RHETORICAL ANALYSIS AND CRITICAL INTERPRETATION - Essay Example

This is a symbolic statement where the tongue that does not settle could be used to symbolize the people who kept hiding from the reality of their native language and as result they would use other languages to communicate even amongst themselves just because they were ashamed of their language and native culture. “but I could get a whiff of the stench when I gasped” this is a phrase that remind the culture escapists that they would still have the remains of the same culture that they disregarded.

After all they would still have their Mexican accent even if they used English. Deep inside they knew they were Chicanos. Another case of symbolism is in the second page of the text where she writes “our tongues have become dry, the wilderness has dried our tongues and we have forgotten speech” here the wilderness represents the diverse linguistic jungle that the world is and trying to fit it drains you of your language. The writer uses multiple stories to pass the message about how Chicanos are disregarded and also to emphasis on her pride in her true identity.

For instance she states that when caught speaking in Mexican while in school she get punished ,”gets three licks on the knuckles with a sharp ruler” and sent to sit at a corner for speaking back at a teacher. Her mother is also not confide about her daughters fluency n communication and keeps reminding her the “I want you to speak English’ since she had the Mexican accent even when she spoke