ENGL071 Introduction to Academic Writing

Anzaldua How to Tame a Wild Tongue

The piece of literature named “How to Tame a Wild Tongue" is one of the most famous ones by Anzaldua. In this piece, the author has focused on the concept of language and culture of one when he immigrates to another country. The purpose of this paper is to understand the importance of logos, ethos, and pathos in this piece of literature (Anzaldúa: 27). Through this paper, various aspects of this piece of literature will be evaluated properly.

The rhetorical analysis of a literary text is very important for the understanding of that text on the approach of the author. Gloria Anzaldua is famous for her writings where she has discussed social aspects regarding one’s culture and language (Alessandri and Stehn: 12). Throughout this piece, the author has discussed the Chicano culture that she wants to carry on throughout her life. She was suppressed by others mainly Americans to follow the American culture but she refused to do so (Anzaldúa: 27). Therefore, she was criticized for her approach. She wanted to keep on with her native culture as it was her birth identity and she did not want to let it go. She has used logos, ethos, and pathos to denote her feelings and convey them to her readers (Alessandri: 117).

She requests her audience to get an idea about the Chicano language through her use of rhetorical language. She believed that this native language was unique in itself and she wanted to pursue it. The piece begins with her personal experience in the class when she was accused of talking back to her teacher when she just tried to convince her teacher about the way her name should be pronounced (Nenevé: 63).

All of these aspects have been very important to show that she has been living her life in a bad situation as she belongs to Chicano culture. Therefore, her usage of rhetorical elements is quite viable indeed. She engages with readers through the use of ethos as she wanted them to feel the same (Anzaldúa: 27). A person with a Chicano background and growing up in the United States faces several challenges. Another example of using ethos can be found in her writing when she exclaims "If you want to hurt me, talk badly about my language". She also highlights the point that “I am my language”. This is the kind of assertion where she argues about the expression of identity through her language (SibiÅŸan: 127). She also understood that standard Spanish is quite different from what Chicano Spanish people speak.

The author uses pathos through her words “Until I can take pride in my language, I cannot take pride in myself. Until I can accept as legitimate Chicano Texas, Tex-Mex, and all the other languages I speak, I cannot accept the legitimacy of myself”. This creates a strong admiration for the author from the readers’ point of view. The use of logos is also very clear as this piece of literature shows both positive and negative sides of the acculturation process to the fullest. The use of logos in this paper is always potent because it has highlighted the context of cultural imperialism and aggression on the native languages (Porter: 4).

The author Gloria Anzaldua has been suffering from a low level of self-esteem, lack of forming identities within other cultures, and most importantly racism along with sexism (SibiÅŸan: 127). All of these aspects must be left behind to establish a just community within the society. She expresses the tool of ethos when she sees the violent approach in the acculturation process. This creates strong support for the author in different ways indeed. Once again, the author brings about the potential use of logos through stating the law that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” It is her thought that all the people can live with harmony by maintaining their culture intact with complete safety.

In the concluding section of this essay, it can be said that this piece of literature “How to Tame a Wild Tongue" has provided enough insights into the use of ethos, logos, and pathos properly. It has included different quotations from the text that supports the statements made by the author. The use of rhetorical elements will strengthen the author’s arguments for conveying to the audience and persuade them to understand the real-life conditions.

References

Alessandri, Mariana, and Alexander Stehn. "Gloria Anzaldúa’s Mexican Genealogy: From Pelados and Pachucos to New Mestizas." Genealogy 4.1 (2020): 12.

Alessandri, Mariana. "Three existentialist readings of Gloria Anzaldúa's Borderlands/la frontera." Cuadernos de ALDEEU 34 (2020): 117.

Anzaldúa, Gloria. How to tame a wild tongue. na, 1987.

Nenevé, Ana Clarissa. "No Speak English: Challenging the Hegemony of the English Language." Revista de Estudos de Literatura, Cultura e Alteridade-Igarapé 5.2 (2018): 61-74.

Porter, Curtis. "Language Status." The TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching (2018): 1-6.

SibiÅŸan, Aura. "On Differences–Aspects of Pluralism in Contemporary Literature." Bulletin of the Transilvania University of BraÅŸov, Series IV: Philology & Cultural Studies 11.1 (2018): 125-132.

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