Mother Tongue
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Themes
All Themes Self-Acceptance Expressiveness and the Limits of Language Prejudice Storytelling and Asian-American Voices
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Amy Tan Tan’s Mother (Mrs. Tan)
Terms
All Terms Englishes Standard/Standardized
Symbols
All Symbols Language
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Mother Tongue

by Amy Tan
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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Self-Acceptance Theme Icon
    Self-Acceptance
  • Expressiveness and the Limits of Language  Theme Icon
    Expressiveness and the Limits of Language
  • Prejudice Theme Icon
    Prejudice
  • Storytelling and Asian-American Voices Theme Icon
    Storytelling and Asian-American Voices
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Amy Tan
  • Tan’s Mother (Mrs. Tan)
Terms
  • All Terms
  • Englishes
  • Standard/Standardized
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Language Symbol Icon
    Language
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)
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Standard/Standardized

Mother Tongue Symbols

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Language

Language

In “Mother Tongue,” Tan’s attempt to reconcile standardized English with her own “mother tongue” is a symbolic representation of her relationship with her mother. The essay emphasizes that language is highly flexible and…

read analysis of Language

Language Symbol Icon
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Standard/Standardized
Previous
Standard/Standardized
Next
Language
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Language

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