The Politics of Teaching Literature in Spanglish by Regan L. Postma - Book Report/Review Example

Book Reflection The Politics of Teaching Literature in Spanglish This is a reaction paper of the article by Regan L. Postmaentitled by “the politics of teaching literature in Spanglish”. The article analyzes the use of mixed texts in the same conversation. For instance, when one is communicating in English, he or she decides to incorporate borrowed words from languages such as Spanish or German (Regan 442). These borrowed words have been linked to some issues related to culture, language and identity. I tend to agree with some of the arguments made by the author on the use of mixed language. I think the author was right was right when he indicated that use of these borrowed languages help students to put into consideration issues of culture, language and identity like the contextual and dynamic nature of language among other factors raised as the document analyzes. I think the analysis of the way the borrowed words have been used, is a very crucial aspect. I believe that borrowing of words might end up making someone’s speech or conversation either relevant or irrelevant. I think the user; therefore, need to make an informed selection of words. The borrowed words also need to be initiated correctly for them to be compatible with the other words. I totally agree with that language is under a consistent evolvement. This evolvement is specifically tied to the cultural text. I also agree with the argument of the author that these borrowed texts give room for the native, heritage and non-native speakers to carry out an examination of their assumptions concerning the authority and correctness, their personal goals as the lifelong language learners as well as their understanding of personal as well as other linguistic communities (Regan 442). The author indicated that teaching the Spanglish work in the Spanish classes tend to underscore the possibilities of negotiating culturally and linguistically in a creative way using the mixed and multiple languages rather than singular. Incorporating foreign texts in a particular conversation has its impact while people tend to perceive this aspect on personal basis. Oscar utilizes different languages namely Spanish, Spanglish and English. I tend to differ with the students who perceived Oscar’s decision as ethnicity. Irrespective of the fact it can identify his ethnic origin, I believe that there is beauty in utilization of a variety of languages. No matter how languages may seem minute, they should not be despised (Regan 443). I tend to agree that these small languages such as Spanglish and others might become tools for achieving access to the diverse social groups as well as articulating self-identity. The final voyage This is a reaction paper of chapter seven of “the brief wondrous life of Oscar Wao. Clives was to move in to Santo Domingo. She, however, reveals a contrary aspect of travelling irrespective of the fact that they were to move together. I tend to differ with Oscar’s notion of applying a dictatorial way of deciding things. He noted that they would not leave him alone as per the ancient powers. I strongly believe that some aspects like relocation need to be handled with consideration rather that dictating how it should be carried out. It has been indicated that Oscar had intention of travelling with Clives. I think Oscar was not timely when he was breaking the news to her. He is telling Clives that he loved her. I believe he had wronged this lady to a great extent. This is because he goes ahead to confess that she had been truly hurt but currently he was all right. I think the lady had every reason of refusing to accompany Oscar depending on the intensity of the wrong he had done unto her. I strongly believe that Oscar missed his timings in that he could have resolved the issues that were at hand before he could propose of travelling. I think the negotiations between these two people could hardly bear fruits since the lady was emotional (Diaz 318). I also differ with the fact that Oscar could try to kiss Clive without her will. The context is, however, unclear on what took place exactly between Oscar and the likes of Gorilla Grod and Solomon Grudy. It has been indicated that they beat him to their best. It was, however, unclear why Oscar was being beaten. As Clives tried to convince them to spare Oscar, they noted that Clives should be worrying about her rather than begging for him to be stayed. I think that Oscar was not only an enemy to Clives only but to other members of the society. However, I strongly believe with Oscar’s suggestion that love was very thing to be found in the world. It was, however, confused by a million of other thing of this world. I hence concur with him that he was just mistaken by the love he had to Clives. I also agree with the fact he gave that if they would kill him this would come back to them (Diaz 320). Celayo, Armando and Shook, David. In Darkness We Meet: A conversation with Junot Diaz. World Literature Today 82.2 (2008): 12-17. Print. In the book, the author has given a comprehensive analysis of the issue under discussion and it is possible to understand the concept being discussed in the book. I agree with the writer on what he says about Junot Diaz. It is true that, as an author, Diaz has written novels that have gained widespread acceptance among readers. I like the author’s discussion about African writers. In the book, the discussion about what language entails is precise and easy for the reader to comprehend. The author notes that language is ambiguous and it is not possible to nationalize the aspect of language. I agree with this argument since language differs from one region to another and this makes it challenging to become well versed with many languages. It is true that language should not necessarily be used to victimize other people who are not aware of a certain language (Celayo and Shook 13). I also like the author’s discussion of the role of language in uniting people. The author has attempted to portray how language creates a sense of shared beliefs and values among its users and ultimately brings them together. It is evident that people are comfortable when they interact with members of their ethnic groups whom they speak the same language. The writing is outstanding in its description of the role that geography plays in influencing the writer’s perception of the world. A writer will always write a novel based on their culture and the language that is spoken in their culture. It is also possible to understand the author’s discussion of the challenges faced by young readers. For example, the author notes that he had difficulties speaking English, but could read English with a lot of ease. From the author’s discussion, I am in agreement that reading is much easier compared to speaking. It is true that, when one is reading, they rarely feel embarrassed since there is no one to comment on the accent or notice any poor pronunciation that the reader makes. There is a clear flow of ideas from the beginning of the book to the end (Celayo and Shook 14). The author provides the reader with a clear discussion of the problems faced by immigrant writers. With the use of examples, the author strives to emphasize the challenges that writers face when they visit a nation where they are not familiar with the culture. I agree with the argument that writers have to spend some time before they understand different cultures. After reading the book, one can easily understand how values are transmitted from one generation to another, especially in indigenous cultures. As discussed by the author, language is what most cultures use to pass on oral history from one generation to another. All the arguments presented in the book are valid and provide a detailed description of what language entails. Works Cited Celayo, Armando and Shook, David. “In Darkness We Meet: A conversation with Junot Diaz.” World Literature Today 82.2 (2008): 12-17. Print. Díaz, Junot. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. London: Faber, 2008. Print. Regan L. Postma. “The Politics of Teaching Literature in Spanglish.” Hispania 96. 3 (2013): 442-443. Print. Read More