Mother Tongue – Amy Tan page 1012

1. Think of the five levels of semantic progression:

Formal –Frozen

Consultative

Standard

Substandard

Nonstandard

Tan’s mother seemed to be speaking nonstandard English. Tan says, “I was ashamed of her English. I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say. That is, because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect.” Do you agree?

2. Does your language help shape the way you see things, express things, make sense of the world?

3. Think of the episodes of the stock broker and the one with the hospital. Is it true that speakers of nonstandard English are not taken seriously and easily put off?

4. One’s language skills are imprinted by family and friends (not school). Is it possible to change the level of one’s language?

5. Are your written language skills different from your speaking language skills?

6. Judge at what level your own English skills are right now. At what language level does your dream job require you to be at?

7. Language differences can lead to misconceptions and stereotypes. Would you say that most poorer people speak substandard and nonstandard English?

8. Tan’s attitude toward her mother changed as she has grown older. Has your own attitude toward nonstandard and substandard speakers of English changed at any time?

9. Imagine that you have moved to a foreign country where you now are speaking a new language in a nonstandard way. How would you try to overcome stereotypes that you are “lower class and dumb?”