“How to Tame a Wild Tongue” is a part from a book called Borderlands/La Frontera by Gloria Anzaldua. Gloria makes a very effective argument throughout “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”. She shows that you shouldn’t be ashamed of your language and that you need to honor your roots. Her use of ethos, pathos, her earnest tone, and her explanation of her own experiences make it clear to the English speaking people of America how much their oppression affects them from feeling proud of their language.
Gloria is arguing that people should feel proud and embrace their language. Through her use of ethos and pathos, she shows how much that oppression affects people, “ I remember being caught speaking Spanish at recess- that was good for three licks on the knuckles with a sharp rule: I remember being sent to the corner of the classroom for “talking back” to the Angle teacher when all I was trying to do was tell her how to pronounce my name”. Gloria uses ethos and pathos by sharing with us, a traumatic experience where she was hit and scorned at just for using her language. The fact that she was physically hurt, automatically brings a sad emotion to the audience. She uses her experience well by showing that there were bad consequences for speaking her language.
Her attachment to the language shows through her earnest tone. Her tone shows the seriousness of the argument and how bad this issue of oppression is, “And as long as I have to accommodate the English speakers rather than them having to accommodate me, my tongue will be illegitimate. I will no longer be made to feel ashamed of existing. I will have my voice”. From this statement, Gloria shows that she means business and that she doesn’t take this issue for a joke what so ever. In a way, the statement almost looks like its her and all other Spanish speakers against the English speaking public. That unites the hispanics together and shows that it isn’t just her who feels this way, but its many of us, which may trigger something to the English speaking public.
Many of her statements in the essay can be very relatable for people of her race, which is Mexican, “Los Chicanos, how patient we seem, how very patient. There is the quiet Indian about us. We know how to survive. When other races have given up their tongue, we’ve kept ours”. In this statement she uses the word “us” which unites the reader with her and everyone else of the Mexican race. The fact that she allows the reader to put themselves inside the reading makes it extremely effective because they are able to relate to her and unite together about this issue.
Gloria Anzalduas use of personal experiences, ethos, pathos, and her earnest tone, make the argument very effective because it allows people to put themselves in her shoes and allows them to go through issues with her. If you are one who has oppressed somebody, Gloria puts guilt in your heart. If you are someone who has been oppressed, she makes you feel like you have a chance to stand up and use your voice. She gives you support from her words. Her motivation and guilt that she puts in the essay makes it very strong and gets her message across clear and perfectly.
