Learning a New Language

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Learning a New Language

Language is a matter that touches many American cultures. Cultures thrive on their languages and customs to define the people they are. However, second languages can divide not only people of a specific group but also members of a particular family. Several writers address the unvarying difficulty of learning a second language in America. Many rhetorical devices are used to sustain their assertions and to shape the reader. An Asian-American author speaks about multilingualism in American today. Tan (2002) uses rhetorical devices to support her claims about her frustrations with a mother who does not speak English very well. Throughout this paper, I will analyze Tan’s cause-and-effect structure, personal experiences, and pathos appeal. This essay will show how Tan supports her claim through these rhetorical elements.

Tan (2002) shows cause-and-effect structure throughout the text. During her copy, Tan uses this rhetorical element to show her readers how hard it was for her to grow up knowing two languages in America. The following selection from Tan (2002) shows how cause-and-effect is used in her example:

“I know this for a fact, because when I was growing up, my mother’s 1) “limited” English limited 2) my perception of her. I was 3) ashamed of her English. I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say. That is, because she expressed them 4) imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect.” (37)

“I think my mother’s English almost had an effect on 5) limiting my possibilities in life as well. Sociologists and linguists probably will tell you that a person’s developing language skills are more influenced by peers. But I do think that the language spoken in the fa...

... middle of paper ...

...that she is happy in the end and therefore appeals to the reader’s emotions.

Tan (2002) structures her claims about her bilingual life around cause-and-effects, personal experiences, and pathos appeals. She uses cause-and-effect to show how events in her past have led up to the person she is today. She uses personal experiences to explain where she is coming form when she shows her frustration about her family. Tan uses a pathos appeal to identify with her reader so they understand through their emotions how she really feels about her mother. Through her explanations and identifications, Tan shows how growing up in a multilingual family can change someone in to a more accommodating person.

References

Tan, Amy. “Mother Tongue.” Constructing Others, Constructing Ourselves; a reader.

Sibylle Gruber. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt, 2002. 35-39

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