Tex-Mex

Paper Summary:

An analysis of the article by Gloria Anzaldua, "How to Tame a Wild Tongue". It shows how this article explores the essence of Chicano culture in America through an analysis of language. The author speaks about gender, race, and identity as functions of language. It focuses on Tex-Mex, which is described as a language of rebellion, both against standard Spanish and standard English.

From the Paper:

"The reason why using more than one language at a time can be so important for immigrants or children of immigrants is that it enables us to preserve our cultural heritage while at the same time fitting into the dominant culture. Anzalda talks about assimilation as a negative act, but in many ways assimilation can be positive, as long as people make an effort to maintain some of their customs and their language. One of the reasons why Anzalda is proud of Tex-Mex "Spanglish" is because it reminds her of who she is. She remembers when she first discovered Chicano literature. "When I saw poetry written in Tex-Mex for the first time, a feeling of pure joy flashed through me. I felt like we really existed as a people," (29). The formation of Chicano culture happened largely through the use of language. "Something momentous happened to the Chicano soul we became aware of our reality and acquired a name and a language (Chicano Spanish) that reflected that reality," (33)."

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