Blogpost #19
On the 25th of June in 1903, the 20th century English author and journalist Eric Arthur Blair was born in eastern India. The son of a British colonial civil servant, Blair was a member of the Indian Imperial Police in Burma, before moving to Paris and becoming a writer in 1927. His lack of success forced him into a series of menial jobs. These experiences were later expressed in his first book, "Down and Out in Paris and London"which was published in 1933.
Shortly before its publication, Blair officially changed his name to George Orwell. By the time he was 33, Orwell had traveled to Spain to fight for the Republicans against Franco's Nationalists, but was forced to flee in fear of his own life when Soviet-backed communists were suppressing revolutionary socialist dissenters. These experiences allegedly turned him into a lifelong Anti-Stalinist.
When Orwell published his essay "Politics and the English Language" in the 1946, not only had he already gotten recognition for his infamous satire novel "Animal farm" in 1945, but he was also the literary editor for a left-wing magazine known as theTribune. For the first time in his life, his successes ensured that he would be financially comfortable. Orwell's political experiences as an activist, his cultural back round and aspirations were crucial to his works as a novelist, journalist and author. In the second part of his essay, Orwell claims that political language always follows the same lifeless and imitative style, one that is used against its own people. "Political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible." He also mentions that "this invasion of one's mind can only be prevented if one is constantly on guard against them." Orwell's recurring idea against the fight of entering this reduced state of consciousness comes from personal experience, as he worked for the BBC propaganda between 1941-43.

A good deal for the Caravan

1) Boy: Tommy: "Now that''s a good lad! *seconds later*...aren't you gonna get him for me?"

           Boy: "Yeah"

           Tommy: "Well what are you waiting for?"

           Boy: "The five quid you gonna pay me."

           Tommy: "Well fack off then, I'll find him me-self"

           Boy: "2.50!"

By immediately assuming that he was entitled to Tommy's money in exchange for his favor, the boy exercises a sense of power: he's attempting to take control of the situation through the manner in which he speaks, even though it wasn't exactly successful. 

2) Tommy: "Degs?...Ah, dogs. Yeah, sure, I like degs." or "Now that's a good lad." Tommy expresses superiority by purposely repeating Mickey's grammatical mistake after he had already corrected him, or by addressing the boy in a patronizing tone, as if he was a pleasantly obedient deg. 

3) Mickey: "Fuck me! Look at the size of him. How big are ya? Hey kids, how big is he? Hey ma! Come look at the size of this fella." Now I know it doesn't seem like it, but for those who know the movie Snatch, you'd know that Mickey is actually using his words in a manipulative and ultimately sarcastic way. You see, in the next scene, Mickey challenges the "big fella" to a fight. To the audience's surprise, Mickey casually gets up after every throw, and knocks his rival to the ground with a single punch. He therefore used his language to indirectly mock the big fella. 

4) Mother: "See if the fella wouldn't like a drink!"

    Tommy: "Ahh, I could murder one." 

    Mother: "Ain't no murdering done around here I don't mind tellin' ya" 

By failing to recognize Tommy's metaphor and taking his expression literally, the mother expresses a general lack of knowledge. This contributes to her powerless outlook, while making Tommy appear more educated. 

The narrator of the movie also notes: "Their park is well known for a school of negotiation and business, it's part of the reason why they talk like they do. So you can't follow what's being said."

 The observation suggests that, when used (and taught) in the right way, language can easily be manipulated and result in a general source of self-interest.  

Throughout our history, linguistic power has proven to be a fundamental and critical ability.
Not only are you able to persuade, encourage or just generally connect with different kinds of audiences through their syntax and accents, but the political values implicated by word choice will also allow you to include (or exclude) a larger public.
As seen across some of our infamous, linguistically trained Presidents, the capacity to successfully convert and adapt to different social groups is inevitably effective, while portraying one's acknowledgement, consideration and general intellect.

Language & Regionalism

I personally think the quiz miscalculated my location because of my lack of knowledge regarding certain terms or adverbs, some that are commonly used in certain areas of the United States.

Like how being diagonally opposite to someone on the street is known as a kitty corner, or that the term "the wolf is giving birth" is apparently used to refer to rain when it falls while the sun is shinning. Nevertheless, taking the quiz was actually really fun.
Not only can you get an abstract idea of where your general choice of words originate from, but you also get to learn and most likely laugh at a handful of different sayings and epithets you probably never heard of before.


