anzaldua's

Isaiah Nelson
Eng_1100
Aug 31 2015
prof. Young


1. The overall essay discusses language and the different ways she speaks depending on her situation, such as in a professional setting she will speak standard English but with her friends and siblings a mix of Spanish and English. So opening in a dentist's char is more than relevant because of the symbolism to language through the mouth.

2. I can see why she incorporated spanish in her writing which was to give the reader the perspective of trying to read when you don't fully understand the language, and I was definitely confused for much of it.

3. Academic English and Spanish is only relevant depending on the context of the situation. For example if she is in a job interview in either America or Mexico the she would need to speak standard english.

4. Speaking and writing academic english is not only necessary but imperative for communication to the general population around her. She lives in  America and because of that she needs to know how to speak academic english.

5. There are a few types of english identities however a particular video comes to mind which I will provide a link here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9fmJ5xQ_mc . In this video a young women named Jamila Lyiscott speaks on the three different languages she speaks and in one point of the video she states " I speak three tongues one for each: home, school and friends". Lyiscott discusses many similar things to Anzaldua in her essay, I can relate to both because I have a different identity when speaking to my parents as oppose to speaking to my friends and even a different identity when speaking to new people.

6. The language I use with my friends I would hardly call secret it is pretty general so I do not have a secret language/identity

7. I speak casual english to my friends I never felt the need to speak a sort of slang however it is a very relaxed language. When I am talking to a professor I speak a much stricter version of English and make sure to annunciate and articulate my words. Also to my mother I speak a mix of both depending on the setting, if I am in a relaxed situation then I would talk more like a friend but if the situation is serious then I would talk more strict.

8. This statement means that her identity is directly linked to the language she speaks, saying how the way she speaks makes her who she is.

9. The beginning and end connect because it starts in the dentist and ends talking about how all minorities language is surprised in today's culture.

10. Yes because it says where I am and who I am talking to.

11. Identity is important o me, I feel it is important to know who you are and I believe the same could be said for Anzaldua.


"The first time I heard two women say...nostros I was shocked...Language is a male discourse."

"Often only with another Chicana tejana that I can speak freely."

"Chicanos and other people of color suffer economically for not acculturating"