Analyzing Language and Identity: A Cultural Perspective Essay

This essay delves into the connection between language and identity, particularly in the context of globalization and cultural assimilation. It emphasizes that language is more than just a collection of words; it's a vital link to community, culture, beliefs, and history. The essay references David Sedaris's 'Me Talk Pretty One Day' and Gloria Anzaldua's 'How to Tame a Wild Tongue' to illustrate how language shapes individual experiences and self-perception. Sedaris's experience in a French class highlights how language can both connect and alienate, while Anzaldua's struggles with her mother tongue underscore the importance of linguistic pride in self-identity. Ultimately, the essay argues that language is fundamental to understanding and expressing one's identity, and that embracing one's native language is crucial for self-acceptance and cultural preservation.

Running head: LANGUAGE AND IDENTITY
LANGUAGE AND IDENTITY
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author Note:

1LANGUAGE AND IDENTITY
1) Explore the connection between language and identity. Is language/ the multiple
languages one learns personal to the way someone develops and relates to the world?
In this era of globalisation, thousands of people emigrate to different countries due to
their search for employment, education and for other reasons. This process of leaving one
country and settle on the other affect the mother tongue of the people. language is not the
assortment of the words but also the entity that connects the individuals with their community,
culture, beliefs, music, region and wisdom by developing the identity.
The mother language of the people is the carrier of the history, customs, folklore and
traditions of the people which manipulates the personality by supporting the psychological
wisdom of the people. Without any language, there is no existence of culture. Therefore, the
thoughts, emotions and concepts in support of the language can develop the identity pf the
people.
It is important to note that the two pieces such as ‘Me Talk Pretty One Day’ By David
Sedaris and ‘How to Tame a Wild Tongue’ by Gloria Anzaldua talk about the importance of
language in forming or explaining the identity of the individuals. From these two pieces it as
been found out that people are different in their own ways and their language open up their
minds. Moreover, there is no issue in earning different language and this has become an essential
component for quality education.
David Sedaris in his ‘Me Talk Pretty One Day’ has detailed his experience of French
class where he came across different students having different cultural background. In this
French class, the teacher had asked the same question to every student irrespective of their
nationality. All of them however were belittled in disclosing their liking factors and that of
hatred. In case of the author “The teacher, through word and action, conveyed the message that if

2LANGUAGE AND IDENTITY
this was my idea of an identity, she wanted nothing to do with it” (Sedaris). This reveals that
language does not create barrier to the word choices and actions but it manipulates the
understanding which create identity of the people.
In ‘How to Tame a Wild Tongue’ by Gloria Anzaldua also his connection of language
identity has been deciphered. In this piece the author has ironically expresses her problem with
the tongue in a dentist’s chamber. She here describes the moment when she was punished to
pronounce her name in her school which had hurt immensely in her childhood. In addition to
this, gradually in her growth process, she had faced many issues with her mother language,
surrounded by people who tried to manipulate her thoughts by commanding how the women
should act and how a Chicano should use the mother tongue. In this regard, the author has stated
that, “Until I can take pride in my language, I cannot take pride in myself” (Anzaldúa, p. 39).
Finally, she speaks about her experience to teach English to the Chicano students as well as
strayed off of the curriculum. Therefore, it can be stated that she had successfully established the
connection between her thoughts and the similar experiences of the others.

3LANGUAGE AND IDENTITY
References:
Anzaldúa, Gloria. How to tame a wild tongue. na, 1987. (pp. 33-45)
Sedaris, David. Me talk pretty one day. Hachette UK, 2010.