Cyber-Post Options for Anzaldua and Mair Assignments
For those students who completed the 50 Essay questions for discussion assignments last week for the two essays: Anzaldua and Mair, and would like to post them, here is a link.
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 1:06 PM
9 Comments:
Evan Hill
Professor Sabir
English 1A 10-10:50
9 September 2013
Anzaldua Question Response
1. I like the way Anzaldua has the languages organized so I will leave them in that order. The reason for that being she seems to have organized them in that way in the order that most Chicano/a are encouraged or forced to learn language. They have to learn English to survive in American society and are only able to learn their language through their parents or later in their schooling. Some are even conditioned to be ashamed of their own language by teachers and the every school system itself.
2. Anzaldua defines the different languages to better articulate to the reader the different experiences that come with speaking said category of language. In this way, it gives the reader a better understanding of the complexities of the language and what she and other Chicanos experience using it.
4. By “switch codes” I believe Anzaldua means switching between languages like Spanish and English and also the attitude or the way in which one may present themselves depending on the situation. For me being black in today’s society, switching codes by that definition means switching between standard or proper English and more colloquial slang spoken by friends or even just the black community in general. I used to “switch codes” to try and fit in more easily with my friends or when I would speak to adults. It always made things easier to speak “their language”.
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Huy Vo
Professor Wanda
English 1A, 11-11:50 pm
September 9th, 2013
Summary On being a cripple
1.Some of her talents are writing,reading, intelligent MS’s challenge are inability to fully walk, see well, fatigue, can’t run.
2.The slang term "swagger" refers to how one presents him or her self to the world. Swagger is shown from how the person handles a situation. It can also be shown in the person's walk. So "swagger of a cripple" means you present yourself as a cripple. According to her “ ‘Criple’ seems to me a clean word, straightforward and precise”. The cripple fully describes her in an accurate humane way unlike “Disable. It shows that she simply lost the usage of limbs.
3.Mairs present her difficulty in a proud manner unlike David Sefaris in “A Plague of Tics” in which he present sent it in a humorous light. I believe he do not put down himself, ““a person had to do these things because nothing was worse than the anguish of not doing them.” while accepting the negative upon him; believing it was simply a compulsion.
4.I wouldn’t try to fix other peoples perception of me. They are the things in which an individual can not fix. Part of living is to accept the good and bad of how people perceive “you”. Like what Nancy Mairs said, “Society is no readier to accept . . .”.
Denise Burgara
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50
4th September, 2013
Response to Questions
How to Tame a Wild Tongue, Gloria Anzaldua
Question 1
1. Standard English
2. Standard Spanish
3. Working class and slang English
4. Working class and slang Spanish
5. Chicano Spanish
6. Tex-Mex
7. Pachuco
I believe that we should all speak English, just because we are in a country that in general we all speak English, it's the primary language, but if we are bilingual we should still keep that language and learn best from both. Anzaldua's case, she refers to herself as Chicana because if we take a look at the list, she probably mixed both languages and created her own based on both of these.
Question 2
Anzaldua uses definition to show us her experience with language by giving us a look into what each section that some people fall in means and why those sections are there and what made them become what they are now, and there differences.
Question 3
"Switching codes" as this author states when often switching between languages, means a code of communicating with the same people, a code you have to know in order to express and so that others can understand you, codes that have been created.
On Being Cripple, Nancy Mairs
Question 1
One of Mairs's talents is that she learns from her mistakes and corrects them, she is happy with the way she is and does not seem to be bothered much.
Her MS makes it difficult for her to often be seen as any other person, normal, she refers to herself as crippled not disabled.
Question 2
She says as a crippled she swaggs, which to me means she is able to work around even in her case and is able to do things and get ahead. She is saying that her MS has helped her realize new things and had come very far because she had to struggle. She refers herself as crippled because she wants to define it in her own words and something she feel good about, she does not want to be called handicapped or disabled.
Question 4
If I would want other people to see me a certain way it will definitely be changed from "Mexican girl" "quiet, shy, girl", and/ or just another "Hispanic girl" to some one intelligent and responsible. And also some one you can go up to and talk to then judging them after you see whom they really are, and how they are.
Fin Saephan
Wanda Sabir
English1A 8am A202
8 September, 2013
Anzalhua
1) There were several kinds of languages the author spoke of. Her native language was Spanish but she was conditioned to learn English as well. In addition, she also spoke in working class English, slang English, Chicano English, and Tex-Mex. Due to having required to learn English, the Chicano/a experience with language has resulted into what she called Spanglsih. It's a combination of Spanish and English.
2)Anzalua uses definition in here writing to show how it relates to her experiences so she can compare them. The effect of this kind of writing leads the reader on a certain path and it gives a sense of direction.
4) The word "switch codes" refers to when someone has to change how they speak into something different. For example, if i were to have a conversation with someone who speaks a different language that i can speak also, I would have to "switch codes" in order to talk. An example is when i have to speak to my parents in my native language and not English.
Tergel Battogtokh
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8:00-8:50
September 9, 2013
Anzaldua Questions for Discussion and Writing.