PART II: How to persuade a police officer to let you go without paying a speeding ticket.

*With my hands kept on the steering wheel during the entire encounter, my car turned off and my interior light on* Good evening officer...Well, no sir, I don't exactly know why I'm being pulled over. *look like I'm expecting an incredibly harsh punishment* But I guess I must have done something radically stupid.
*make him/her feel in control* Sir, my wallet is in the right side of my back pocket, may I pull it out to give you my driver's license? Thank you.
*Give a somewhat valuable explanation* I'm not used to driving on hilly terrains...
*If you've been left off the hook, thank him or her profusely!* Thank you so much Officer, I can't tell you how considerate that is of you. I'll be careful next time, have a great night!

Children of Immigrants

Picture #1: From the shoulders up, we can see a young mans rested face, with big glasses and a polka dot bow tie. The picture was most likely taken in a Church, due to the religious engraved windows in the background. 

The photo itself reminds me of the traditional beliefs and religious commitments described in some parts of the novel (How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez) when it involved the family's native culture. 

Oddly enough, I don't think the first picture particularly matches the young man's point of view. The picture suggests that being the child of an immigrant doesn't stop one from openly celebrating their religious beliefs, while Michael Shami's (the young man in the photograph) statement brings up a completely different issue, one related to racial stereotypes. 

He argues about how people often assume that just because his parents are immigrants, it automatically suggests that they arrived in the country poor and empty handed. Yet Michael's father, a fluent English speaker, had comfortably entered the United States with an M.D from Italy. 

Because Michael seems to be dressed in a rather formal attire, someone else could interpret this picture as a young Christian going to Church on a sunday afternoon. 

Picture #2: The picture's setting takes place in a young women's bedroom. Ganesha, the Elephant Headed God poster on the left, suggests that the young girl  is from Indian descendants. Avnee is casually laying on her stomach on top of her bed while looking straight at the camera. Her tight-fitting clothes could also indicate that she's comfortable with Western fashion. 

The photo suggests that children of immigrants are perfectly able to live and adapt themselves in the present while respectively holding on and embracing their past, or what they've always believed in. "You should not have to let go of your roots to be a part of American society."-Avnee

This photo reminds me of Sofia and her fight towards challenging the sexual double-standered she faced while dealing with both cultures; Particularly when she was trying to fit back into the Dominican environment by changing her general appearance. Instead of finding a balance between both cultures, being apart of one without neglecting the other, she found it necessary to suddenly abandon her "American traits" in order to fit back into her native land. Someone else could interpret this picture as a typical young girl hanging out in her room. 

Picture #3: The photo is about a young Italian man looking through the glass window of a small bakery shop. His statement suggests that children of immigrants sometimes learn to shift and balance self-identification, as Giorgio talks about how he feels slightly more Italian in America but slightly more American in Italy. 

Although the roles are reversed, this reminds me of Yolonda's observation concerning Mudin's behavior in the Dominican Republic VS his behavior in America. Knowing his limitations and what was seen as socially acceptable, Mudin acted  more Dominican back on the island with his sexist remarks, while maintaing a more liberal attitude in America. 

Someone else could interpret this picture as a young man relaxing on his coffee break. 

Picture#4: This picture seems a lot more dramatic than the previous ones. A young women, gracefully sitting on a chair in the middle of an empty room, with two large glass windows in the back. A painting of the Virgin Mary is placed on the back wall, looking straight down at her. Anna's eyes are sealed shut, as she recalls the stories her parents would talk about when she was a child: "[...] stories describing how my parents had to stand in line for two hours just to receive a loaf of bread during Communist times." -Anna

This suggests that being the child of an immigrant makes you appreciate everything you didn't have to work for or suffer through, in order to live a more comfortable life. This reminds me of Mama Laura and her struggle to accept the fact that her family name no longer received the same kind of respect she thought it deserved. No matter how hard her parents, grand-parents or great-grand-parents had worked to insure a more comfortable life in the Dominican Republic, her family's proud title was taken away from them when they became immigrants.

Due to its dramatic effect and Anna's unnatural placement in the picture, someone else could interpret this image as some kind of photography project. 

Picture #5: Because of the room's lighting, we're barely able to make out the young man's facial characteristics. However, we can clearly see him sitting on the side of his bed with his hands over his knees. Taher explains that, from his point of view, growing up was a constant mix of both the Indian and American world. 

