This was specifically apparent in English class, where she recalled her language affected her ability to perform on IQ tests, achievement tests, and the SAT. Although Tan’s English was acceptable and considered “not poor”, as she stated, she still had difficulties in school. The language is spoken by individuals from immigrant families shape their identity. “The language spoken in the family, especially immigrant families…plays a large role in shaping the language of the child”. Tan’s English language was impacted and shaped by her mother’s tongue. Language influences an individual’s opportunities and success. This incident is a perspicuous example of how one’s language barricades one’s ability to perform such simple tasks. For instance, Tan explains how when she was fifteen, her mother would, “have me call people on the phone to pretend I was she”. Amy was often her mother’s right hand when it came to executing everyday tasks having to do with the English language. When Amy called them, without an accent, they seemed to cooperate and apologize for their errors.
Despite her pleas, the hospital was unapologetic about misplacing her scans. She mentions an incident where her mother contacted a hospital to receive copies of CAT scans to understand her diagnosis. The author exemplifies her mother being mistreated in her story.
Since English wasn’t her mother’s first language, she was often treated with inferiority by others due to her literacy, leading to a lack of confidence in her English.
Tan’s mother’s “limited” English affected Tan’s childhood growing up. It was especially difficult for Amy, as stated in her essay, “when I was growing up, my mother’s “limited” English limited my perception of her”. It wasn’t easy to adjust to the new environment, especially having to learn and speak English. They had to assimilate and adapt to the American culture with little knowledge of English. Amy Tan and her mother are Asian Americans that immigrated from Shanghai, China.
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