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Mother Tongue Essay | Essay on Mother Tongue for Students and Children in English

February 7, 2024 by Prasanna

Mother Tongue Essay:  The first naturally acquired by humans is their mother tongue. The mother tongue is associated with the language that a child’s parent use to communicate with them, or the common language of the place a person is born and brought up in is called the native tongue.

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Long and Short Essays on Mother Tongue for Students and Kids in English

We are providing students with essay samples on a long essay of 500 words and a short essay of 150 words on the topic ‘Mother Tongue’ for reference.

Long Essay on Mother Tongue 500 Words in English

Long Essay on Mother Tongue is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

To suffice human’s social need for more effective communication the language was created. The extremely complex or versatile code, i.e. language, is used to express our thoughts and experiences to other people. This makes language a natural phenomenon that is learnt by a human at an early age for the desire to express themselves to others.

The mother tongue or the native language is an essential aspect in one’s upbringing as it shapes the way they perceive the world and the way one expresses themselves to others. Babies tend to imitate what they see or hear. Infants are fast learners as they acquire their mother tongue by imitating their parents. It is easier for children to learn languages in their growing years than in comparison to adults learning a new language.

Having a strong grip on one’s mother tongue also helps in creating a strong foundation for learning additional languages. Children are capable of learning languages other than their native tongue while they are young by transferring the different structure of a language to other languages. If a child learns the grammar of their mother tongue well, then they will be able to guess the meaning of the words in different languages easily.

Since people from different regions have varying mother tongues, that is why many institutions and parents teach a second language to children so that they can communicate with more people, without any language barriers. A person might be able to converse in multiple languages, but if they are spoken to in their mother tongue, then a sense of familiarity prevails over them.

You can now access Essay Writing on the topic of Mother Tongue and many more topics.

One’s mother tongue is a very potent tool that helps in advancing the learning skill in people. Children’s develop the skill of communication by conversing with their parents in their native tongue. And this skill of communication becomes paramount in school or institutional level setting for participating in class. Learning in school plays an important role in accentuating the use of mother tongue.

Similarly, when parents spend time communicating in the native language for discussing matters and telling stories to children, it helps in developing their terminology and concepts. Thus, children are able to follow instructions and can learn effortlessly, resulting in educational success.

The native tongue starts shaping a person’s thoughts and emotions soon after they are born in their subconscious because a person first hears it in their womb. The personal and cultural identity of an individual is developed because of their mother tongue. By understanding oneself, their surroundings and their history, personal identity can be built.

It is sad to see that mother tongue is losing its importance in comparison to some popularly used languages like English. Since in education as well as international business, English is used, that is why people are more encouraged to learn it because of the existing competition.

However, the mother tongue remains an inseparable part of one’s existence as it is said to be one’s true vehicle of wit. To preserve the cultural fabric, people must always strive to preserve their mother tongue at any cost.

Short Essay on Mother Tongue 150 Words in English

Short Essay on Mother Tongue is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

A person can be defined by the choices they make and the language they speak. And the first language learnt by an individual is said to be their mother tongue. The native tongue plays a very important role in a family as it falls under one of the basic family values.

The mother tongue is often passed onto a child from parents or family members. The learning of a language opens up several new possibilities for an infant to explore the world and to express themselves.

There are several benefits of knowing more than one language, especially when working outside one’s hometown. However, on being addressed in the mother tongue in a foreign city helps the conversation reach one’s heart because of nostalgia.

Several pieces of research conducted by psychologists showed that people react differently when shown words of their mother language in comparison to when shown words of other known languages. Hence, we can conclude by saying that the importance of the mother tongue is undeniable.

10 Lines on Mother Tongue Essay in English

1. “Mother Tongue” is the language that a person learns from his infancy. 2. It is the first language that a person learns so that he could socially engage with his parents and other relatives. 3. Language is not only used to communicate but also to a huge extent; it is used to preserve the culture and refinement of their race. 4. Nowadays, the mother tongue is losing its importance against other languages. 5. Although English is incomparable with any other languages, it is causing the death of some of the languages. 6. The inseparable part of one’s personality that should never be lost is their mother language. 7. To preserve the rich cultural aspect of a person’s existence the mother tongue should be preserved at any cost. 8. Mother tongue is very crucial for framing one’s thinking and emotion. 9. Learning one’s mother tongue gives them a sense of self-worth and cultivates confidence in them. 10. For a child to be able to participate in their own classes and grow communication skills, the child must learn his mother tongue from his parents.

FAQ’s on Mother Tongue Essay

Question 1.   Why is this called Mother tongue?

Answer: Mother tongue is actually a metaphor. Language’s origin comes from the primary caregiver, or the person who looks after her baby when he is born is traditionally known as mothers.

Question 2.  Explain the term mother tongue in education.

Answer: Mother tongue in education alludes to when an educational institute adds the language a child is most accustomed with that is his mother language which he speaks in his home.

Question 3.  Can a child have more than one mother language?

Answer: A child who grows up in a bilingual home may have more than one mother language or native language.

Question 4. What is the main difference between mother-language and first language?

Answer: Mother language is a language which a baby gets familiar from the gestation of the mother even before he is born whereas the first language is a language which a child gets to learn from either schooling or socialising.

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Mother Tongue Essay in 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, & 500 Words

Table of Contents

Mother Tongue Essay in 100 Words

Mother tongue essay.

Mother tongue, also known as a native language, holds immense significance in a person’s life. It is the language in which individuals form their first thoughts, communicate with their parents, and embrace their cultural heritage. This descriptive essay explores the essence of the mother tongue and its impact on one’s identity and communication skills. The melodious tones, unique vocabulary, and rich cultural nuances of a mother tongue create an undeniable emotional connection. It unites individuals with their roots, allowing them to express their true selves. Moreover, mastering one’s mother tongue strengthens communication skills and facilitates a deeper understanding of one’s heritage. The power of the mother tongue lies in its ability to forge connections, preserve traditions, and cultivate a strong sense of identity.

Mother Tongue Essay in 150 Words

Mother tongue.

Mother tongue is a term used to describe a person’s first language, the language they learn from their parents and use to communicate with their family and community. It is a powerful tool that shapes one’s identity and provides a connection to their cultural heritage.

In my case, my mother tongue is English. It is the language I grew up speaking, reading, and writing. I have vivid memories of my mother patiently teaching me how to pronounce words and construct sentences. English has become second nature to me, enabling the effortless expression of my thoughts and emotions.

However, I recognize the importance of mother tongues from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Each language carries a rich history, unique expressions, and cultural nuances. It is through one’s mother tongue that traditions and values are passed down from generation to generation.

Mastering multiple languages can be an incredible asset, allowing individuals to navigate multicultural environments and build bridges between different communities. It is essential that we celebrate and preserve the beauty of mother tongues, as they are a fundamental part of our collective human experience.

Mother Tongue Essay in 200 Words

Mother tongue is the language that a person learns from their mother and uses as their primary means of communication. It is a language that is ingrained in one’s identity and has a deep connection to their cultural heritage.

For many individuals, their mother tongue is the language spoken in their home country. It represents their roots and serves as a reminder of their family’s history. The words and phrases shared in the mother tongue carry a sense of familiarity and comfort, linking people to their cultural community.

Beyond its personal significance, the mother tongue also plays a crucial role in shaping an individual’s cognitive development. Language is a tool for thinking, and when children learn their mother tongue, they acquire not only the ability to communicate but also a unique way of perceiving the world.

Despite its importance, the mother tongue can often be overshadowed by dominant languages in education and society. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize and celebrate the richness of various mother tongues, promoting them as valuable assets rather than obstacles to learning.

In conclusion, the mother tongue is more than just a language; it is a representation of one’s cultural heritage, personal identity, and cognitive capabilities. Embracing and preserving mother tongues is essential for fostering diversity and understanding in our globalized world.

Mother Tongue Essay in 300 Words

The term “mother tongue” encompasses the language we acquire naturally from our parents and use to communicate with our family and community. For many of us, it is the first language we learn, shaping both our experiences and identities. Our mother tongue is not merely a mode of communication; it encapsulates our cultural heritage, traditions, and memories.

Being fluent in our mother tongue allows us to effortlessly express our thoughts and emotions. It is the language in which we first learn to articulate ourselves and formulate our ideas. The nuances, idioms, and expressions embedded in our mother tongue provide a deeper level of understanding about our cultural heritage, values, and beliefs.