"It definitely takes mental fortitude to know where you stand and what you want to stand by. I can now stand for more than one thing."  -Taher 

His statement suggests that children of immigrants are blessed with an opportunity to stand for more than just one element. Because they've learned to live and adapt themselves in two different cultures, they identity themselves through two different groups, therefor representing both cultures. 

This reminds me of the general struggle faced by the Garcia daughters throughout their immigrant experience, learning to integrate as well as accept both languages and cultural customs. 

Because Taher looks comfortable (yet quite serious) someone else could interpret this as a simple picture that was taken during the course of a friendly interview.

Picture #6: This picture is about an Indian-American young women sitting in a chair by her dinning table. With an open beer can in front of her right hand, along with candles and faded portraits in the back, Sruti is facing the photographer with a dominant look in her eye. 

"I was too embarrassed to bring Indian food to school. But if I could go back, I would have changed that." -Sruti

Her statement suggests that because their cultural customs are different, children of immigrants are often left to feel ashamed of where they come from and what they stand for, before realizing later on as adults that one's heritage can be the proudest aspect of a human being. The picture also reflects this kind of message through Sruti's strong, independent look, like nothing or no one is ever going to rob her of her cultural identity.

This picture reminds me a lot of Carlos. The way he refused to let himself get influenced by everyone else in his family, the way he resisted the process of americanization. 

Once again, someone else could interpret this as a picture that was taken during a personal interview.

Picture #7: This photo presents the reader with a young Indian man sitting in a diner. He claims that he's never felt as though he's earned his last name. Because he ate meat and didn't fluently speak his parent's native tongue, he always felt like "the black sheep of the family." 

Askhai's statement suggests that it isn't always easy for children of immigrant parents to stay in touch with their native cultural, and that missing out on that fundamental part of one's being can have emotional consequences, leaving one with a longing to belong. 

Picture #8: This photo is about a young Latina women with glasses and curly dark hair, sitting on the side of her bed. Although she doesn't explain why, she tells the reader that when people ask her where she's from, she tends to respond with "New Jersey." Naturally, because of her complexion and ability to speak perfect Spanish, people are never satisfied with her answer. Alex chose to identify herself with her home town because for some reason, she doesn't feel comfortable talking about her rather obvious cultural back rounds.

This suggests that in some cases, children of immigrants (although they aren't necessarily ashamed) aren't entirely comfortable talking about their native cultures. 

This reminds me of a short story that was written by the same author. During a particular scene, a spanish mother was discussing names with a group of American women in a maternity hospital. When it was her turn to talk about her newly born daughter's first name, she lied about it and instead came up with a traditional American name, because she suddenly felt ashamed of the cultural diversity. 

Picture #9: Showing no more than her shoulders, this simple picture portrays a young Russian women. 

Her story is rather unique compared to the rest of the immigrant experiences. As she claims that she never felt as connected with her russian friends as she did with the Americans, Sasha notes: "I found much more solace being the Russian one among my Puerto Rican, Italian, Polish, Ghanaian and American friends. The amalgamation of cultures and backgrounds made for such a richer experience." 

Her statement suggests that children of immigrants can sometimes feel more connected towards other immigrants, rather than with people of their own culture.

Picture #10: This picture shows a teenage Argentinian boy, sitting on the side of his bed. 

Although Alex feels comfortable calling himself Argentinian, he's learned that he may never be considered as "one of them" if he continues living outside of his country. 

"I am reminded that I have missed huge cultural changes since I was 9, and as perfect as my Spanish may be, there are always tiny indicators to them that I am not one of them." -Alex 

His statement suggests that children of immigrants can have a hard time integrating themselves BACK into their native culture. This reminds me of Yolanda during the first (or should I say last) chapters of the novel. When she had tried going back to the Dominican Republic, and couldn't help but feel like a bit of an outsider because of her American/Dominican self-indetification, she wasn't exactly "one of them" either.

Idioms

(How the Garcia girls lost their accents)

Although I can't seem to tell whether Mami wanted to or not, her idioms were said completely wrong. (Ex: "sticks and stones DON'T break my bones") And since I highly doubt that they were purposely said wrong as a way for her to mock her daughter's "americanization" I have reasons to believe that poor 'old Mami was just trying to fit in by attempting to use these American, traditionally known idioms herself. Ever since she had lost her Dominican social status after moving to the Unites States as an immigrant, Mami felt more powerless than ever. It didn't help when her daughters started arguing in English, putting her parental influence at risk. However, she clearly had trouble understanding the idioms she tried stating. Oh well, at least she tried! 

