s English almost had an effect on limiting my possibilities in life as well” (para. 15)? To what extent do you think that speaking a non-standardized English (through grammatical differences or an accent) “limits . . . possibilities” for people in the United States today?
  6. What is the “associative situation” (para. 17) that Tan claims accounts for her high performance on math tests but not on English tests—specifically, analogies?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 10 - Mother Tongue - Questions for Discussion: What is the “associative situation” (para. 17) that Tan claims accounts for her high performance on math tests but not on English tests—specifically, analogies?
  7. Why does Tan believe that envisioning a reader—specifically, her mother—enabled her to write more authentically?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 10 - Mother Tongue - Questions for Discussion: Why does Tan believe that envisioning a reader—specifically, her mother—enabled her to write more authentically?
  8. What are some of the class and cultural distinctions that people encounter because of their inability to use standardized English, according to Tan?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 10 - Mother Tongue - Questions for Discussion: What are some of the class and cultural distinctions that people encounter because of their inability to use standardized English, according to Tan?