Moreover, our mother tongue serves as a bridge connecting us with our familial roots. It connects us to our grandparents, parents, and ancestors who passed down their knowledge, wisdom, and stories in this language through generations. Through our mother tongue, we gain a sense of belonging and a stronger connection to our family and community.

Furthermore, our mother tongue enables us to comprehend and appreciate literature, art, and music originating from our culture. It is often in our mother tongue that we find poetry, proverbs, and songs that touch our hearts and resonate with our deepest emotions.

In conclusion, our mother tongue is an integral part of our identity, history, and heritage. It provides a means of communication, a source of cultural understanding, and a connection to our past. Preserving and nurturing our mother tongue is essential, as it keeps our traditions alive and ensures the transmission of knowledge and wisdom from one generation to the next.

Mother Tongue Essay in 400 Words

Mother tongue: a beautiful tapestry of words.

The concept of a mother tongue is, in many ways, like a vibrant tapestry, intricately woven over generations, representing our cultural heritage and identity. It is the language we first learn from our mothers, the language that nurtures our thoughts, and enables us to communicate our deepest emotions. In this descriptive essay, we will explore the power and beauty of the mother tongue, and how it shapes our understanding of the world around us.

A mother tongue is far more than just a means of communication. It is a rich reservoir of history and tradition, encapsulating the essence of a community’s collective experiences. Each language carries within it a unique cultural perspective, offering insights into lifestyle, values, and beliefs. For instance, in Chinese, the mother tongue of my ancestors, the concept of “Ren” emphasizes kindness and compassion, guiding individuals to foster harmonious relationships. Such nuanced cultural nuances are embedded deep within the mother tongue, reflecting the rich tapestry of human experiences.

Furthermore, the mother tongue serves as a conduit for familial bonds and traditions. It connects generations, transferring wisdom and knowledge from one to another. I recall sitting at my grandmother’s feet, listening to her eloquently narrate tales of our family’s history, dreams, and struggles, all in our native language. Through the mother tongue, these stories took on a life of their own, revealing a profound connection to our roots, and cultivating a strong sense of belonging.

Additionally, the mother tongue showcases the linguistic versatility and complexity of our world. Each language has its own rhythm, vocabulary, and idiomatic expressions. From the click sounds of the Xhosa language to the melodic cadence of Italian, every tongue weaves a distinct melody. The mother tongue captures the essence of a culture, expressing the joys, sorrows, and peculiarities of life in a way that transcends mere words. It evokes emotions that cannot be completely captured by another language, rendering each personal experience that much more vivid.

However, the mother tongue is not just a relic of the past. In an increasingly globalized world, it evolves and adapts, reflecting the changing times and embracing modern aspects. It assimilates new words, cultural influences, and concepts, forging a transition from traditional to contemporary. This amalgam of old and new breathes life into the language, enabling future generations to carry forward the torch of cultural heritage.

In conclusion, the mother tongue is a treasure trove of emotion, heritage, and identity. It conveys not only words but also the essence of a community’s values and traditions. It binds generations together and provides a unique lens through which to view the world. As individuals, we must recognize the importance of preserving and cherishing our mother tongues, for they are an integral part of our identities and allow us to weave together the colorful tapestry of human existence.

Mother Tongue Essay in 540 Words

Language is a fundamental aspect of human communication, acting as a medium through which we express our thoughts, emotions, ideas, and beliefs. It shapes our perspectives, influences our interactions, and forms the very foundation of our identities. In the grand tapestry of languages spoken across the globe, the concept of “mother tongue” holds a special place. This essay aims to explore the essence of the mother tongue, its significance in our lives, and its impact on our understanding of the world.

The mother tongue, also known as the first language or native language, refers to the language a person acquires naturally from birth or early childhood. It is the language spoken by their parents, family, and community, shaping their early memories and shaping their understanding of reality. For the majority of people, the mother tongue is synonymous with the language of their country or region. However, in multicultural societies, individuals may have multiple mother tongues due to their diverse linguistic backgrounds.

One of the most compelling aspects of the mother tongue lies in its ability to connect us to our roots and cultural heritage. It serves as a vessel that carries the vibrant traditions, customs, and folklore of our ancestors. Through our mother tongue, we gain access to the rich tapestry of our cultural identity, deepening our understanding of our own history and fostering a sense of belonging.

Moreover, proficiency and fluency in one’s mother tongue are instrumental in building strong interpersonal and familial relationships. The mother tongue enables individuals to express their thoughts and emotions with nuanced precision, fostering closer connections with their loved ones. It provides a sense of comfort and familiarity, enabling individuals to communicate freely without fear of misinterpretation or misunderstanding.

Conversely, the loss or neglect of one’s mother tongue can lead to a profound sense of disconnection and an identity crisis. Many individuals living in culturally diverse societies face the challenge of maintaining their mother tongue amidst the pressures to adopt the dominant language. As a consequence, a sense of alienation can arise, as one is unable to fully express their authentic self or connect deeply with their cultural heritage.

Furthermore, the mother tongue intertwines language and thought, shaping our cognitive processes, reasoning capabilities, and decision-making skills. A study by linguist Benjamin Lee Whorf proposed that language influences how we perceive and categorize the world around us. This theory, known as linguistic relativity or the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, suggests that different languages provide unique perspectives on reality, forcing speakers to perceive and conceptualize the world in distinct ways. Thus, the mother tongue not only impacts our personal lives but also molds our collective understanding of the world.

In conclusion, the mother tongue holds immense significance in our lives, serving as the cradle of our cultural identity and shaping our perception of the world. It connects us to our ancestral traditions, strengthens familial bonds, and fosters a sense of belonging. The mother tongue is not just a means of communication; it is a gateway to our roots, enabling us to embrace diversity, preserve our heritage, and forge deeper connections with those around us. Let us celebrate the beauty and power of our mother tongues, for they are the languages of the heart and soul.

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Essay On Importance of Mother Tongue – 10 Lines, Short and Long Essay

Key Points to Remember When Writing Essay on Mother Tongue

10 lines on mother tongue, paragraph on mother tongue in english, short essay on the importance of mother tongue, long essay on mother tongue for children, what will your child learn from mother tongue essay.

Writing essays helps illuminate our thoughts and fosters a deep understanding of subjects. Especially when the topic is as personal and profound as one’s mother tongue. This essay on the mother tongue in English aims to stress its importance, not just for linguistic evolution, but for cultural identity. As per the Cambridge Dictionary , the mother tongue is the very first language you learn when you’re just a baby. It’s the language you pick up naturally from your family and surroundings long before you start learning any other language at school or as you grow up (1) . It is more than just a medium of communication; it’s a bridge to our ancestry, memories, and childhood. As you delve into this essay for children and students, you will discover the deep connection we share with our mother tongue and how it shapes our thinking, emotions, and worldview.

Writing an essay on such an important topic as the mother tongue demands an approach that combines research with emotional depth. The significance of our mother language cannot be overstated, making it vital to handle this subject with care. Here are some pivotal guidelines to ensure your mother language essay is both informative and impactful:

Topic Understanding: Before starting, ensure you truly understand the depth and nuances of the mother tongue and its implications on culture, identity, and personal development.

Personal Touch: Since this is a personal and deeply resonant topic, it’s beneficial to include anecdotes or experiences related to your mother tongue. It will make your essay relatable and heartfelt.

Research Well: While personal experiences are vital, grounding your essay in facts and studies can add depth. For instance, research on the cognitive benefits of learning in one’s mother tongue can be a valuable addition.

Cultural Significance: Emphasise the cultural and historical importance of mother tongues. Discuss how they play a role in preserving traditions, folklore, and shared community memories.

Global Context: Highlight the position of mother tongues in a globalised world. Discuss the challenges and importance of preserving them in the face of global languages.

Language Structure: Ensure your essay has a clear structure – an introduction, main body, and conclusion. Each section should flow logically to the next, creating a coherent narrative.

Originality: While it’s okay to seek inspiration from other sources, make sure your essay is original. Avoid plagiarism and aim for authenticity in your words and ideas.

Proofread: Once you’ve penned down your thoughts, take the time to review your essay. Check for grammatical errors, ensure smooth transitions between points, and verify that the content aligns with the topic.

Engaging Conclusion: Conclude your mother language essay in a way that leaves a lasting impression on readers, emphasising the timeless importance and personal connection we all share with our native languages.

