Theory of Writing Assignment › Forums › Discussions › Amy Tan and James Baldwin › Reply To: Amy Tan and James Baldwin
In the article, “If Black English Isn’t a Language ,Then Tell Me, What Is?” by James Baldwin describes this idea that “Black English” that people struggled to communicate in the same area. As they do discuss how they brought up the whole idea of the Frenchman speaking French as well as other people from nearby areas spoke French but with small changes. They change small terms to make it their own and be defined differently but still be understood to some extent between each other. Similarly, black people had to learn and add their own style to English in order to understand each other to some extent. Therefore, Baldwin discusses this idea that English could be broken down into different types in order to understand each other but put a barrier to nonnatives to English.
In relation to the article “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan describes how the author herself and her mother struggled when they are immigrants and had to communicate with other people. Being an immigrant is hard, especially when you are learning a new language and struggle how to associate things that you don’t properly put together sentences which create “Broken English”. I could personally relate to this as I still struggle to put sentences together or not knowing terms which could put some sort of barrier or limitations.