Uncle Ed

In the classical times of political unrest, a young British fellow named Edward had proudly enlisted himself in the Rhodesian army (Zimbabwe, a previously unrecognized state in Africa, was once known as Rhodesia due to British colonization) ready to fight against the so-called rebels.

However it didn't take him long to realize who the real monsters were. Contrary to everything he had been taught, Ed finally decided for himself when he chose justice over power, convinced that the white settlers were the ones who needed to be fought. He came to the drastic conclusion of officially exiling himself from his own country, in search of a political party that supported the very people he was originally sent out to destroy. For 14 years, Zimbabwe was considered an unrecognized state under the rule of the conservative white minority government. His entire perspective on life had dramatically been changed in a matter of days. The physiological and emotional toll was harsh, but nothing stood in his way when it came to fighting for what he believed in. 
Alongside his brother, they both joined a Guerrilla movement for the liberation of Zimbabwe, an armed wing proudly known as ZIPRA. On april 18th 1980, Zimbabwe had properly won its independence by achieving sovereignty from the United Kingdom. 
Of course as a kid, it's nearly impossible to even begin to understand the full context of Ed's story, but even as a child I can remember getting goose bumps. I felt so proud of everything he had accomplished, shocked by every word that came out of his mouth the day he sat me down and finally explained where all of his scars had originated from. Just like he had experienced, in that moment I felt as though my entire perspective had spontaneously changed regarding a peculiar, close family friend, good 'old uncle Ed. The same man we'd eat brunch with every other Sunday, the same man who'd randomly decide to jump in our pool naked while manifesting his belief in skinny-dipping. I can only imagine how amazed and proud his own children must be. Uncle Ed, along with other influential figures in my family, have always taught me to fight for what you want, no matter how many odds may and probably always will be stocked against you. And I believe it's about time I started listening to them too. 

Linguistic Evolution

After watching the short yet increasingly thorough video, I was shocked at how much information a linguistic can acquire by comparing features and regular patterns between languages. 
Not only can they determine linguistic relationships, but they're also able to trace specific steps in their evolution and apply the reconstruction of earlier languages WITHOUT any kind of written record. Isn't that amazing? The video also pointed out that groups of people that shared a single language split up in multiple tribes, resulting in radically different languages. 
This specific part made me think of my own experiences, exclusively when I had first moved from Cairo to New York City. Because I had migrated and settled in a new place, every linguistic aspect of my daily life was different, even though I was still speaking the same language.
It just goes to show you what a critical role culture holds over a language and its evolution. As cultures increasingly grow, languages will continuously divide and separate into their own terms.

What's Current Creates Currency

1) In today's music industry, sex, money, cars, drugs, alcohol and clubbing seem to be the most reoccurring themes in music videos, along side your typical boy bands and Taylor Swift love stories. It's as though the older the world gets, the more sexually vulnerable it becomes. I mean do you honestly think that "twerking" would have been socially acceptable 20 years ago? 
Some kids are being taught to do drugs and drop out of school these days, while others join the influential crowd of degrading women, all through catchy lyrics and highly financed music videos. The sad truth of it is, low morals just seem to be part of the new fashion. And as long as it's making money, you know it's not going anywhere. Our culture's values and standards have increasingly dropped through our generation's technological revolution, one that will continuously evolve.
Whether it's Youtube, Vine or even Instagram, the constant emergence of entertaining and convenient social networks have most definitely taken part in some of our generally decreased moral values. Music videos aren't the only ones to blame. Of course they're not all bad, in fact more than half of them are incredibly hilarious, spreading humor and joy through its virtually connected audience.

2) Entertaining, popular music comes in all shapes and sizes. Whether it's an infamous rap or a catchy pop song, they each portray different kinds of social groups, all while unifying them at the same time. A Nirvana fan isn't necessarily going to be interested in Nicky Minaj's musical work, but that doesn't stop him from knowing the main lyrics to the single "My anaconda don't" whenever it inevitably comes on. You don't even have to try and be interested at times, as whatever song the media decided was hot will be repetitively played for at least a week on most radios. You can find yourself at a party with all kinds of different people and groups, all of them jamming and dancing to the same universally known pop song.