The mother tongue, our first language, forms the cornerstone of our cultural and personal identities. This language resonates with our earliest memories, emotions, and experiences. Here’s a short essay for lower primary classes that encapsulates the essence of the mother tongue in 10 easy-to-understand lines:

1. Mother tongue is the first language we learn from our parents.

2. It holds our family’s stories, songs, and secrets.

3. Every culture has its unique mother tongue that shapes its identity.

4. Our mother tongue helps us express our truest feelings easily.

5. Learning in our mother tongue makes understanding simpler and fun.

6. It connects us to our grandparents and ancient traditions.

7. Through it, we can understand our culture’s folktales and songs.

8. Every mother tongue is special and deserves to be cherished.

9. By speaking in our mother tongue, we celebrate our heritage.

10. Our mother tongue is like a comforting lullaby, always close to our hearts.

The mother tongue, a gift bestowed upon us from birth, is the vessel of our earliest memories, emotions, and cultural expressions. Its importance transcends mere communication, embedding itself into the very fabric of our identity. The following paragraph delves into the essence of the mother tongue when expressed in English:

While globally dominant, the English language often finds itself intertwined with a myriad of mother tongues, each enriching it with unique nuances. Our mother tongue, intrinsically linked to our heritage and identity, carries tales of our ancestors and the melodies of lullabies sung to us as children. This language, deeply rooted in emotions and memories, forms an irreplaceable part of our psyche. Even as we navigate the vast expanse of global languages, our mother tongue remains our anchor, providing solace, authenticity, and an unmistakable sense of home. Recognising the profound significance of our mother tongue helps us appreciate the cultural tapestries that shape our world and our place within it.

The mother tongue, often considered the language of the soul, encapsulates the essence of one’s culture, heritage, and personal experiences. It acts as a compass that guides our emotional and cognitive landscapes. Here’s a short essay exploring the profound significance of the mother tongue:

Our mother tongue, the very first language that dances on our lips, is intrinsically tied to our identity. It’s not merely a medium of communication but a blanket of memories, emotions, and cultural traditions. Every lullaby sung, every story narrated, and every emotion expressed finds its purest form in our mother tongue. Children, when introduced to concepts in their native language, exhibit enhanced comprehension and a deeper emotional connection. Additionally, our mother tongue keeps our traditions and cultural heritage alive, preserving age-old traditions, stories, and values. Even though we learn different languages because of how connected the world is now, it’s still really important to love and keep our mother language strong. For in its melodies and rhythms, we find the echoes of our past and the aspirations of our future. It’s like our anchor, keeping us connected to where we come from, even if we go exploring other languages.

The mother tongue, our primary language, forms an intrinsic part of our identity. It ties us to our cultural heritage, shapes our cognitive processes, and influences our emotional responses. Understanding its significance, especially in the realms of education and national development, is imperative. In this essay, we’ll delve deeper into the essence of the mother tongue and explore ways to promote its preservation and growth.

Importance of Mother Tongue

Our mother tongue is much more than just a language; it is a representation of our history, culture, and collective memory. It serves as a bridge linking us to our ancestors, the values they upheld, and the tales they told. This deep-seated connection impacts our lives, especially in education and national development.

Significance in National Development

A nation’s strength isn’t solely determined by its economy or military prowess, but also by the preservation and promotion of its cultural heritage. The mother tongue plays a pivotal role here. It fosters unity, instils a sense of belonging, and reinforces shared values. By promoting and preserving our mother tongue, we ensure that our national identity remains intact, even in the face of rapid globalisation.

Importance in Education

Mother tongue education means teaching kids using the language they speak at home. It helps them learn better because they already understand that language well (2) . Educating children in their mother tongue has myriad benefits, including (3) :

Enhances Learning: Concepts are grasped faster when taught in a child’s native language.

Builds Emotional Connection: Students relate better to content when it’s in their mother tongue, fostering a deeper emotional understanding.

Boosts Confidence: Children are more expressive and confident when communicating in their primary language.

Preserves Culture: UNICEF also agrees that teaching in the mother tongue ensures that traditional values and stories are passed down to younger generations as it preserves and promotes the cultural identity of a community (4) .

Promotes Holistic Development: A balance of mother tongue and global languages ensures a well-rounded education.

Ways to Promote Mother Tongue

1. Celebration of Language Days: Hosting annual events celebrating various mother tongues can instil pride and promote usage.

2. Incorporate in School Curriculum: By including mother tongue literature and stories in school curriculums, we ensure it remains a vital part of a child’s education.

3. Encourage Media Representation: Local television shows, radio programs, and films can help in the widespread dissemination of the language.

4. Literature Festivals: Hosting events that focus on literature in one’s mother tongue can amplify its reach and appreciation.

5. Language Classes: Organising community-based classes to teach and preserve the language ensures that younger generations stay connected to their roots.

In the Mother Tongue essay, your child will learn how special their first language is and why it’s more than just a way to talk. This essay explains how language connects to culture, who we are, and how we think and feel. It shows how speaking our mother tongue helps us understand the world better and feel closer to others. Moreover, by appreciating the importance of mother tongues in education and national development, your child will gain a holistic perspective on its relevance in the global context.

1. Can a child have more than one mother tongue?

Absolutely! A child can indeed have more than one mother tongue, especially if they are raised in a bilingual or multilingual environment. When children are exposed to more than one language from birth or at a very young age and use them frequently in various spheres of life (e.g., one language with one parent and another with the second parent), they can develop native proficiency in both, effectively having multiple mother tongues.

2. What is the difference between mother tongue and first language?

The terms ‘mother tongue’ and ‘first language’ are often used interchangeably. However, there’s a subtle distinction:

Mother Tongue: This typically refers to the language spoken at home, especially by one’s parents or caregivers. It’s deeply connected to one’s cultural and familial roots.

First Language: This is the language that a person learns first and in which they are most fluent or comfortable. In many cases, a person’s mother tongue and first language are the same, especially if they continue to use that language predominantly. However, due to circumstances such as migration or a change in the primary language of education, a person’s first language might shift from their mother tongue.

Both terms emphasise the foundational role of language in one’s life, but the specific focus of each can vary based on context and individual experiences.

The mother tongue, intricately woven into our identity, remains a testament to our cultural heritage, familial bonds, and individual narratives. Its significance extends beyond simple communication, touching upon the core of our emotions, memories, and expressions. Through essays and discussions, we not only underscore its importance but also educate and empower the younger generation to cherish and uphold this linguistic treasure. Recognising, celebrating, and promoting our mother tongue ensures the preservation of our rich tapestry of traditions, stories, and values for generations to come.

References/Resources:

1. Mother tongue; Cambridge Dictionary; https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/mother-tongue

2. Learn more about Mother Tongue & Multilingual Education; Rutu Foundation; https://www.rutufoundation.org/what-is-mother-tongue-education/

3. Multilingual education – a pillar of learning and intergenerational learning; United Nations; https://www.un.org/en/observances/mother-language-day

4. Learning in the mother tongue is the best start to education; UNICEF; https://www.unicef.org/india/stories/learning-mother-tongue-best-start-education

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Mother Tongue by Amy Tan | Summary & Analysis

Amanda Knapp has taught and tutored English at the college level for over ten years. She taught English to Chinese children for over two years. She has a Master of Arts degree in English from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in advertising from Marquette University where she also minored in marketing and psychology. She has numerous articles and essays published.

Susan has directed the writing program in undergraduate colleges, taught in the writing and English departments, and criminal justice departments.

Sasha Blakeley has a Bachelor's in English Literature from McGill University and a TEFL certification. She has been teaching English in Canada and Taiwan for seven years.

Table of Contents

"mother tongue" by amy tan, "mother tongue" summary, "mother tongue" analysis, lesson summary, ''mother tongue'': further analysis.

In this lesson, you learned about Amy Tan's essay, ''Mother Tongue''. In this essay, she explores the role of English in her relationship with her mother. Use the following activities to explore this concept in more depth.

Formality and Solidarity Registers

What Amy Tan is describing when she talks about how she speaks to her mother versus how she uses English when giving lectures might be an example of her use of different formality and solidarity registers. These are linguistic terms describing how formal a person's speech is in different contexts as well as how a person changes their speech to fit in with family or with people of a similar social group. Write a paragraph examining how formality and solidarity registers can be used to explain what Amy Tan describes in this essay.

Changing English

English is an unusual language in that it now has more second language speakers than native speakers, because of its prevalence as a lingua franca around the world. With reference to Amy Tan's ''Mother Tongue'', consider how the changing landscape of English might impact immigrants and language learners around the world. Write an essay about the various ''Englishes'' that you speak, particularly if English is not your first language. If English is your native language, how does your speech differ around your friends? Your family? Online? What slang terms do you use that are relatively new?

