Dylan Moina

May 5, 2024

In this course, I achieved the five most important learning outcomes which are linguistic standards, writing, and reading, a variety of genres and rhetorical situations, developing strategies for reading, drafting, collaborating, revising, and editing, and practicing key rhetorical terms and strategies. Finally, understand and use print and digital technologies to address a range of audiences. 

Linguistic standards can empower and oppress language users by many forms such as language being a tool of voice. Voice allows people to speak out on something that is wrong or shine a light on a problem in society. Language can also be oppressed by social exclusion, discrimination, and limitations in opportunities. As I wrote, ”In the video, “Why I keep speaking up, even when people mock my accent”(2016), author Safwat Saleem, an animator and a voice actor that  gives life to his characters, asserts that you should use your voice to destroy the idea “normal” because having an accent is anomalous which can affect the person’s self esteem. Lastly, he declares that we should end the idea of “normal”.  Saleem appears to persuade people to challenge and break away from this narrative of “normal”. Saleem Author gives us two options of ignoring the problem or using our own voices to go against it in order to change society’s norms.”

I have read many genres like poems, short stories, essays, oral history, videos, and many more. Using rhetorical situations has helped me explore and analyze the genre at a deep level and I was able to understand what the author wanted to address. For homework, I had to do a Rhetorical Situation Worksheet of “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan. Amy Tan. I wrote about the author, context, text, audience, purpose, argument, evidence, and rhetorical strategies. Each of these terms help me understand what the author is trying to tell the readers. One example of my Rhetorical Situation Worksheet about  “Mother Tongue” purpose, ” The Author is trying to educate the readers of ‘broken’’ English shouldn’t be looked down upon because it doesn’t show what the person’s whole language ability is.” I develop new strategies for reading, drafting, collaborating, revising, and editing. When reading I think about the Rhetorical Situation Worksheet and how I can use that to help me understand the author and the readings better. Drafting has improved all my projects because of the feedback I get from my professor, peers, and myself from going over it. Collaborating was a huge help for my projects because I get different viewpoints and ideas that normally one person can’t give you. With these strategies, I can edit and revise my work with more confidence. The Research Essay project helped me recognize and practice key rhetorical terms and strategies in writing situations. I fully understand rhetorical terms and how I can find them and understand what the author’s argument is. Digital technologies have put my work out where my professor can see it and my peers can also read it.  Digital technologies have put my work to anybody who wants to read my work. Having a Digital Portfolio brings a range of audiences who are interested in reading about a certain topic that I wrote. 

In conclusion, these five were the most important to me because they showed how much I learned and showed growth over time. After writing this essay I achieved many things not just writing but the outside world. Writing and voice creates an impact on society with the help of digital technologies.

Work Cited

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xc3Am9hvVnQR8War-dbtBAMzF_TxJCFKl94homipGvk/edit?usp=sharing

The research essay project was a little difficult on finding a topic and gathering the reading sources you needed for a topic. I found a topic and after it the steps were easy. It was my first rhetorical essay and it was a little hard to understand but when I got the steps on how to write one it was easy for me to write one.

Dylan Moina

April 8,2024

Language

Although language is important to a person, having a native language and an accent illustrate that it can harm the person. A person with a native language can be discriminated against and lose access to services. Person with a native language that speaks English is unable to be understood well and would be treated differently than the rest.  Having an accent leads to low self esteem that can greatly affect the person’s social and professional growth. People with accents can’t communicate very much as they want to, which would hinder their job applications. What’s important to notice here is language is not just a tool of self identity it’s also a  pernicious effect of language. In this thesis I hope to communicate that language causes social exclusion, discrimination, and limitations in opportunities.

 First half of my essay would be about the fourth different genre  sources of “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan, Why I keep speaking up, even when people mock my accent” by Safwat Saleem a ted talk youtube video, If Black English Isn’t a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is? by James Baldwin, “Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes,” I will be rhetorically analyzing these fourth sources and connecting each of them to my main argument.

.Amy Ruth Tan is an American author, in her essay, Mother Tongue ,published in The Threepenny Review, addresses the topic of how “broken” language causes harm  and argues that language causes discrimination .She supports this claim by using her mother “broken” language as an example, then tells us about the hospital experience of the doctors not treating her just because of her “broken” language, and finally people excluding and ignoring her because of her language.Tan’s purpose is to “broken” language doesn’t mean the person doesn’t know anything order to change society the author wants to achieve. She adopts a(n) intense tone for her audience, the readers of Mother Tongue  and others interested in the topic of Language.

