Massimo Sarracino
September 9, 2014
Professor Young
ENGL 1100, Writing skills workshop
Reading Response Questions to "How to tame a wild tongue"
There are many ways to express your identity and language is one of them. I like to use language to
express my identity because it is one of the best feelings to be able to speak another language other than your
standard language. My background is Italian, my father is from Italy and my mother is from America. I like
to express both languages American and Italian. It tells people who I am and shows them that I care about
my identity and am willing to express myself. I speak English much more than I do Italian mostly because
the people I speak to on a regular basis do not speak Italian. The only time I can speak only Italian is with
my parents or family straight from Italy. Otherwise nobody would understand what I am saying. I have been
to Italy many times with my family, to visit family. In Italy, just like in America and in Anzadula's essay, there
are many different variations to the standard language. For example, when we go to Napoli, Italy my family
speaks in a different form of Italian called Napolitan. It is just like traditional Italian except with certain slang
words and different ways to pronounce words. It is very similar to what Anzadula says in her essay about
her talking to her siblings differently than she would talk during a job situation, at school, etc. I like to use
language as a conversation starter. I think it is very interesting to get to know people and where they
originate from, what their background is.
Thanks for sharing this Massimo. Now I want you to connect Anzaldua to your essay about language. In what specific ways does she discuss how language identifies her? Do you feel the same way she does? If so, include it. If not, why?
ReplyDeleteWhat point are you trying to make about *how* language identifies you? Why is this important to know?
Add images to your blog. Liven it up!
Thank you for sharing your ideas.