3) Popular music doesn't necessarily dictate what we think, rather it reflects our beliefs and cultural values.Whoever wrote the song or produced the music video most likely expressed their opinions and beliefs through their work, which is then reflected in our cultural values through our generation's youth, whether it be through revolutionary fashion, general beliefs, art...etc. 

4) The secret behind a popular kind of music or song is unity. And that's never been easier in today's world. With publicly accessible sites such as Youtube or even Vine, whenever people hear that happy, upbeat familiar song playing in the background, it projects a community-like feeling. Especially when it comes from a foreign country. Knowing that you're dancing your heart out to the same song as someone in, let's say, Australia? That's an awesome feelings mate! It's as if we're all musically unified. 


Pop is definitely considered as real music, even though it may not be expressing a deeper meaning or is taken less seriously. Everyone loves a catchy pop song every once in a while. And as long as you're enjoying what you're hearing, regardless of its style or message, that's what makes it music.  

6) Music plays a very powerful role and serves as a firm influence in forming peoples ideologies. Especially the one's of the youth. They make us aware of what's going on around us in a very unique way, one that can't be academically taught. It needs to be directly felt through the voices of the very people who've experienced what they're singing about, and that's exactly what makes it so special. No matter what topic they choose to express (our government, the media, social and economic issues...etc) they affect us in a physiological way, every single day, which is bound to take a toll on its audience's mindset and basic beliefs. 

Cultural Differences (H.T.G.G.L.T.A)

For today's blog, I picked the scene where John had finally declared that Yolanda needed to see a  shrink, as he felt like she was "too intelligent for her own good." Although Yolanda was obviously very upset over this, it was still HER choice, a choice she could have very well declined.
 In the more  conservative cultures, if a husband were to think for the slightest second that his wife was going insane, that would have been the end of the story.
Unlike John, our more traditional husband wouldn't be wasting time with compromises, or make a list of the pros and cons of marrying his wife. Rather he would either remarry or get rid of his wife all together. He'd deal with the issue in whichever way he sees fit, and in that context, Yolanda wouldn't have anything to say about it, as males have an unequal amount of power towards their wives.

Dying Languages/The world of slang

⇸http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/enduring-voices.com⇷

For tonight's blog, I've selected the aboriginal languages located in Northern Australia, often referred to as the "island continent." Besides the fact that it's flashy red color(due to it's severe degree in threat levels) immediately attracted my attention on the website's map, I chose the area's linguistic history because of its large size and infamous isolation from the rest of the world. 
2) As it's thoroughly explained on its profile, the aboriginal tongues of Northern Australia are known for being one of the world's most critically endangered languages. This is primarily due to the fact that aboriginal languages are small and scattered, as a result of a long history of conflicts with withe settlers. 
Many struggled to maintain their identity, languages and cultures, while others hadn't even survived the contact all together. According to The Enduring Voices Team's recordings, their are only 3 speakers left of the Magati Ke language left, along with the only remaining speaker of the Amurdag tongue, a language which had officially been reported instinct 25 years ago. 
3) It would be nice to think that the remaining speakers of Magati Ke could dedicate the rest of their lives trying to keep their language alive, or that the Australian government could study and officially record every aspect of these various, complex languages in order to teach to generations to come, but the truth of of the matter is The Enduring Voices Team's recordings are likely the last that will be made of these languages, as some of the speakers wouldn't even be considered fluent. 
The last remaining speaker of Amurdag, for instance, had not used this specific language in over 50 years, remembering the words with great difficulty. Another women from Sunday Island was declared the last speaker of a language called Djawi. As heart breaking as it may be, due to its ridiculously low percentage of speakers, there isn't a lot of suggestions or realistic actions that can be taken to help save these dying languages. 

4) Slang words from my generation? Lmfao kk, dis should be #fun. 

 I can't even
Expressing a severe degree of annoyance towards something, similar to the "I am so done right now" slang phrase. You see, as us teenagers love to be dramatic, a hyperbolic expression like this is absolutely perf.
"Omg guys, I have to study for like 2 tests this week. I can't even." 

Doe
Well, it's basically a common abbreviation for the word "though", expect it's like, 10 times cooler.
"Yo that test doe!" "He hasn't texted me back doe..." "Yeah, but that girl is hot doeeeeee" 

Turn Up 
An infamous term that seems to have recently surfaced social media, it is generally used to describe the validation of an upcoming event. This can also be used ironically.
"Ashely's throwing a party for spring break! TURN UP DOE" "Ew, summer school tomorrow? Lol turn up." 