Compare and Contrast

The phenomenon of having two languages and having a complex relationship with them has been expressed by other writers just as Amy Tan describes in ''Mother Tongue''. Find another example of this concept in writing and write a personal reflection comparing and contrasting the two pieces. Include your own experiences as relevant.

Examples: ''Search for My Tongue'' by Sujata Bhatt; Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq.

Amy Tan is a prolific Chinese-American author who is best known for her novel, The Joy Luck Club. Most of her writing is about the Chinese-American experience. Her writing often explores relationships between women, primarily between mothers and daughters. ''Mother Tongue'' explores all these topics, as Tan writes about how her relationship with her mother was influenced by her mother’s broken English and also how her mother’s English informs her own writing and view of language.

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• 0:03 Background & Summary…
• 0:39 Themes: Finding Her Voice
• 1:32 Themes: Two Worlds
• 2:48 Themes: Shame & Education
• 4:04 Themes: Coming to Terms
• 4:47 Lesson Summary

''Mother Tongue'' was first published as ''Under Western Eyes'' in The Threepenny Review in 1990. It is widely anthologized and studied by students of all ages.

One reason it is so widely studied is because it concerns itself with the topic of code switching . Code switching is the term used to describe how people speak in different manners to different people. We see from the beginning of this essay that the English Tan uses when speaking to her mother is quite different from the English she uses in her writing, which is also different from the English she uses when she speaks with medical professionals. We all code switch in our language, and Tan shows us how her immigrant family experiences this phenomenon.

Tan begins her essay by explaining a situation where she was giving a talk to a large group of people. This was a talk she had given multiple times before, but this time felt different to her because her mother was in the audience. It wasn’t that she was nervous that her mother was there; rather, she felt self-conscious because she became aware of the language she was using. She was not using the form of English she spoke with her mother. She was using a formal, more complex English.

Tan then goes on to explain the English that her mother uses. Her mother is an intelligent woman. She understands complicated forms of English writing. However, her spoken English is not at the same level. In fact, people have difficulty understanding her English. She sometimes needs her daughter to be her voice when she wants to be taken seriously.

Tan explains the difficulties she has labeling her mother’s English. She inspects words like "broken", "simple", and "fractured", but none of these seem to capture the essence of her mother’s English. Tan explains that she, like others, started to judge her mother’s interior life based on her English, thinking her thoughts were simple because her language was simple.

Tan expresses how she thinks the language spoken in her home affected her academically and professionally. She claims to have struggled with analogies and other types of grammar questions on exams because English did not seem simple and precise to her. She saw color and vibrancy in the language, and the tests always seemed to want her to choose the most bland answers.

She noticed, and has been asked, why there aren’t more Asian-American writers in America today. She does not have a clear answer, but she believes that it could be because, like her, these young people may have had difficulty with English at school, and because of that, they may have performed better on the math and science portions of exams than on the English. Perhaps they too were steered more towards those fields of study like she was.

She credits her rebellious nature with her decision to go into writing instead of one of the fields she felt she was being corralled into.

Tan ends her essay like she began it: by talking about her writing. She said that when she writes, she has to envision a reader. She has chosen her mother as this ideal reader, and she uses all the Englishes she grew up with: her mother’s watered down English, the English she speaks to her mother, her translation of her mother’s Chinese, what she believed would be her mother’s translation of her own Chinese, and her perception of her mother’s own internal dialogue.

One main themes of ''Mother Tongue'' can, in part, be found in the very title itself, as the title has two meanings.

First, a person’s mother tongue is the language they learn from birth. Her "mother tongue", and her mother's "mother tongue", are different as she grew up in the English-speaking world, and her mother grew up speaking Chinese in China.

The second meaning of the phrase, mother tongue, is that the essay is largely about the language her mother speaks, the tongue of her mother. The relationship between a mother and a daughter is complex, and since Amy understands and communicates in English much more fluently than her mother does, it sometimes puts the responsibility on her to be the mouthpiece for her mother – a role most children do not have to hold. This will influence the mother-daughter relationship for the entirety of their lives.

Another theme in the essay surrounds the idea of how we judge other people. Tan describes how a doctor did not take her mother seriously after they had lost important test results of hers. Tan’s mother had to get Tan on the phone to talk to the doctor to get a satisfactory resolution. Another time, Tan had to speak to her mother’s stockbroker to try to get a check that was owed to her mother. Tan, herself, started to believe in her mother’s thoughts were deficient since her language was broken, an idea she disproves elsewhere in the essay when she describes the advanced reading material her mother consumes.

Finally, a third theme in ''Mother Tongue'' is that of the richness of language. She shares a line she originally included in a story, "That was my mental quandary in its nascent state", as one she is grateful she edited out. She describes it as a terrible line, and she said she wrote it during a time she was trying to create ''wittily crafted sentences.''

She says she finally solved the problem of awkward lines like the aforementioned by using her mother’s English and all the Englishes that Tan, herself, knows in order to convey all it is that she wants to share with the reader. One gets the feeling that by the end of the essay, she feels liberated to share all that she is and all the language that she knows in order to convey all she wants to say. This gives her writing more depth than purely academic English could convey.

Amy Tan’s ''Mother Tongue'' is an important essay because it discusses the concept of code-switching . This is the phenomenon by which people change how they speak depending on the situation they are in. One theme expressed in ''Mother Tongue'' is how synthesizing the different forms of English Tan uses can enhance her writing because they are all a part of who she is.

Another theme centers on how we judge other people based upon their language usage. Tan has a history of being ashamed of her mother when out shopping and elsewhere in public because people assume her mother is less intelligent than she is because of her fractured English. This shame has influenced Tan herself, according to "Mother Tongue," as teachers often told her that writing was her worst skill and that she should pursue avenues that were more in line with her strengths. She simply never did well on English tests because she found it difficult to narrow the answer down to one best answer; there often were multiple answers that seemed right to her. It was not until she was giving a talk with her mother in the audience that she began to realize just how much growing up in the linguistic environment she did affected and influenced her writing and use of language.

Video Transcript

Background & summary of mother tongue.

Amy Tan is an Asian American writer whose works focus a lot on relationships between mothers and daughters. This is because she grew up in a home with her Chinese mother who spoke English that was, at best, difficult for many people to understand. Tan came to realize this because when Tan was with her mother, she spoke English differently, more simply, like her mother.

In the essay, Mother Tongue , we see an article about Amy Tan contemplating how her background affected her life and her education, held her between two worlds, and brought her shame, but ultimately, she learns to embrace her background.

Themes: Finding Her Voice

Amy Tan found her voice as a writer by spending time with her mother who spoke broken English. It is a bit surprising that Tan ended up as a writer considering the fact that she was expected to study the sciences. She tells us in her essay, Mother Tongue , ''I was told by my former boss that writing was my worst skill and I should hone my talents toward account management.'' However, Tan was stubborn and determined, so she didn't take his criticism to heart; she made it work for her.

She was giving a talk to a group of people about her book, Joy Luck Club , and she found herself using English that was sophisticated and complex. While she was talking, she was aware of the fact that her mother was sitting in the back; it was the first time her mother had come to hear her speak. Tan was cognizant of the fact that she was using English she did not use around her mother. It hit her that the two worlds she had grown up in had impacted her writing as well as her life.

Themes: Two Worlds

Tan is stuck between two worlds. When she is with her mother, she speaks in simple English, but out in the world, she shifts to an English that is more formal. Tan relates her story of her mother talking about a gangster that wanted her family in China to adopt him because her family had more status. She tells us the story using her mother's language so we can see how expressive her mother's broken English is. Even though the language is not what we may be used to, her story is something we can follow. It is vivid with detail and images.

But Tan also tells us that many of her friends have a difficult time understanding what her mother is saying. Some of her friends go so far as to say they understand none of what she says, and this is particularly interesting because Mrs. Tan's understanding of English is far greater than she would have us believe. She is an avid pleasure reader, and she is a woman who is on top of her financial situation, in part, because she reads Forbes and the Wall Street Journal .

For Tan, her mother's language is the language of her childhood, and it is clear, vivid, and full of imagery. She has no difficulties understanding exactly what her mother is saying. She knows that this simple English is the same language that helped her understand the world, helped her formulate her views, and helped her learn to express herself.

Themes: Shame

Still, Tan has felt shame. When she was young, her mother's English would cause her embarrassment. Often, she would have to intervene so her mother could be understood. She relates a story where she pretended to be her mother on the phone talking to her mother's stockbroker about a missing check. We feel her pain as this young girl tries to sound like her mother, while her mother is talking loudly in the background telling her what to say. No one was fooled, but Amy Tan felt the heat of shame. This was not the first time it had happened, and it would not be the last.