In the video, “Why I keep speaking up, even when people mock my accent”(2016), author Safwat Saleem, a animator and a voice actor that  gives life to his characters, asserts that you should use your own voice to challenge “normal”and suggests Where having an accent is not allowed to be normal which affects the person’s mental health . 2. He backs up this claim by doing the following: first, he Uses studies, graphs and author research about racism; next,he ; As well as his personal experience of having an accent.Lastly, he declares that we should challenge the idea of “normal”.  Saleem appears to write in hopes of trying to persuade people to challenge and break away from this narrative of “normal”. Author gives us two options of ignoring or going against it in order to change the society the author wants to achieve. Because of the author’s  humor tone, it seems as if he talks for a young and college students audience. 1. In his essay “If Black English Isn’t a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?”July 29, 1979,writer and civil right activist  James Baldwin

asserts that The main argument is that language is not only for speaking but also to show someone from a different background.

by addressing , “The argument has nothing to do with language itself but with the role of language. Language, incontestably, reveals the speaker. Language, also, far more dubiously, is meant to define the other–and, in this case, the other is refusing to be defined by a language that has never been able to recognize him.”, and “It goes without saying, then, that language is also a political instrument, means, and proof of power. It is the most vivid and crucial key to identify: It reveals the private identity, and connects one with, or divorces one from, the larger, public, or communal identity.”. By supplying the reader with information about language identifies the speaker  and language connects with the community Baldwin builds his claims about The main argument is that language is not only for speaking but also show someone from a different background .James Baldwin  wishes to convey to readers the importance of Author is trying to inform the reads because the author is telling us that language can change because of it environment.in order to change the reader the author wants to achieve. The author’s audience likely consists of those interested in language as is evident through his references to identity  and environment of language ; he addresses readers with a tone that is informed and cultured

American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist, LANGSTON HUGHES, in his poem, Theme for English B, published in 1951, addresses the topic of identity and argues that despite societal differences, there exists a common attachment among people. He supports this claim by “I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like the same things other folks like who are other races. So will my page be colored?”  

, then “Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love. I like to work, read, learn, and understand life. I like a pipe for a Christmas present, or records—Bessie, bop, or Bach. “, and finally”Being me, it will not be white. But it will be a part of you, instructor. You are white—yet a part of me, as I am a part of you. That’s American.“. 3 Hughes’s purpose is to challenge racial stereotypes and  show identity can be different but we all still are the same in order to society the author wants to achieve. He  adopts a reflective  tone for his audience, the readers of Theme For English B and others interested in the topic of identity.  Language can be very different based on the person’s life but in the end where all the same. There’s no difference between a “normal” and an accent language.

In The second half of my essay I focus on my fourth scholarly  sources I  found supporting my rhetoric analysis of language. I will be using Harms of language misuse in neurodegeneration research Daly, Timothy,No Mere “Matter of Choice”: The Harm of Accent Preferences and English-Only Rules Beard, Braden, Rereading Langston Hughes: Rhetorical Pedagogy in Theme for English B, or the Harlem Renaissance in the Composition Classroom Perez, Frank E,

Language barriers can create significant challenges in various environments, from everyday interactions, accessing healthcare, and the workplace. These barriers occur when individuals have difficulty communicating effectively due to differences in language proficiency. In healthcare settings, communication is key, leading to misunderstandings about symptoms, discrimination and medical instructions. “Language barriers are often cited as a factor contributing to ethnic inequalities in occupational health” Thus, having problems communicating leads to the person not getting treated and is easy to ignore. As Amy Tan’s mother was ignored in treating her just because her “broken ” language wasn’t clear enough to be treated. In the workplace, language barriers can hinder effective communication among coworkers. This can lead to misunderstandings, errors, and inequality.