Can I get an Amen? 
In the religious world of being a teenager, getting extra praise for something that has happened in our continuously dramatic little lives is part of our Gospel, which is why we declare this phrase whenever we think we've said something #awesome."OMG guys Bob just texted me. Can I get an amen?" "I finally got that guy Dexter to do my math homework for me. Can I get an amen!"

Killin' it 
Since teenagers think that we're constantly doing incredibly awesome things, whether you're twerking your pride away on the dance floor or playing beer pong every weekend, a certain phrase needed to be invented:
"Ooooo girl be killin' it with dat ass doe" "Screw mid terms, let's get drunk today! #killin'it" 

YAAAAS 
My personal favorite slang word, you're bound to have heard this one before. Strictly put in capital letters, teenagers have successfully reinvented the word "yes" by radically emphasizing the excitement of a situation or general approval towards something in particular.
"Alex asked me out to the Prom...YAAAS!" "Should I buy this dress? YAAAS."Spring break finally started, YAAS"

#Hashtag  
Technological term used in a sarcastic way to embellish a point being made.
"Kyrsten's dating that hot brazilian exchange student? #WHATEVER." "This picture is sooo old #throwback" 
"Ugh can't wait for dinner tonight #starving #hungrygirls2k14" "KYRSTEN DUMBED ALVARO! #OMG #YAAAS"

Dat
The teenage version of the word "that" used in virtually any contexts.
"Dat ass doe #killin'it" "Dat time we listened to Drake and drank vodka out of plastic bottles #throwback" 

Swerve 
Used in a variety of different ways, the word is usually placed at the beginning or end of the sentence in an exclamatory manner.
"Oh dat hotties single doe? SWERVE." "Swerve, I got more likes than you!" "Oh girl, you just got #SWERVED." 

Turnt
Originating from our previously studied slang term "TURN UP," turnt basically means fun in typical teenage fashion. "Bruh are we gonna get turnt for this party or what?" "Watch out, here comes the Turnt Queen!"

5) To be honest, I'm curious to see how long can our generation's tongue will last over the years to come. Will our generation's language be kept alive? It's hard to tell really, especially when you think back to previous generations and how they've managed to survive. I mean who really says "groovy" anymore, or uses the term "A gase" to express that their having a lot of fun? 
It seems to me like the majority of the people exercising the 60's slang words are the very ones who grew up with them. Just like our grandparents, I believe that the only way our generation can keep it's language alive is by speaking our common slangs until the day we die. In 20 years from now, will our kids be using the same slang our generation has picked up on? Or will they strike their independence by creating their own terms, abbreviations and dramatic hyperboles? 
With today's world constantly changing, the odds for newly developed terms are quite high. As the world evolves, new sayings will naturally emerge, which in a way are part of history itself, as each generation can be identified and embodied by the very words that represented that time in life. It's a natural process that allows each generation to be unique in it's own given way. 

Antojos

Connotation of the word craving: Longing

The nobel prize winning writer/poet Julia Alvarez chose to present the title of the very first chapter in Spanish as a dedication to her native land. Seeing as she was torn away from her home due to political unrest at a young age, her life was forever changed as she suddenly entered into a completely different culture. Not to mention that "the meaning of language" is one of the main themes expressed in this story. It would therefor make sense to at least include a/several literal aspects directly relating to the author's mother tongue.

 

Thesis Statement

To assist us with our statement today, we we will be relying on "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" by Gloria Anzaldua. Now let's ask ourselves this: Why is it that two different interpretations result from a single text when the material is given to two people? As we've recently discussed a lot about culture, the manner in which a person reads as well as their personal interpretations all fall under the same tree. We're all different. We all have our own language, experiences, identity and unique personalities, all of which effect the way we interpret a given text. As crazy as it may seem, regardless of the 7.125 billion people on earth, there never was nor will there ever be a person that is exactly like you. You are truly unique.

The beauty of bilingualism

        Espaillat's use of parenthesis to translate several words into Spanish delivers a sense of acceptance towards its vast audience. As we've concluded last time, incorporating more than one language in a literal/musical piece allows the author to identify themselves, as well as unify both/several different cultures together. Although Espaillat and Alvarez's techniques are both based on the same concept, their approaches were a bit different: Alvarez was portraying her life story through translated words and meanings, all in different kinds of Spanish. She embodied her entire text with personal struggles towards growing up in a dual cultural society. Espaillat's doesn't have this need to constantly switch languages in order to prove her point.
        