Themes: Education

Her education was affected as well by the language used in Amy Tan's home. Math seemed easy - after all, there is only one answer - but English gave her difficulties because it seemed to her as though there was always more than one correct answer. Because of this, Tan is convinced that her standardized test scores were affected. She found that on these tests, there were analogies and sentence completions that threw her for a loop. Her background and upbringing did not make them clear to her. When speaking of analogies she tells us, ''I knew what the tests were asking, but I could not block out of my mind the images already created by the first pair, 'sunset is to nightfall'--and I would see a burst of colors against a darkening sky, the moon rising, and the lowering of a curtain of stars.''

Themes: Coming to Terms

When she wrote her stories, she needed to think of a reader, and she chose her mother. Because she was writing for her mother, she needed to use all of the Englishes that she'd grown up using and hearing. She wrote using the simple English, the one she used when she spoke to her mother. She wrote using the broken English her mother spoke, and the watered down Chinese Amy spoke, and the internal language her mother spoke. All of these Englishes needed to be represented because they were all a part of her life; they had all shaped her experiences; they were her family language.

In Mother Tongue , we get a glimpse of the experiences Amy Tan had growing up in a home where English was not the first language. The broken English spoken by Tan's mother had far-reaching effects.

We are offered a window into the experiences Amy Tan , famous Asian American writer whose works focus a lot on relationships between mothers and daughters, had growing up in her essay Mother Tongue , which was an article about Amy Tan contemplating how her background affected her life and her education, held her between two worlds, and brought her shame, but ultimately, she learns to embrace her background. She shows us the impact her mother's broken English had on her education and her writing. It even had an impact on her in the business world when she was told that writing was her worst skill by a former boss. We learn that she grew up living in two worlds and felt shame when she had to speak to others for her mother, but in the end, she realized that all using all her Englishes shaped her experiences, so she used all that she knew to become the writer she is today.

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• School Education /

Essay on Mother Tongue For School Students

• Updated on  
• Dec 27, 2023

Essay on Mother Tongue: To highlight the significance of mother tongue, Brigham Young said “See that your children are properly educated in the rudiments of their mother tongue, and then let them proceed to higher branches of learning.”

Mother tongue refers to the language we learn at our home. Fluency in this language allows one to grow and explore. Also, knowledge of one’s mother tongue helps carry forward our cultural identity. Apart from these, one’s mother tongue also enables one to understand the local culture and establish and grow business in that area. 

Table of Contents

• 1 Sample Essay on Mother Tongue in 100 Words
• 2 Sample Essay on Mother Tongue in 200 Words
• 3 Sample Essay on Mother Tongue in 300 Words

Also Read: Benefits of Learning Local Language of a Country 

Sample Essay on Mother Tongue in 100 Words

Mother tongue, also known as native language or first language, is spoken at home. It forms the core of our identity, embodies our cultural roots, and helps emote our thoughts. It also serves as a bridge that connects generations. 

Our first words, cradle songs, and childhood fairy tales are all transferred to us in our mother tongue. All these memories give a sense of belongingness. One should preserve one’s native language as it is often effective in family communication. 

Mother tongue holds importance in everyone’s life as it facilitates cognitive development and learning foreign languages. This further helps us in our academic and professional journey. 

Also Read: Top 10 Language Learning Websites of 2024: Discover, Learn, and Connect

Sample Essay on Mother Tongue in 200 Words

Mother tongue is the first language that we learn in childhood. It plays a vital role in shaping our worldview. It is a means of communication and a repository of culture, values, and familial bonds. As a child when we speak our first words our parents try to embrace that moment for eternity. 

Also, speaking our native language helps us remain in touch with our traditions, rituals, and familial histories. Thus, it is necessary to preserve our first language and pass it on to future generations. 

In this globalised world, our linguistic diversity is at risk as most schools and universities impart education in English or other global languages. Thus, to safeguard one’s native language, one must try conversing in that language with her/his/their family and friends. Moreover, safeguarding the tongue promotes a sense of pride and belonging. Also, it reinforces the uniqueness of each language’s heritage. 

Thus, our first language defines our beginning and origin. It is just not a mode of communication; instead, it is like a bundle of precious words that helps one to learn and explore more languages. Learning more than one language helps us become a part of an extended society. It is like a treasure that we have been taking care of since childhood. 

Also Read: What are Language Skills?

Sample Essay on Mother Tongue in 300 Words

Mother tongue which is spoken by a person from birth, is significant in shaping one´s identity and cultural connection. It serves as the medium through which one starts to express and understand emotions. Also, it helps shape our fundamental cognitive structures. Thus, one should preserve and embrace one´s mother tongue for learning other languages in the future. 

Mother tongue is a vessel of cultural heritage. It helps in the refinement of traditions and customs. This heritage is carried forward and passed down through generations. As a storage of shared experiences, the mother tongue connects individuals to their roots and encourages a sense of belonging. 

Secondly, proficiency in one´s mother tongue is important for effective communication. One can express thoughts and feelings most authentically. Mastering one´s mother tongue lays the foundation for acquiring additional language skills, and facilitates cross-cultural understanding. One should remember that language is just not a tool for communication but a gateway to comprehending the complex layers of thought and expression. 

Furthermore, mother tongue education also plays a crucial role in academic success. Research indicates that students who receive instruction in their native language, tend to grasp complex concepts more quickly. It gives a deeper understanding of subjects and lays the groundwork for overall development.

In conclusion, the mother tongue is a foundation of cultural identity, effective communication, and academic achievement. Its preservation is not only necessary for linguistic diversity but also for indication of the richness of human experience. 

Also Read: Branches of Linguistics

Ans. For numerous individuals, their native language holds significant value in shaping their identity. It serves as a source of pride and a link to their cultural heritage. Proficiency in one’s mother tongue not only enhances self-awareness but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the rich cultural heritage.

Ans. Mother tongue refers to the initial language acquired in childhood within the household and remains comprehensible to the individual at the point when the data was gathered.

Ans. We should teach the mother tongue to children to help them connect with culture and explore new languages.

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Ankita Singh

Ankita is a history enthusiast with a few years of experience in academic writing. Her love for literature and history helps her curate engaging and informative content for education blog. When not writing, she finds peace in analysing historical and political anectodes.

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Mother Tongue Essay: What Is It, And What Do You Need It For?

By: Henrique Bertulino

Mother Tongue Essay is a common task for high school and college students. If you are lost and do not know how to build your text competently and what not to miss, read our article, and you will know what to do when you are asked to write an essay about mother tongue.

What Did Amy Tan Write About In Her "Mother Tongue" Essay?

List of topics for your essay, the power of my mother tongue.

• A Good Thesis Statement For Your Mother Tongue Essay

Conclusions

What does "mother tongue" mean.

The term "language" has acquired many meanings depending on the context of its use. Technically speaking, we can say that language is a system of special signs and symbols, which is interpreted in a certain pragmatic context of its use. However, if we approach this concept from a more emotional point of view, it is revealed to us in a much broader sense.

The mother tongue is the language that we use most freely and actively in all cases of daily life. The child learns the world through the natal tongue. This term refers to the language we hear from our parents, which we are brought up in and which is common to the people and the place where we were born. Each nation has its own. Our mother tongue is a reflection of culture and traditions, our heritage.

To better understand the process of working on such an essay, we decided to talk about the highlights of the famous "Mother Tongue" essay by Amy Tan.

A good example of an essay on the native language is considered to be "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan (her more famous work is "The Joy Luck Club").

The author is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. She grew up in an Asian-American family in California. During her life, she came across different languages, so non-Standard English became the subject of her analysis. Tan talks about her personal experience of using "different Englishes" in her life situations.

Our first language greatly influences our lives, and this should be one of the highlights of your essay about mother tongue. Amy Tan believes that the language a person speaks determines a person's life choices. Amy Tan's mother's English was far from perfect. And it affected her life. Tan uses the stories of the lost CAT scan, poor service in the department stores, taking IQ tests, SAT, and other achievement tests to confirm her opinion - language plays a significant role in the acceptance of immigrants by society.

According to the author, if a person is not a native speaker of English or a person's language is not perfect, it does not mean that this person is less educated and intelligent. Amy realized that the kind of English her mother spoke was far from ideal. However, for Amy herself, her mother's English sounded quite natural. But at home with her mother, she did not use the forms of English she studied at school. However, Amy tells how smart her mother is because she easily reads Forbes reports and all Shirley MacLaine's books.