While accents can often add diversity to language, they can also become a source of misunderstanding, discrimination, and even low self esteem. Accents, which reflect the person’s identity, can sometimes lead to racism, communication difficulties, and unequal treatment. “Kenji Yoshino argues that much of the discrimination that goes unchecked today involves forcing minorities to hide, or “cover,” traits linked to their minority status, which does serious harm to the identities of members of those groups. By forcing employees to cover their accents and native languages, employers are attacking the national origin identities of those employees.” This highlights, accent has disadvantages in the work settings that makes the person hide their accent. This harms the person’s identity that leads to low self esteem which hinders their work engagement.

Black and white people are being viewed as unequal. People believing in stereotypes causes these harm, which can also create racism in language.“Since the class struggle of whites and blacks exists, the speaker is in a dilemma about his instructor. His tutor, according to the speaker, is a part of white society. Hence for him it will not be so simple and obvious to accept his words which actually counter racial oppression created by whites. Though the speaker acknowledges that what is true for him is not true for others because he is black, and their cultural beliefs, heritage and social background are entirely different from each other. But the speaker continuously expresses his urge for dignity which will be possible only when the whites accept the Blacks as human beings.” A white person sees a black man speaking English, the white person can create an idea that they don’t know as much as they do. This is created because of whites not accepting black people as humans being the same as themselves.

Black language has been targeted for racism because of the society norm of language. Where a certain way of speaking is viewed as incorrect. The norm of one correct language causes harm and we must challenge this idea of “normal”. “By linking the racial classifications Black and white to language, I am challenging you, the reader, to see how linguistic hierarchies and racial hierarchies are interconnected. That is, people ’ s language experiences are not separate from their racial experiences. Indeed, the way a Black child ’ s language is devalued in school reflects how Black lives are devalued in the world. Similarly, the way a white child ’ s language is privileged and deemed the norm in schools is directly connected to the invisible ways that white culture is deemed normal, neutral, and superior in the world.” This justifies,  language is devalued in school reflects how Black lives are devalued in the world. Language is a form of discrimination.  Language causes racism because of how society sees “normal”.

In conclusion, language is a form of discrimination and marginalization towards the speaker. “Broken”, “normal”, “identity” and lastly “that’s American” all contribute to language being detrimental to society.  What’s important to remember here is that  language is not just a tool of self identity it’s also a  pernicious effect of language. In the end I hope that I communicated that language causes social exclusion, discrimination, and limitations in opportunities in our daily life. 

Work Cited

Tan, Amy. Mother Tongue, by Amy Tan, www.umsl.edu/~alexanderjm/Mother Tongue by Tan.pdf. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024. 

Saleem, Safwat. “Why I Keep Speaking Up, Even When People Mock My Accent.” Safwat Saleem: Why I Keep Speaking up, Even When People Mock My Accent | TED Talk, www.ted.com/talks/safwat_saleem_why_i_keep_speaking_up_even_when_people_mock_my_accent?language=en. Accessed 14 Apr. 2024. 

BALDWIN, JAMES. “If Black English Isn’t a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?” The New York Times, The New York Times, archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/98/03/29/specials/baldwin-english.html?_r=1. 

Hughes, Langston. “Theme for English B by Langston Hughes.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47880/theme-for-english-b. 

Daly, T. (2023). Harms of language misuse in neurodegeneration research. Neurological Sciences, 44(7), 2575–2576. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-023-06728-6

Beard, B. (2013). No Mere “Matter of Choice”: The Harm of Accent Preferences and English-Only Rules. Texas Law Review, 91(6), 1495-.

Vinisha, B. V. (2020). Racial Discrimination and Identity Crisis: Black Americans in Select Poems of Langston Hughes. Language in India, 20(9), 97-.

I enjoyed the project Oral History because I learned more about my mom and heard her story. I also like the interview part because I got to ask question which I never did an interview before so it was something new to me. For the summary analysis I found out why my mom kept some traditions and lost some coming to the United States. It allow me to write about why my mom decided to lose part of her identity.