As it's been proven over and over again, growing up with two different languages will inevitably result in a mixture of both cultures. Espaillat's   father may have been able to keep both languages separate, but contrary to her he didn't grow up with English. I personally grew up with both English and French, attending an all time  french-speaking school while having to speak English with my father back home. And let me tell ya, it's absolutely impossible to not manifest both languages together, especially as a child. Because you identify yourself with this sort of, personally unified language, you become one with both cultures. The fun part about it all is inventing your own language by mixing both in a single sentence. The Frenglish language was established between me and my older brother by the time I was nine.

        In her poem, the author had mentioned that a child learns by pointing at things and saying them out loud. Now this wouldn't be varied when it concerns a monolingual child, but a bilingual individual will say that word out loud  without a second thought on whichever language comes out first.The irony is expressed in the title itself, "Bilingual Sestina", as the author describes the importance of childhood memory by proving that the separation of both languages is nearly impossible. When she refers to English as Inglais, she's showing the reader that although her mind might have learned to say English, her Spanish heart naturally refers to it as Inglais. 

        She represents a figurative meaning when she refers to someone's tongue, when she tells the reader about how she's had to speak different languages while strictly keeping them apart. Instead of naturally unifying them both, she was obligated to keep them separate, thereby being forced to develop two different tongues. She represents a literal meaning of the phrase "Searching for my tongue" when she was gradually forgetting how to speak her first language Guajarti, afraid that by neglecting her mother tongue it would eventually "rot" away. The strong imagery is presented through her life stories and personal experiences. 

        I'm not exactly sure why the author chose to discuss the nature of bilingualism through a poem, rather than an article, memoir or even a journal. Perhaps because she wanted to reflect her life story and struggles with identity through a stronger technique? Poems are known for their dramatic effects and strong literal meanings, after all.

Why would someone want to write a poem or a song in more than one language?

The first thought that crossed my mind when I read today's question was unity.
As we've previously discussed the value and importance of one's identity/culture, it's easy to understand why one would chose to incorporate two languages in a single song, or sometimes even poems: They attract a larger audience. They've successfully blended two different cultures through a musical/literary piece. Not only are they representing, as well as portraying their songs/poems with their own culture, they're also unifying both groups in a unique, entertaining way.

Is robbing a people from its language more violent than war?

Regardless of how you look at it, your language is the very foundation of who you are. And although we aren't dealing with a physical war, cultural genocide is just as evil.
Robbing a people of its language is a serious violation of human rights.Who are we to dictate the linguistic choices of a people? Your language represents your culture, your country, what you grew up learning. It fills this primary need that we all have, the need to belong to a native people. It's such a natural instinct that it seems so wrong to take it away. The fact that someone doesn't have the basic right to identity themselves with their own language is just as morally wrong as declaring a war.

How to tame a wild tongue

❖What themes does the text explore?

The text explores a variety of themes (chicano spanish, alienation, linguistic terrorism, growing up in a dual society, sexism) all of which are related to cultural identity.

❖Who are the characters? 

The characters include the women talking about her past (first-person narrative) and her family. The people she's met and mentioned throughout her story could also be considered as characters. 

❖What is the conflict?

Academic culture VS Native culture. The endless struggle of not having the right to define your own identity. Her and thousands of others linguistic fight towards a dual culture society.The primary need to belong to a native, specific kind of people has been robbed from right under them, and they are left feeling like less of a human being. "In childhood we are told that our language is wrong. Repeated attacks on our native tongue diminish our sense of self."

❖What is the setting?

The author explains her experiences of growing up in a dual cultural society during the second half of the 20th century. The setting mostly takes place at the Mexican-American border/San Francisco, excluding the times where she flashes back to a certain memory. For example, during one of the first scenes she states that her knuckles would be beaten with sharp ruler if she was caught speaking Spanish during recess in an American school. 

❖What passages or lines stand out to you?

I'm glad you asked! This text is filled with powerful lines and passages that simply can't go unnoticed:

"We are robbed of our female being by the masculine plural. Language is a male discourse."

"We are your linguistic nightmare [...] Because we speak with tongues of fire, we are culturally crucified."