Language plays a very important role in the family because it is one of the main values. Tan talks about how difficult it is to live with parents who speak limited English. In her essay, Amy tells how often she had to help her parents with translation to make their lives easier. The striking episode was Amy's phone conversation with her mother's stockbroker in New York. Thanks to her perfect English, she quickly solved the problem that her mother could solve in a "broken" language.

The main points of Amy Tan's essay are:

• the power of language in the context of adaptation abroad: Amy's parents found it difficult to get used to a foreign language environment, to become part of the landscape in a foreign country without a perfect command of the language;
• the importance of linguistic diversity to achieve goals: on the example of Amy's parents, she proves that a better knowledge of English would help them solve difficult life situations on their own;
• issues of linguistic and cultural identification: there is linguistic discrimination in our world, and Amy's family and many others still face injustice related to their ethnicity. However, whatever language we use, it does not diminish the importance of our words.

At first glance, it may seem to you that the topic of an essay on the native language is quite one-vector. However, it can be viewed from different angles. We have compiled a list of topics for essays that are worth writing about.

• Mother tongue in bilingual families.
• The difference between a natal tongue and a first language.
• Does English displace the native languages of other nationalities?
• My thoughts on Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue."
• Native language as the basis of national identity.
• The role of the native tongue for immigrants.
• Perfect English as a means of achieving goals.
• Why is it important to get an education in your first language?

Mother Tongue Essay Example

I am a Native American, and English language is my mother tongue. It is the language in which I express my thoughts of any content and in which I think. I have heard it since birth. What's more, the first time I heard it was before I was born when my mother talked to me and sang me songs. And I sincerely believe that my native tongue is the most powerful language in the world.

I think that knowing English is a great advantage for all people. From my point of view, the power of language lies in its capabilities. Proper English is the language of opportunity. And bad or broken English significantly reduces the chances of success in various spheres of life. Why do I think so? In the wake of modern technology, English has conquered the world in a way that no other language in human history has. All countries recognize its special role.

Today, English is the language of the global economy and business environment. Even if the international company is located in Sweden or France, its employees communicate and correspond in English.

English is the language of intercultural communication in a globalized world because no matter who you are: Chinese, Italian, Spanish, or German, you will speak English together. In many countries where there are interethnic tensions, English plays the role of an ethnically neutral language.

I can give many more arguments in support of my opinion. However, it is difficult to argue here - my native language accumulates power that is not inherent in any other language in the world. And I'm proud of that fact.

Fine Points of Essay Construction

When constructing a good thesis statement for your mother tongue essay, consider not only stating a clear, concise opinion but also incorporating aspects and definitions relating to the primary language in question. The thesis statement serves as the backbone of your essay, addressing a particular aspect or concern of the natal tongue that may resonate on a deeper, more insightful level. So, when your narrative is fully fleshed out, meticulously review the following:

Did I effectively answer the posed question? Did I substantiate my viewpoint adequately?

In essence, a thesis statement for your essay should encapsulate the essence of the primary language’s impact, significance, and role in cultural identity and communication. It must be reflective, analytical, and able to guide the reader through the various dimensions and aspects of the mother tongue’s definition and implications. Keep your language precise and your argument compelling, ensuring your reader can comprehend and engage with the critical aspects of your discourse on the natal tongue.

You can follow the standard structure of this type of writing.

Introduction

Start so that the reader wants to read the text to the end. Choose a famous quote, joke, or write an impressive fact. In the introduction, it is important to write a thesis statement - the essay's main idea.

You can start, for example, with an impressive or interesting fact about language. Write why you are proud of your native tongue or some interesting facts about it. It may be appropriate to compare the features of different languages. Here are some examples of good introductions:

• "English is spoken today three times more than those for whom it is not native. For 500 million people on the planet, English is their mother tongue, and for 1 billion people, it is their second language."
• "From the way a person speaks, one can imagine the education, cultural level, and general development of that person. Treating language carelessly means thinking carelessly: inaccurate, roughly wrong. Native tongue is a tool of thought: it reflects the intelligence of man, respect for others, neatness in the broadest sense of the word."
• "Mandarin Chinese is the most popular language in the world, spoken by more than 885 million people. However, English has become the most widely used language in the political and economic spheres in the international arena."

A Good Thesis Statement For Your Essay on Mother Tongue

The thesis statement is your main opinion, a "painful" question that you confirm in the text's main part. So when your story is ready, check out the following:

Did I answer the question? Did I prove my point?

If you do not have ideas for your own thesis, you can use our:

• English is gradually displacing other languages.
• Language is not just a means of communication but also a powerful tool for preserving culture and the nation as a whole.
• Native language is an integral part of the personality.
• The native language should be preserved in any way for the sake of the cultural aspect of the nation.
• The level of proficiency in a person's natal tongue determines his or her cultural level.
• Native language plays an important role in the social adaptation of the population.
• We absorb the maternal language with mother's milk.
• Even in bilingual families, a child can have only one mother tongue.

In this section, present your thoughts in the form of short theses and support them with arguments. The number of paragraphs in the main part will depend on the number of your thesis. You should articulate your thoughts clearly and competently. Use your own experience and illustrate it with relevant examples.

For example, write about the power of your language: "I believe that English opens up many opportunities for foreign students." And confirm your opinion with the argument: "The better a student knows English, the faster he will be able to master the disciplines." Remember if foreigners studied with you and tell about their success in learning a new language.

The following idea can be vivid: "In travel and entertainment, English is the most common. Wherever you travel, English is the language that allows you to integrate into any environment. In any country, you primarily look for maps and pointers. in English, it makes you feel confident."

Summarize your thoughts and give a specific answer to the main question of the work. Repeat your opinion: "So, I believe that my mother tongue is the most powerful in the world. First, most business areas depend on it. Second, it is a universally recognized language of the modern digital age. So personal growth is closely linked to learning English ".

When writing an essay, it is also important to consider the following points:

• The introduction and conclusion should focus on the problem (in the introduction, it is put, in conclusion - the author's opinion is summarized).
• It is necessary to select paragraphs to establish a logical connection between them (so the work's integrity is achieved).
• Style of presentation: essays are characterized by emotionality, expressiveness, and art.

When crafting an essay on your native tongue, remember to:

Reflect Deeply: Consider how your first language has shaped your identity and experiences. Personal anecdotes can make your essay relatable and engaging.

Do Your Research: Explore various perspectives and understand the different viewpoints on the significance of native tongue, like those expressed by authors like Amy Tan.

Be Clear and Concise: Clearly articulate your thoughts and keep your arguments focused and well-structured.

Remember, this essay is not just an academic exercise but a journey into understanding the essence of your cultural and linguistic roots. Keep it insightful, respectful, and honest.

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I found a strong connection between this enlightening article and Amy Tan's reflections on language. 🌐 Just like Tan describes the struggles and the rich, cultural tapestry embedded in her mother's broken English, this article brings to light the beautiful complexities of our first language. 🤓 It’s fascinating how Tan's experiences in ‘The Joy Luck Club’ mirror the myriad ways our languages shape our identities and relationships with our own mothers. 📘💭

It reminds me a lot of Amy Tan’s essay where she discusses the variations of English she grew up with. 📖 Tan describes her own mother's 'broken English' and how it had a profound impact on her life, just like the personal stories in this piece! 🌟 It's such an eye-opener about language and identity, making me reflect on my own experiences! 👏 The ‘Joy Luck Club’ also delves deep into these themes, depicting the intricacies of mother-daughter relationships and cultural transitions. 🌿

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Mother Tongue Summary, Purpose and Themes

Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” is a compelling exploration of language, identity, and familial bonds. 

This nonfiction narrative essay, which debuted at the 1989 State of the Language Symposium and was later published in The Threepenny Review in 1990, delves into Tan’s multifaceted relationship with English, influenced significantly by her mother, a Chinese immigrant.

Full Summary

The essay unfolds in three distinct sections.

Initially, Tan introduces us to the concept of “different Englishes,” a theme central to the narrative. She describes the unique form of English spoken by her mother, referred to as her “mother’s English” or “mother tongue.” This language, distinct yet familiar, bridges the first and second parts of the essay.

In the heart of the essay, Tan reflects on the profound impact her mother’s language had on her life and identity. She recalls how her mother, not fluent in “perfect English,” often depended on Tan to bridge communication gaps. This experience shapes Tan’s understanding of language and its nuances.