Dylan Moina

March 18,2024

Oral History 

Heritage is what brings family history, traditions, values, and artifacts through generations. It creates a unique identity where you can’t find it anywhere else. Heritage affects the present and the future in many positive and negative ways. The person I decided to interview was my mom. I wanted to know more about my mom’s heritage and her way of assimilating into United States culture. After interviewing my mom I learned a lot about her heritage. It has stayed the same and has been lost along the way. My mom, who speaks Spanish, wanted her kids to speak English. My mom didn’t care about Spanish at all if I learned it or not. It made sense for me to want to learn English first because, in the United States, that is what you need to learn to survive. My mom is losing faith in Spanish because her heritage has become worthless to pass on. My mom had lost many traditions that she used to do. My mom didn’t even tell me about them. My mom probably thought there was no point in learning them because people in the United States don’t even know them, which turned into my mom changing her heritage to celebrating Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July. It was easy to celebrate these traditions because everyone knew how to. She lost her heritage to gain more American culture. I also would like to keep these traditions because I grew up with them. My mom’s family norms are where the parents pick the marriage. This was a harmful norm because it created a lot of conflicts in my family. My mom broke this family norm; she hated the idea of not having freedom. She has no plans to choose who I marry. I won’t have to keep that norm. My mom’s family custom was that her parents were very strict with her. It greatly negatively affects her. My mom didn’t want that to happen to me because she knew it would affect us in the long term. My mom changed that norm by being more open with us.  In my opinion, my mom did the right thing by losing some parts of her heritage. It would benefit me and many generations if she hadn’t. However, I won’t lose the language of my heritage; it’s just too special for me to keep. 

My mom’s heritage still kept parts of values and traditions. My mom’s cooking never changes because she enjoys her cooking. Her cooking is the most important part of her heritage.   It still lives on and I even learned my mom’s recipes. I will also keep cooking the way my mom cooks.  Religion is a big part of my family heritage. We are all Catholics and prayed together before we went to bed. She always took me to church and I finished my catholic school. My mom made me and my sister finish catholic school. It was very important for her to see us finish it. I never disliked it.  My mom’s music never changed, it was the same she always listened to Ecuadorian music. She enjoys her heritage music. When she cleans she puts her music on. Even when most people who know Ecuadorian music she still listens to it. Despite the time and various influences, my mom has remained thinking about her heritage. She never lost her cultural roots. Being in a different environment, she still had generations of her heritage intact. 

My mom’s experience of assimilating into American culture while holding her Ecuadorian heritage is a valuable lesson for me. It shows that I can find new cultures and traditions while still holding on to My roots

Transcript

 Do I have permission to record this interview?

Yes

1 What’s your first name and last name?

My name is Pilar Garces

1 Where were you born? 

I was born in ecuador  1981

1 What’s your age?

42 years old

1 How many  family members do you have?

I have 2 brothers and 3 sisters. 

1 Did you get along with your parents?

Yes, I love my mom and my dad. 

1 What year did you arrive in the United States?

I arrived in 1998

1 Why did you decide to live in New York ?

Most of my family lived in New York so it was the best option for me. 

1 Did you live near your sisters in new york?

Yes, all my sisters live near me and I often visit them.

1 What was your household like?

It was fun being around my family. Everyone was happy. 

1 Did you finish highschool?

No i couldn’t finish highschool because I was too poor

1 What year did you stop going in highschool?

Third year I stopped going because it cost money to enter and my mom didn’t have any money.

Did you tell your kids about these traditions?

No, there was no point because nobody celebrated them any more.

.

1 Did you celebrate new traditions In the United States?

Yes I celebrate thanksgiving and 4th of july which i never did. It was something new I learned.

1 Did your cooking change from your parents coming to the United States?

 No, it didn’t change.

1 Do you have any kids?

Yes i have a boy and a girl

1 Do you have any pets?

Yes i have a dog

1 What language did you want your kids to learn first?

English because everyone speaks English in the United States.

1 Did your religion of being a catholic change?

No, it stayed the same. I didn’t want to change it.

1 Did you want your kids to be catholic?

yes

1 Did you dress differently?

No, I never change my style. I love dressing how I like.

1 What were the relationship norms in your family?

The parents pick the partners for marriage you just had to accept

1 What family customs did you lose?

My mom was very strict but I was more open to my kids.

At first I hated the idea that you have to write something personal about your life. I was really struggling on what topic I should write because I couldn’t think of anything. However, as I finished my final I realized that it wasn’t so bad writing about a significant moment of my life that involves language. It reminds me of how words are important to someone and how knowing a different language can deeply affect you. In the end I enjoyed doing this project it was different from my high school English projects.

