A Different Type of English

     People who speak english as a second language are often described as speaking "broken" or "incorrect" english.  While neither word is good to use, broken is very negative to use when describing how someone speaks.  Saying that they are broken means that there is something that needs to be fixed, when in reality they only have difficulty expressing their complete thoughts.  What they are thinking is not wrong or broken; the way that they are voicing these thoughts are just different from what is "normal."  People who speak another language are expected to speak with no accent in perfect english when primarily english speakers do not speak correctly themselves.  Slang is used so frequently that people often forget the true meaning of the word, if the word is real at all.  People who speak another language may have profound thoughts, but the fear of being judged as well as the language barrier can cause them to fumble their words and not be taken seriously.
     No matter what language one speaks, there is a difference between our inner and outer emotions and dialogue.  Some people have strong and passionate feelings on the inside but do not enjoy speaking out or have difficulty doing so.  This difficulty can come from fear of public speaking, and when english is one's first language, no one looks down upon them for fumbling words or incomplete thoughts and sentences.  However, if the fumble is due to a language barrier, people immediately lose interest or become annoyed.  The mockery of people with language barriers inhibit people from voicing a true opinion and from being taken seriously.  These people learn the consequences if they make a mistake or speak with too heavy of an accent, so often times they speak through another person who will be able to "fix" their english, if they even speak out at all.
     There are many varieties of english; such as slang, proper language, sarcasm, and jokes between families and friends.  Each person has their own personal language that can influence others despite it being different.  Different ways of saying things can open doors to new ways of thinking.  One person's word choice may provide a different meaning than someone saying something similar.  People of other cultures also have words that do not translate into something direct, but it translates into a feeling or an action.  This makes it even harder for people to learn english and have to describe something that they normally have a word for.  English slang is similar since most of the time it cannot be translated.  For example, the word "lit" means something different than the slang version, which cannot really be defined.  Often times when people are asked what it means, they just give examples of things that are "lit" rather than actually being able to define it.  It is acceptable to not e able to fully define what one is saying if they speak english, but once someone who is fluent in another language can not define the translation, people become annoyed.  Often times we get so caught up in slang that we forget the real meaning of our words, or even overcomplicate to an extreme.
     Amy Tan, a Chinese author, discuses the struggles of the language barrier that her mother faces in "Mother Tongue".  She used to write overcomplecated sentences that her mother was not able to understand, and her mother could only speak in english in simple or incomplete sentences that fit together like puzzle pieces.  Through these experiences, Tan was able to realize that the most effective way to write in order to inform is by writing easy to read sentences.  Tan decided that while she was writing she would imagine that she was going to have her mother read it, which allowed her the opportunity to write relatable and easy to understand essays and books.  I believe that the title can refer to two things.  "Mother Tongue" can refer to someones native language, but it could also refer to  her mother's way of speaking in english.
     Language barriers are very difficult to overcome, but people who do not speak english as their primary language should not be ridiculed when making mistakes or speaking in an unusual manner.  It is socially acceptable to speak incorrectly as an english speaker, but once someone does the same but with an accent, they are looked down upon and not treated with respect.  Amy Tan voices this and provides personal examples of how she has witnessed her mother's struggle with speaking english.