Edite Cunha's "Talking in the New Land"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Edite Cunha's "Talking in the New Land" demonstrates her great effort, living in a melting pot and trying to find her role in the family. The author points out that Cunha shows the struggle of being the interpreter for her family with great credibility, strong emotions and logic. The paper relates that Cunha gains credibility by using anecdotes of her younger self and by showing her emotions at each time. The author underscores that, when the young Edite is either forced to speak English or has to translate from English to Portuguese for her father, her feelings are always cold and fearful. The paper suggest that Cunha is trying to impress upon the readers that often with learning the public language the consequences are negative.

From the Paper:

"In the beginning of the essay, when Edite is explaining her name, her words are filled with love, "in naming their daughters Maria, my people were expressing their love and reverence for their Lady of Fatima." But when in an English school she explains, "I never knew quite who I was" when her teacher changed her name to sound more American. Another example of intense emotion was when the young Edite and her father go to the Employment division and Edite reads the words on the doorway she recalls, "there was a growing coldness deep inside me.""

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cunha, Edite. "Talking in the New Land." Rhetoric and Writing 1. Ed. UCCS Writing Program. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead Press, 2006. 87-98.

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• Book Review # 92174 : "Manchild in the Promised Land"

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