Dylan Moina

February 18, 2024

 

Espanol

 

Intro

      Growing up in a bilingual household, Spanish was always present in my life. Always using Spanish daily for our conversations. It never changed. However, it wasn’t until later in life that I truly appreciated the impact this language would have on my relationship with my mom. Spanish became more than just a means of communication; it became a bridge that connected me and my mom. As a child, my mom tried to get me to study more Spanish with her but I was always said no I didn’t need Spanish and told her I only needed English. I knew it was important for me to learn Spanish. I hated it because it’s hard to learn a language. I Found myself resistant, preferring the comfort of English and shying away from Spanish. Yet, as I was taking Spanish class, I discovered that it held the key to starting a connection with my mom. My first language was English. I will always talk to everyone in English, my teachers, my friends, and the people around me. However, my second language is Spanish. I always talk in Spanish at home. At home, I listen to Spanish music and the Spanish news. Sometimes I talk in Spanish with my friends because they also come from a Spanish household. It’s another way I talk in school, not just English but Spanish. Few of my teachers also know Spanish and have learned Spanish which helps me find a connection. Speaking Spanish in school helps me connect to more people and be comfortable in the classroom. I live in a neighborhood where many people also speak spanish. This helps me connect with my neighbors and fully understand what people are saying. My mom’s strong language is Spanish. She can understand English but at a basic level. I’m not alone, most of my cousins are in the same boat as me. They also speak/write spanish and grew up in a spanish speaking household. I don’t know how exactly I learned to write and read in Spanish but it’s the only way for me to be able to express myself and understand what my mom is talking about. 

 

Language

       I had a meeting about my behavior in school. It was in middle school 7th grade, I was talking, not paying attention, getting detention every day, doing dumb stuff, and getting kicked out of my classes. It was mostly me playing around with my friends and ignoring the teacher’s warnings. I just kept doing what I wanted. I only think about myself and not the people around me. My mom was there and my teacher was in a room. I was sitting next to my mom facing the teacher. It was in the school we were discussing how I have been behaving lately. The teacher gave a lot of details about how I was acting in class and my behavior being an issue for the teachers and students. It felt like a long meeting to me. After the meeting ended me and my mom walked silent until we got home. It was awkward for me to even talk to my mom. When we got home my mom went to my room and for the first time I saw my mom cry. I hated seeing my mom cry and hated myself for making her cry. So In Spanish, I told her “Ya no te haré llorar más” which means in English “I won’t make you cry anymore.” I told this to my mom in my room. My room represents a promise I made with my mom. If I break the promise I break myself. This is one of the most important memories I have while speaking Spanish. As a man I couldn’t break the promise I made and in a culture where I learned that words mean a lot I had to keep that promise. If I broke that I would have lost my identity. I realized how words are very important to me. I’m grateful that I know 2 languages that I can express myself to my mom. To speak to my mom in Spanish it’s one of the most important things to me. I wouldn’t be able to talk about how my daily life went and tell her how much I love her if I didn’t understand Spanish. I understand her and anything she wants to talk about like what’s happening in the news or even about her family. I’m not an expert at Spanish but I easily understand and speak to my mom about anything. Spanish is the most important language besides English that I learned. It’s the only way I can connect to my mom and tell her many things about me. 

 

Importance

        Without Spanish, I don’t know what my life would look like. With Spanish, I can help my mom understand English and guide her when she doesn’t understand a word in English. With Spanish, it gives me a chance to help my mom in a way. Spanish has helped me build a stronger relationship with my mom and has given me the ability to help her understand English better. Spanish has become a crucial tool for me to connect with my mother and share important information with her. Spanish strengthened my bond through the sharing of stories and memories. As I became more proficient in the language, I found myself drawn to the stories my mother shared about her upbringing, her struggles, her dreams, and her aspirations. By learning Spanish, I have expanded my outlook and deepened my connections with my family/community. As I reflect on the role of Spanish in strengthening my bond with my mother, I know what impact it has had on our relationship. What began as a basic language has spread into a journey of cultural discovery, personal growth, and, above all, a deeper connection with my mom who has shaped me into the person I am today.

 

        As I closed my door from my room I told my mom “Bye ma, me voy a la clase” After heading outside and viewing the bright sky early in the morning I started walking off to my college. After entering College I never broke the promise I made.