The essay culminates in a powerful conclusion where Tan connects the dots between her mother’s English and her own writing style and career choices. She recounts how her mother’s presence at a talk for her book “The Joy Luck Club” triggered a realization about the various forms of English she uses. 

Tan contrasts the English she speaks at home, her “mother tongue,” with the standard English she learned in school and uses in professional settings. Notably, Tan shifts languages seamlessly, a transition unnoticed by others, including her husband.

Tan shares anecdotes from her past, illustrating how her mother’s language shaped her. She resists describing her mother’s English as “broken,” arguing that it implies deficiency. Instead, she views it as a reflection of others’ limited perceptions. 

This perspective is highlighted by the dismissive attitudes of her mother’s stockbroker and doctors, who fail to take her mother seriously, often necessitating Tan’s intervention.

Reflecting on her own journey with English, Tan discusses the challenges she faced in school, influenced by her mother’s unique use of the language. However, this challenge becomes a source of motivation rather than defeat. 

Tan’s determination to “master” English leads her to initially distance herself from her “mother tongue.”

It’s not until she begins writing “The Joy Luck Club” that Tan realizes the inaccessibility of the English she was using. 

Reconnecting with her “mother tongue,” Tan finds her authentic voice—one deeply influenced and cherished, the voice of her mother. In “Mother Tongue,” Tan not only narrates her personal journey with language but also raises profound questions about identity, culture, and the intrinsic power of language.

The purpose of Amy Tan’s essay “Mother Tongue” is multifaceted, encompassing several key themes and objectives:

• Exploration of Language and Identity : Tan delves into how language shapes identity. By discussing the different forms of English she uses, she illustrates how language is deeply intertwined with personal and cultural identity. The essay emphasizes that the way we speak and the language we use are integral parts of who we are.
• Highlighting Linguistic Diversity and Acceptance : Tan challenges the notion of standard English, advocating for the recognition and acceptance of linguistic diversity. She highlights the richness and complexity of her mother’s version of English, urging readers to reconsider what constitutes “proper” language.
• Examination of Mother-Daughter Relationships : The essay is also a reflection on Tan’s relationship with her mother. Through the lens of language, Tan explores the dynamics of their bond, emphasizing how language both connects and separates them.
• Commentary on Perception and Misunderstanding : Tan addresses how people are often judged based on their language proficiency. Her mother’s experiences with her stockbroker and doctors showcase the misunderstandings and dismissals non-native speakers frequently face. The essay serves as a critique of these societal attitudes.
• Personal Growth and Self-Discovery : “Mother Tongue” is also a story of Tan’s personal journey in understanding her own linguistic heritage and how it has shaped her as a writer and individual. She discusses her initial struggles and eventual acceptance and embrace of her linguistic roots, which significantly influenced her writing style.
• Cultural Representation and Advocacy : By sharing her experiences, Tan advocates for cultural representation and the importance of diverse voices in literature. Her journey to include her mother’s language in her writing is a statement about the value of different cultural perspectives in storytelling.

1. The Complexity and Impact of Language

Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” intricately explores the multifaceted nature of language and its profound impact on personal identity and relationships. 

The essay delves into the concept of “different Englishes” that Tan encounters and navigates throughout her life. These variations of English—ranging from the standard forms learned in school to the unique, simplified version spoken by her mother—serve as a backdrop for examining how language shapes our understanding of the world and each other. 

Tan’s narrative highlights the often overlooked nuances of language, demonstrating how the mastery or lack of mastery of a certain type of language can influence perceptions, opportunities, and interpersonal dynamics. 

Her reflections on the dismissive treatment her mother receives due to her non-standard English usage poignantly underscore the societal judgments and barriers language can create.

2. Identity and Cultural Heritage

Central to “Mother Tongue” is the theme of identity, particularly how it is intertwined with cultural heritage and language. 

Tan’s own sense of self is deeply connected to her mother’s “mother tongue,” an embodiment of her Chinese heritage. This connection is not just linguistic but also emotional and cultural. 

Through her narrative, Tan explores the struggles of balancing her American upbringing with her Chinese heritage, a challenge faced by many children of immigrants. 

The essay illustrates how language serves as a bridge and a barrier between her American identity and her Chinese roots. 

Tan’s journey of embracing her mother’s English is, in essence, a journey of embracing her own cultural identity, showcasing the complexity of navigating dual heritages.

3. The Power of Voice and Self-Expression

“Mother Tongue” is also a profound exploration of the power of finding one’s voice and the importance of self-expression. Tan’s journey as a writer is central to this theme. 

Initially, she struggles with standard English, perceiving it as the only legitimate form of expression in academic and professional realms. 

This belief leads her to distance herself from her “mother tongue,” which she initially views as inferior. However, as she evolves as a writer, particularly while working on “The Joy Luck Club,” Tan discovers the richness and authenticity of her mother’s language. 

This revelation allows her to find her true voice—a blend of her mother’s English and the standard English she has mastered. 

Tan’s embracing of her unique linguistic heritage as a tool for storytelling and self-expression underscores the empowering nature of owning and using one’s individual voice, transcending conventional linguistic boundaries.

Final Thoughts

“Amy Tan’s ‘Mother Tongue’ is an insightful reflection on language, culture, and identity. Through her personal narrative, Tan eloquently demonstrates how language is not just a tool for communication but a significant factor in shaping our experiences, perceptions, and relationships. 

Her essay underscores the importance of embracing linguistic diversity and challenges the conventional notion of ‘standard’ language, advocating for a broader understanding and acceptance of different forms of expression. 

A team of Editors at Books That Slay.

Passionate | Curious | Permanent Bibliophiles

A Summary and Analysis of Amy Tan’s ‘Mother Tongue’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘Mother Tongue’ is an essay by Amy Tan, an American author who was born to Chinese immigrants in 1952. Tan wrote ‘Mother Tongue’ in 1990, a year after her novel The Joy Luck Club was a runaway success. In the essay, Tan discusses her relationship with language, and how her mother’s influence has shaped her use of English, as well as her attitude to it.

You can read ‘Mother Tongue’ here before proceeding to our summary and analysis of Amy Tan’s essay below.

‘Mother Tongue’: summary

Amy Tan begins her essay by offering her personal opinions on the English language. She recalls a recent talk she gave, when, upon realising her mother was in the audience, she was confronted with the fact that the formal standard English she was using in the public talk was at odds with the way she spoke at home with her mother. She then contrasts this with a moment when she was walking down the street with her mother and she used the more clipped, informal English she naturally uses with her mother, and her husband.

Tan calls this a ‘language of intimacy’. She points out that her mother is intelligent and reads things which Tan herself cannot begin to understand. But many people who hear her mother speak can only partially understand what she is saying, and some even say they can understand nothing of what she says, as if she were speaking pure Chinese to them.

Tan calls this clipped informal language her ‘mother tongue’, because it was the first language she learned and it helped to shape the way she saw the world and made sense of it.

Tan notes the difficulty of finding a term to describe the style of English her mother, as a Chinese immigrant to the United States, speaks. Many of the terms, such as ‘broken’ or ‘limited’, are too negative and imply her English is imperfect.

She acknowledges that when she was growing up, she was ashamed of the way her mother spoke. Her mother, too, was clearly aware of how her use of the language affected how seriously people took her, for she used to get her daughter to phone people and pretend to be ‘Mrs Tan’.

She observes that her mother is treated differently because of the way she speaks. She recounts a time when the doctors at the hospital were unsympathetic towards her mother when they lost the results of the CAT scan they had undertaken on her brain, but as soon as the hospital – at her mother’s insistence – called her daughter, they issued a grovelling apology.

Amy Tan also believes her mother’s English affected her daughter’s school results. Tan acknowledges that, whilst she did well in maths and science, subjects with a single correct answer, she was less adept at English. She struggled with tests which asked students to pick a correct word to fill in the blanks in a sentence because she was distracted by the imaginative and poetic possibilities of other words.

Indeed, Tan conjectures that many Asian American children are probably encouraged to pursue careers in jobs requiring maths and science rather than English for this reason. But because she is rebellious and likes to challenge people’s assumptions about her, Tan bucked this trend. She majored in English at college and began writing as a freelancer.

She began writing fiction in 1985, and after several false starts trying to find her own style and idiom, she began to write with her mother in mind as the ideal reader for her stories. Indeed, her mother read drafts of her work.

