Language and Identity
Mother Tongue explores how language shapes personal and cultural identity. Tan reveals how her mother's "broken" English affected how others saw her, and how it influenced Tan’s own understanding of who she is, as a daughter, writer, and Chinese-American.
Quote: “I think my mother’s English almost had an effect on limiting my possibilities in life as well” (Tan 2).
Tan shows that language is more than communication; it’s tied to how we see ourselves and how others treat us. She learns to value her mother's English as a powerful expression of identity and experience.
Discrimination Based on Language
Tan highlights how people who speak “broken” or non-standard English are often judged as less intelligent or capable. Her mother’s experiences with doctors, stockbrokers, and store employees reveal the bias and unfair treatment non-native speakers face.
Quote: “Some say they understand none of it, as if she were speaking pure Chinese” (Tan 1).
This theme shows how language bias becomes a form of discrimination, limiting opportunities and respect. Tan uses personal anecdotes to expose this injustice and question what makes someone’s English “proper.”
Mother-Daughter Relationships
At the heart of Mother Tongue is the deep bond between Tan and her mother. Language is both a barrier and a bridge between them. Tan expresses gratitude for her mother’s influence and seeks to honor her through her writing.
Quote: “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” (Tan 3-4).
Tan’s choice to write in a way her mother could understand shows how love and respect shape her identity as both a daughter and an author.
The Power of Language and Storytelling
Tan reflects on how language shapes thought and how storytelling allows for deeper expression beyond standard grammar. She rejects the idea that there is only one “correct” English and embraces her mother’s unique voice as valid and powerful.
Quote: “That was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed things, made sense of the world” (Tan 1).
The theme shows how personal language, no matter how “broken” it seems, carries cultural richness, emotion, and meaning. Tan uses her own voice to redefine what good writing means.