1) Anazaldua speaks of many different dialects that is original to each of its area. Such as, Standard English, working class English, slang English, standard Spanish, standard Mexican Spanish, north Mexican Spanish dialect, Chicano English, and Tex-Mex. The principle is that these varieties of dialects created stir which but many like her in position where if she didnt speak proper English she was shunned for not speaking it correctly or if she did not speak Spanish the way others thought was proper she was shunned for not being a true Chicana.
2)She uses definition to discuss her experience with language to give a better understanding of each dialect.
4) She uses the term "switching codes" to switch between the different types people use when in a certain situation and whom you're talking to. As for me, i use the mixture of Mongolian and English with my friends. And when I'm home I speak a proper Mongolian and in the work force or at school I use proper English.
Susan Gyemant
Professor Sabir
English 1A:11-11:50
50 Essays/Cripple
8 September 2013
50 Essays Response – On Being a Cripple
1. Mairs’ talents: writing, caretaker, cook, scrabble, italic writing, teacher and studious. Mairs’ difficulties: walking, running and clear vision.
2. “As a cripple, I swagger” (Mairs 245). Here, I believe swagger is a way that one carries themselves – an attitude. Mairs tells us in her essay that she defines herself as “cripple” to personalize it, to establish that any other alternative that is commonly used such as disabled or handicapped would not be suitable, because she is neither incapable nor was she “deliberately put at a disadvantage” (245). A disease called MS causes the author to lose some functions of her limbs (extends to the nervous system and internal organs as well), which is why she identifies with “cripple”. However, she asserts that MS is just an occurrence in her life not the end all. While Mairs battles with isolated episodes of depression, she unconditionally values her life.
Thanks for reading.
Susan
Susan Gyemant
Professor Sabir
English 1A:11-11:50
50 Essays/Wild Tongue
8 September 2013
When Spanish Was Shameful
2. In “How to Tame a Wild Tongue,” author Gloria Anzaldua uses technical definitions to relate her story. The author in a sense revealed the true meaning of words and phrases we might otherwise gloss over. However, as a reader one must pause and interpret why the author offers such formal definition, and upon examination one can find more depth in the author’s experiences. For example, Anzaldua defines the First Amendment to remind us that “intentional censorship is in violation of the amendment” (34), as a child, Anzaldua was reprimanded for speaking Spanish in school. As an adult the author reflected on how her rights were blatantly compromised. The author also gave definitions of derogatory Spanish words that in retrospect she realized were unfairly applied to women only. Different Spanish languages and terms were also defined to serve as a starting point for the author’s analytical interpretation. Again, it gave Anzaldua the opportunity to relate her story. As described by the author, “Chicano Spanish is considered by the purist and by most Latinos deficient, a mutilation of Spanish,” she revealed that at one point she was accused of slaughtering the Spanish language herself (35).
4. Gloria Anzaldua said that to “switch codes” meant to move freely with language, to express herself with all the languages at her disposal naturally (39). Unfortunately, the author felt she was not free to do so and insisted that until her languages were legitimized she would not be free (39-40). I would like to think that now that I am older and am more confident I am no longer hesitant to use my first learned language – Spanish. Today, in casual conversation, I use it as a compliment to English which is my first language. Unlike the author, I do not feel it is necessary to write in this manner as well, since I do not feel it is suitable in a school setting (unless I am writing for a Spanish class or a creative writing class). In conversation, I might sprinkle some Spanish with English not considering whether someone understands Spanish or not. I do it spontaneously and to give what I am saying more emphasis. When necessary I will translate, but for the most part people get the jest of it without translation. One example of this is how I communicate at a dinner party, I tend to greet people in Spanish because it is such a genuine moment for me, and as the night progresses it is possible I only speak in English. I value “switching codes” similarly to the author in that it continues to allow me to feel liberated and proud (39).
Thanks for reading.
Susan
Saleena Carpenter
Professor Sabir
English 1A 10-10:50am
4 September 2013
How to Tame a Wild Tongue Questions
For Writing and Discussion
1.
Standard English
Working class and slang English
Standard Spanish
Standard Mexican Spanish
North Mexican Spanish
North Mexican Spanish dialect
Chicano Mexican
Tex-Mex
Pachuco
I organized my list the same way she did hers in the text because she had them oorganized with the languages that were not as important to her first and those very important at the end. Chicanos take pride in their language and people look down on them because they are speaking Spanish in America. In her essay she states that she corrected a teachers prenunciation of her name and was punished. Chicanos had it hard from both Americans and other Spanish speaking individuals. Focus was put on Chicanos to learn English and speak English without an accent. They were criticized for learning spanish and treated as traitors. To seperate and distinguish themselves from oppressors Chicanos developed the dialects and languages, making it neither Standard Spanish nor Standard English. Their language was put down being called poor quality language and is now being forgotten.
2. Anzaldua uses definition of language and metaphors to discuss her experience. In the beginning she shared the story about her dentist visit and how he struggled with her stubborn and energetic tongue. This example shows that tongue means much more; it represents her Chicano identity wanting to be free. The dentist will restrain her " wild tongue" represents the Anglo-Americans will to repress the Spanish language. She also uses definition by describing her language and other languages explaining the differences and similarities.
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