Language in "How to Tame..."

To Gloria Anzuldua language is useful beyond mere communication. In "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" she argues that language is a tool through which people define themselves and are defined. She explains that at a young age she got in trouble for "speaking Spanish" because she was trying to tell the teacher how to pronounce her name. She uses this illustration to show how people are quickly labeled and stereotyped in the context of the language they speak; in this case, she was looked down upon because Spanish is not "American". Anzuldua goes on to explain how there are 8 different types of Spanish, each come from a different region and imply different things. Also, Anzuldua finds a certain pride in her language, explaining "When other races have given up their tounge, we've kept ours" (63); this illustrates her finding identity in the language she speaks. Anzuldua writes of how languages differentiate people, explaining that Chicano Spanish is a "secret language. Adults of the culture and outsiders cannot understand it" (56).


Jacob Erickson