Everyone in this world always wants to feel like they belong somewhere especially in their culture. People everyday are threatened because sometimes are denied their language. In the passage “ How to Tame a Wild Tongue”, by Gloria Anzaldua claims that denying a group their language is a violation of the first amendment and I completely agree. People have the right to free speech and denying someones group of their language is unacceptable. It is not right for someone to be able to speak a language of their choice and for someone else not to. In the passage Anzaldua claims that “At pan American University, I and all Chiano students were required to take two speech classes. Their purpose: to get rid of our accents”( Norton, 411). This example proves that people are trying to deny a group of their language and that is not right because in the first amendment it is our right to have free speech. In addition, Anzaldua claims that it is an act of violence and I also agree with that because people feel threatened and violated when they are denied their right to speak their language which is unconstitutional since we have freedom of speech. Nevertheless, “ Chicanos and other people of color suffer economically for not acculturating. This voluntary alienation makes for psychological conflict, a kind of dual identity”(Norton 419). This shows how people who are denied their group of language is a huge conflict and people truly suffer from it which is unlawful considering the fact that in the US constitutional we have freedom of speech. People who live under the US government have the right of free speech and other people are trying to put an end to it by making people change their language, identity, and culture and that is not right. People have the choice to speak what they want in this country and other people are trying to expel it and that is unconstitutional. Human beings shouldn't be threatened, denied or violated by what language they speak because we do have freedom of speech and anyone who tries to sacrifice this right needs to be punished.
I agree, for a person not being able to speak their own language is robbing them of free speech. Robbing them of their voice and being able to speak their mind. I do believe it is a crime, an act of violence. In her story Anzaldúa talks about being Chicana and how they’re looked down upon by the Anglo/Latin group. The group felt like their way of speaking, which was traditional Spanish, was the correct way of speaking. Trying to force Anzaldúa and her Chicano population to speak and understand the “proper” way to speak Spanish. She’s being forced to change herself. Being robbed of something such as the way you talk is wrong. You’re basically being forced to change who you are and you’re identity in a way. In the reading, she is broadcasting it as if they’re trying to take away her culture and their pride away. I also agree with her stating it’s a violation of free speech. Free speech I believe is being able to voice you’re opinion when and how you want to. I applaud Anzaldúa for standing up for her culture and keeping it alive by continuing to speak her language and not changing.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your blog and Gloria’s claim of denying a group their language being a violation of the first amendment. America is supposed to be the land of the free; however, we have a daily reminder as to what is the “free” we actually live in and I am well-aware that it does not really entitle the different languages spoken. The fact that there were classes to get rid of their accents just shows how they were being denied of something natural. I believe that the accent in non-English speakers is beautiful and should have no change to it, unfortunately people like her have experienced the dominance in English that there was a class needed to change it. Right there we see how her first amendment was not put into consideration, simply because America is an English dominant country. It is most definitely an act of violence. Personally, I feel like we are being verbally abused to speak the language of a country that is supposed to allow us to freely speak. America has progressed and is no longer a country where only the people of white live in. The people of color exist with various differences and we should have our freedom of speech respected.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that language is way more than just a way that people communicate with one another, and denying people their right to use their own cultural language is absolutely a violation of the first amendment. I personally love when people have accents because it makes listening to the way they talk that more interesting and intriguing and it almost makes me angry that this was even something that was put into practice at any point in time. The first amendment should always protect our right to freedom of speech in every way shape and form, not just certain things here and there. Language is what defines a person and makes them feel part of their own individual culture. We should not in any way be trying to get rid of other languages, and she even says it herself, "English will be the mother tongue of Chicanos and Latinos at the end of this century" (Norton 416). The fact that a language that was once so widely known is now considered unacceptable to use in some places is a hard concept to grasp and understandably upsets a lot of people. I think that Gloria is completely right when she talks about how unfair and unjust it is that our freedom of speech is not respected the way it should be.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the claim that denying someone of their language is an act of violence as well as denying someone of their freedom of speech stated in the first amendment. How is it deemed "fair" to repress someone's culture? To certain people, their language is a part of who they are, by taking away their freedom of language we are robbing them of a way in which they identify themselves. In America, we are given the right to speak freely, so why then is it okay for some to have grown up being taught in school “If you are in America, you speak English”. Anzaldua states “I remember being caught speaking Spanish at recess- that was good for 3 licks on the knuckles with a sharp ruler”, she is being robbed of her culture; her right to speak freely, this is an act of violence not only physically, but emotionally.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with this claim of robbing them of free speech and that denying someone of their language is violence...equal rights for everyone stated in the first amendment... In the passage she did say "at pan American university, me and all the other Chicanos were required to take 2 speech classes to get rid of our accent " this shows proof already that they aren't accepting them for who they are as people regardless of what language they speak nevertheless people of different language or color already suffer economically as is and aren't given the same treating or fairness as others. In America you have freedom of speech regardless of who you are and so that's what makes you you
ReplyDelete