And Tan drew on all the Englishes , plural, that she knew: the ‘broken’ English her mother used, the ‘simple’ English Tan used when talking to her mother, the ‘watered-down’ Chinese her mother used, and her mother’s ‘internal’ language which conveyed her passion, intent, imagery, and the nature of her thoughts. When her mother told her that what she had written was easy to read, Tan knew that she had succeeded in her aims as a writer.

‘Mother Tongue’: analysis

The title of Amy Tan’s essay is a pun on the expression ‘mother tongue’, referring to one’s first language. But Tan’s language, or ‘tongue’, has been shaped by her actual mother, whose first language (or mother tongue) was not English, but Chinese.

The different forms of English that mother and daughter speak are also a product of their backgrounds: whilst Tan’s mother is a Chinese immigrant to America, Tan was born in the United States and has grown up, and been educated, in an English-speaking culture.

Much of Tan’s 1989 novel The Joy Luck Club is about daughters and their relationships with their mothers. But Tan’s interest in language, both as a cultural marker and as a way of expressing thought and personality, is also a prevailing theme of the novel.

In this respect, if the parable ‘ Feathers from a Thousand Li Away ’ acts as preface to the novel, ‘Mother Tongue’, in effect, acts as a kind of postscript. It helps us to understand the way Tan approaches and uses language within the stories that make up The Joy Luck Club .

An overarching theme of Tan’s novel is mothers emigrating to America in the hope that their daughters will have better lives than they did. This is a key part of ‘Feathers from a Thousand Li Away’, and it helps us to understand Tan’s conflicted attitude towards her mother’s use of language as explored in ‘Mother Tongue’.

Many of the mothers in The Joy Luck Club , such as Betty St. Clair in ‘The Voice from the Wall’, feel isolated from those around them, never at home in America, and hyper-aware of their outsider status, despite becoming legal permanent citizens in the country. Tan’s autobiographical revelations in ‘Mother Tongue’ show us that her own mother struggled to be taken seriously among Americans, and Tan diagnoses this struggle as a result of her mother’s different way of speaking.

Tan, by contrast, used standard English – what used to be referred to, in loaded phrases, as ‘correct’ or ‘proper’ English – and was thus able to succeed in getting herself, and by extension her mother, taken seriously by others. Language is thus more than just a cultural marker: Tan reveals, in ‘Mother Tongue’, the extent to which it is a tool of power (or, depending on the use, powerlessness), particularly for those from migrant backgrounds.

In this connection, it is noteworthy that Tan chooses to focus on the school tests she undertook before concluding that her mother’s ‘broken’ style of English has been misunderstood – not just literally (by some people who’ve known her), but in terms of the misleading perceptions of her it has led others to formulate.

The class tests at school which reduced English proficiency to an ability to recognise a ‘correct’ answer are thus contrasted with Tan’s resounding final words of ‘Mother Tongue’, which see her seeking to capture the passion of her mother, the ‘nature of her thoughts’, and the imagery she uses: all things which her daughter has clearly inherited a respect for, and which school tests fail to capture or observe.

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Amy Tan’s Story “Mother Tongue” Essay (Critical Writing)

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A large number of Americans now speak English as a first language but what becomes rare is the fact that it is very difficult to find two people who speak exactly the same English. It is this argument that is made by Amy Tan in her story Mother Tongue.

Amy is a first-generation Asian American who migrated to Oakland from China. She became a famous writer in Oakland and in this story, she narrates her experiences about the English she uses and about how the people around her influenced the way she conversed. At home, she spoke with her mother in broken and uneven English so that she understood in view of her faint knowledge of the language. In speaking with people while she worked or with whom she dealt professionally, she used clear and grammatically correct English.

Amy’s mother dreamt of coming to America with her daughter in order to get away from poverty and to provide a better quality of life for her. Amy Tan became a writer and in Mother Tongue, she describes her relationship with her ancestry and traditions. For her English as a language becomes a creative tool and she shares how she was affected by the imperfect English of her mother. The story becomes very consequential and universal since it is not merely about the language itself; it also delves into the relationships with parents and about social and ethnic influences. One is bound to ponder about the consequences of leaving his or her country and then living in a new country. The questions and issues that arise pertaining to maintaining one’s identity and ancestral roots.

In writing about the limited knowledge that her mother has of English, Amy Tan is able to show how this lack of knowledge is perceived by others around her and how it impacted her while she was growing. Her audience is primarily her mother who has been reading her writings. But she also addresses a broader audience in terms of the entire generation of Americans who have immigrant parents. This is so because she wants to highlight the several problems faced by such children daily.

She has attempted to make people aware of the struggles faced by emigrants. In being inadequately equipped in regard to the command of the English language, they are not always viewed seriously. They are either ignored or people intentionally pretend as if they have not understood them. Amy Tan considers that it is alright to speak different kinds of English with different people which depends on the kind of person one is speaking to; whether it is a teacher, instructor, friend or a family member.

The story relates to coping with change and involving oneself in the balancing act. Amy Tan emphasizes the role of the generation gap and how difficult it becomes at times in avoiding having a complex in regard to the parents’ inability to keep up with the status that one expects from them in maintaining his or her professional image. Surely, all such meanings could apply to any of us without necessarily experiencing them upon leaving one’s home country.

Amy Tan has used rhetorical appeals, logos, ethos, and pathos in the story in attempts to appeal to the readers and to explain her messages by using emotion and logic. She explains that in growing professionally a person’s way of life is bound to change and there is a tendency to see the parent’s house as not meeting his or her expectations. Although the same language is spoken by all at home, there appears to be something lacking in terms of keeping up with the status that one reaches after having become professionally successful.

The story is ultimately about losing a lot and returning home, in some ways after a long gap, and then feeling proud again about what a person is and what his heritage is. While she was a child Amy Tan would feel embarrassed about her mother being unable to express herself clearly. She felt bad when children would say that her mother’s English is broken, “as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed” (Amy Tan, 2009).

She would believe people at that time when they said that “her English reflected the quality of what she had to say” (Amy Tan, 2009). She came to believe about her mother that she was wrong because she would express very imperfectly all that she wanted to say, which made her believe that something was lacking in her. Her mother taught her with different perspectives as compared to the way other children were taught, which was the reason why she did not fare well in achievement tests. Amy Tan grew up with the belief system that Asian students could not make a profession out of the English language and that they were best suited in professions such as accounting and engineering.

Only after she grows up does she realize the richness that lay in the different thought processes that she was exposed to. Since she “happens to be rebellious in nature and enjoy the challenge of disproving assumptions” (Amy Tan, 2009), she started to concentrate on making a career in English and began to write in the language. It was at this time that she realized the importance of the heritage she inherited from her mother, which made it possible for her to use different aspects of the language. After mastering the language, she reminisces about her mother, “I wanted to capture what language ability tests can never reveal: her intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms of her speech, and the nature of her thoughts” (Amy Tan, 2009).

She realized the richness she got from her mother and had no qualms about making her the first reader and critic of her writing work. Indeed, it was a remarkable achievement for her which is evident from what she wrote: “I knew I had succeeded where it counted when my mother finished reading my book and gave me her verdict: so easy to read” (Amy Tan, 2009). From Amy Tan’s story, one does realize that each one of us has had similar experiences some time in life. We all have the hidden talent and in revealing the same we need to be away from the family, or more specifically to be separated from our heritage to realize and understand our true potential and capabilities.

Works Cited

Amy Tan, Mother Tongue. Web.

David Guy, Wheel of Fortune, 2003, The Washington Post.

• The Gaps Showed in the Amy Tan’s "The Joy Luck Club"
• Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club Review
• Linguistic Identity. “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan
• American Literature: Death Comes for the Archbishop
• “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell
• Upton Sinclair’s novel The Jungle
• The Boogeyman: a part of a chapter
• Charlotte Gilman’s Short Story “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2021, November 16). Amy Tan’s Story “Mother Tongue”. https://ivypanda.com/essays/amy-tans-story-mother-tongue/

"Amy Tan’s Story “Mother Tongue”." IvyPanda , 16 Nov. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/amy-tans-story-mother-tongue/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Amy Tan’s Story “Mother Tongue”'. 16 November.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Amy Tan’s Story “Mother Tongue”." November 16, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/amy-tans-story-mother-tongue/.

1. IvyPanda . "Amy Tan’s Story “Mother Tongue”." November 16, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/amy-tans-story-mother-tongue/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Amy Tan’s Story “Mother Tongue”." November 16, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/amy-tans-story-mother-tongue/.

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Hamlet's Love for His Mother

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Published: Jun 14, 2024

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Hamlet's actions speak louder than words, the emotional turmoil of a son, the ultimate sacrifice.

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