"Because we internalize how are language has been used against us by the dominant culture, we use our language differences against each other." 

           "Ethnic identity is twin skin to linguistic identity- I am my language. Until I can take pride in my language, I cannot take pride in myself. Until I can accept as legitimate Chicano Texas Spanish, Tex-Mex and all the other languages I speak, I cannot accept the legitimacy of myself [...] my tongue will be illegitimate."

"When I saw poetry written in Tex-Mex for the first time, a feeling of pure joy flashed through me. I felt like we really existed as a people."

"At the risk of loosing my job, I swore my students to secrecy and slipped in Chicano short stories, poems, and a play." 

"It was the Mexican movies I saw at the drive in- the Thursday Night Special of $1.00 a carload- that gave me a sense of belonging."

                                                             How it is said

❖What is the structure of the text?

The structure seems to follow the women's past experience and upbringing as a little girl (With the occasional explanation on Chicano language history and personal opinions/notes from the author) up until her years as a high school teacher.

❖Who is the storyteller (narrator)?

The women/the author, first-person narrative. 

❖What do you notice about the language/word choices?

Aside from the untranslated spanish, you could definitely tell that the author isn't originally English. Although her writing is perfectible understandable, a few minor errors here and there make it obvious, for example: "Ethnic identity is twin skin to linguistic identity."

❖What literary devices does the author use? How do they enhance the message?

Through critical proverbs and flashbacks. At one point, right after talking about the two mandatory speech classes all Chicano students were required to take in order to get rid of their accents, the author reminds us "Attacks on one's form of expression with the intent to censor are a violation of the First Amendment." A powerful, judiciary reminder, this not only enhanced the message, it also emphasized the violation of human rights that is constantly taking place throughout the text. 

                                           Context of Authorship

❖What do you know about the time and place in which the text was written?

Relating to the story: Immigration raised ever since the torn of Mexico during a high-casualty civil war in the 20th century. The low-class view towards Mexicans only enhanced itself, as they remained concentrated in low-wage jobs. This can relate to the text by suggestion that this poor image of mexicans influenced the ruthless attitude and low-tolerance towards their culture. 

Not directly relating: John F. Kennedy's assassination, The Great Depression, the infamous rise of the universally known boy band The Beatles, The Vietnamese War.

❖What do you know about the author?

Before googling her? Not much. Just that she came from both American and Spanish culture and that she grew up on the Mexican-Texas border.

❖What do you know about the author’s cultures or communities and/or those that impact the author?

As the author mentioned, she attended American school, although her family was originally Spanish. Balancing between her academic and personal life, both English and Spanish cultures are reflected. They impacted the author by giving her a first hand look into the linguistic terrorism currently taking place across the Untied States.

                                          Context of Readership

❖Have you had any experiences that connect to this story?

Fortunately no, I have not. From an early age I've been encouraged to not only express my cultural identity, but continuously expand it as well.       

❖Is this text relevant to you?  Why or why not?  Do you feel that you are the intended audience?

 Yes and no. Although I feel like Chicano speaking people were very much targeted, I believe that everyone else was too, as a means to make us more aware of these cultural violations and various languages that should be considered legitimate. This text isn't exactly relevant to me because I've never had any experiences that could connect me to this story, I've never been in a situation where I've had to fight for my cultural identity.

❖What about your identity/culture help you understand this text OR prevent you from understanding it? 

Once again, my identity/culture have prevented me from personally connecting with the story when regarding the "cultural robbery" that has/is taking place. 

How to better understand your reading material

In order to better comprehend a text, the reader must take his time. Be sure to understand your material from more than just one angle. Once you've become more familiar with the characters, try to imagine the different opinions and perspectives regarding the story's context.
Now although this might not always be relevant, knowing the author's origins/culture could help the reader better understand their text. After all, it is a critical factor that could most definitely influence an individual's writing. Another important trick is apprehending your story's settings, as well as devices. Make sure you know your literary techniques! They will help you detect everything from metaphors, alliterations, hyperboles ect. All of which play a significant role when it comes to better understanding your reading material.
"Reading, because we control it, is adaptable to our needs and rhytms. We are free to indulge our subjective associative impulse; the term I coin for this is deep reading: The slow and meditative possession of a book. We don't just read words, we dream our lives in their vicinity."
- Sven Birkerts in The Gutenberg Elegies (1994)