English Essay: Analyzing Language and Cultural Perspectives

This essay delves into the profound impact of language on cultural perspectives and gender roles, using Alleen Pace Nilsen's "Sexism in English: Embodiment and Language" and Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue" as primary sources. The analysis focuses on how language serves as a powerful tool for expressing thoughts, shaping societal norms, and influencing perceptions of gender. The essay explores how language reflects and reinforces patriarchal structures, demeaning women through sexist connotations and highlighting the importance of one's native language in expressing inherent feelings and navigating cultural differences. The author emphasizes the significance of respectful communication and the need to address inequalities in language. The essay draws on the texts to illustrate the complexities of language in diverse environments and its role in shaping social divisions. The conclusion underscores the strength of language as a medium to expose social differences and the role of language in measuring gender roles.

Running head: ENGLISH ESSAY
English Essay
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ENGLISH ESSAY
The power of language is definitely very strong and it can connect several unknown
facades within a single line. This is why various researchers have always given the stress on the
use of language as the most powerful weapon for people in the recent times. The two essays
named “Sexism in English: Embodiment and Language” by Alleen Pace Nilsen and “Mother
Tongue” by Amy Tan is extremely crucial to look into the importance of language. Language
has been termed as the X-ray through which all the invisible thoughts can be understood. Special
focus will be given on these two writings when this context of language will be analyzed.
Thesis statement: Language always gives an insight into the mind of the individuals and it
provides the ultimate power to the beholder and he becomes aware of the character of the
speaker too.
The context of the language being the x-ray is completely true. It surely works as the x-
ray of the human beings and they can express their opinions through using the language. Many
feelings can be conveyed through the power of language. It also shows the overall use of
language has indicated towards a patriarchal society in the recent times (Nilsen, 2008). The
importance of the language has shown how it can be used as the weapon to establish the
patriarchy in the society and deliberately degrading the condition of the women. The use of the
feminine pronouns is done so the identity of the women could be understood. Many times the
language helps the men to denote the women as the objects. The sexual connotations are used
also to show the defamation of the women in the society. On the other hand, the native language
of the human beings can also become a problem in the different cultures. In order to survive in
the different cultures, one must understand and get acquainted with the other cultures (Tan,
1990). This is language has always come up to be one of the major game changers in the society
for the communication purpose.

2ENGLISH ESSAY
The thesis statement should be discussed in this section since it connects with both the
texts. Language indeed is one of the most powerful weapons for the speakers through which they
can express their feelings. In these two texts, it is clear that the use of language has given a clear
picture of the cultural perspectives of the speakers. The use of words is completely under the
control of the speakers. If the speaker uses the bad language, it completely shows his or her
cultural degradation. The use of the mother language is very crucial sometimes because it brings
out all the inherent feelings of the human beings (Tan, 1990). The second text of Amy Tan has
focused on this aspect where the usefulness of mother language should get the utmost priority in
one’s culture. The respect and dignity of the human beings come out through the use of good
words for the listener. The visible evidence can be collected from the use of language in different
perspectives by several people. Their approach and attitudes towards the humanity can also be
assessed of a person who uses the derogatory language towards the women. Their conscience can
be put into the question in this scenario. Many males use such language that can be connected
with the sexist contents that must be considered as violent and completely unethical. The values
of women should be understood by the common people who use such language and demean the
social positions of women.
The people belonging to the English speaking society must acknowledge the fact that are
exposed to a certain environment where they have to speak by choosing thir words very
carefully. The patriarchal dominance must not be allowed in the oral communication because it
is very harmful for the status of women. The inequalities and imbalances within the society must
be taken care while speaking. Any such words that is offensive and does not show respect for the
opposite gender must be rejected. Their use of words and approach towards will determine their
viewpoint about women. It must be remembered that women will also never show respect to men

3ENGLISH ESSAY
if the opposite is not done through verbal communication. They are more interested in other
things than this. On the contrary, it is also true that men are more active when they have built the
family and indulge in this marital life. The other text Mother Tongue is also very crucial in
showing the embodiment of the sexism in language. In this text, the author reminds of the times
when she said to himself to not waste the money in that manner. This clearly proves that she had
the independence in her house to decide the ways to spend the money (Tan, 1990). It is very
evident and opposite to what Nielsen had portrayed. These are basic differences in the society
that should be brought out. The achievements of the people in society still determined his class
and respect. These are the crucial points that could be learned from this text. The example of the
gangster Du is such an example as the author Amy Tan has suggested.
In this text, the use of the mother tongue and constant use of the English has been
compared. Both the languages are crucial but it seems like outside places like hospitals, ticket
counters and others would give the special advantage to the people who could use English
language in a better manner. Here the mother of the author was learning the English language
slowly but it was definite that she would not be able to learn it in a proper manner. The author
has also spoken of the fact that sociologists might say that growth of skills in English would
come from the activities of the peers (Tan, 1990). In this case, the English of her mother was
rather insular since they were immigrants in the country. Here English language in a fluent style
played a large role for a proper communication between two people. This would have been a
huge problem for the author and her mother since they could not speak up the English language
very fluently. They became very worried about their stay in that country because of their broken
English (Tan, 1990). Therefore, it must be noted that the use of language and its fluency plays an

4ENGLISH ESSAY
immense role in communication and depicts the cultural belonging of the speaker in a diverse
environment.
The conclusion of the paper can be drawn from the fact that language is one of the
strongest mediums that can show the social differences and the divisions between men and
women. Both the texts are shown to be very promising in measuring the gender roles in the
society. The position of the genders has been discussed in these texts but with a different taste.
The use of language has been very integral to denote the plight of the women in the society.
Their conditions have been expressed through some terms that are quite derogatory for the
respect of the women. Some of these terms and their implications have been explained in the
essay where the authors have strictly criticized the use of language.

5ENGLISH ESSAY

6ENGLISH ESSAY
References
Nilsen, A. P. (2008). Sexism in English: Embodiment and language. 75Arguments: AnAnthology,
33-46.
Tan, A. (1990). Mother tongue. The Threepenny Review, 43(7).