Samantha Marie S.

Favis
Anne Kingsley
English 126-0746
30 November 2015
How to Forget the Unforgettable
Gloria Anzaldua, a Chicana feminist, explores the idea of linguistic terrorism in
the hopes of eliminating the repeated attacks against her native tongue. For Anzaldua,
linguistic terrorism is not accepting someones language, labeling it as not right, and
attacking that language. In the essay, Anzaldua describes how her border language which
moves between Spanish and English is attacked and silenced.
Anzaldua grew up on the border of Mexico and Texas, where Spanish is a diverse
language that naturally changes overtime. As Anzaldua explains, Chicano Spanish sprang
out of the Chicanos need to identify ourselves as distinct people, (How to Tame a Wild
Tongue, 36). Since Chicanos live on the border of English and Spanish, they learn to
incorporate both languages into one and communicate in various Spanish dialects.
However, Anzaldua shows how that way of communicating is denied as the legitimate
Spanish language. Since their language was unaccepted, Chicanas felt shameful about
their own voices.
Anzaldua connects language with identity. Therefore, if someone has a low
estimation of her language, they have a low estimation of her sense of self. In How to
Tame a Wild Tongue, she exclaims [u]ntil I can take pride of my language, I cannot take
pride in myself, (39). She believes that everyone should be proud of their own voice and
to not be humiliated of who we are and where we come from. She wants us to accept the
wild tongue we have grown accustomed with. In her essay, she explores what it means to
recover her identity as a Chicana by moving across these different variances of language.

Anzaldua wants Chicanas to internalize the borderland conflict and accept the
synergy of two cultures with various shades of Mexico and Texas. She challenges the idea
of accepting a neutral language Englishand resists the fear of becoming an angrigada
Americanized Mexicans. Anzaldua reinforces the ongoing change in our society
strengthens our voice to remain impenetrable, persistent, and determined to keep our own
identity.
Resisting Limitations
We have to limit speaking in Tagalog, my distressed manager tells
me as I spoke Tagalog to her a minute ago, coworkers have complained
being uncomfortable hearing us speak in another language.
She keeps reprimanding me, but at the same time feels the need to tell
me that we can speak our language when its just the two of us. They speak
in Spanish sometimes, but I dont say anything, I exclaimed as this was the
second time a manager has talked to me and other coworkers about
speaking Tagalog to each other.
Just speak in English when were with other people, I can sense the
disbelief in my managers voice. And I think to myself, how do you restrain a
native tongue? How do you completely ignore the urge to speak the
language youre comfortable speaking in, especially towards someone who
can understand you?
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him
in his language, that goes to his heart. -Nelson Mandela
I have dealt with a variety of people while working at a bank for almost
2 years. What interests me the most are those people who you know speak
your language but act like they dont. There was a time at the bank when I

asked a Filipino, Ano pong kailangan nila? and the person said in response,
Im sorry? forcing me to ask them what they needed in English because I
thought they didnt understand me. I dont know if I should be ashamed for
assuming all Filipino adults can speak Tagalog or censured because of their
determination to disregard our language. Forgetting your language is like
setting up a barrier against your own culture and roots. Your first language
cannot just be erased in your memory, it can only be suppressed.
Forget-Me-Not
Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika, daig pa ang hayop at malansang isda.1
-Dr. Jose Rizal
A Pinoya term of endearment, similar to Chicano, formed by taking
the last four letters of Filipino and adding a suffix ywho grew up in the
United States tends to understand Tagalog but not speak it. It always baffled
me why this is so until I finally realized that parents often cause the rift and
end up silencing the language. Many Filipino parents come to the U.S. to give
their children a better life but what they dont anticipate is the loss of their
cultural and linguistic identity. Since these parents are accustomed to
speaking in English due to societal convenience, theyve forgotten to speak
in Tagalog. They choose to speak in English towards their children for them
to be able to interact properly, however, they lose part of their individuality
by not learning or retaining Tagalog. These children only understand Tagalog
because their grandparents, who they barely see, talk to them in our
language. Filipino grandparents are likely to stick to speaking Tagalog
1 Those who do not love his own language are worse than a beast and a putrid
fish. Written by the Philippines national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal in his poem called
Sa Aking Mga Kabata, (English translation: To My Fellow Youth).

because thats the language theyre most comfortable in. They dont need to
switch codes often because most of their times are spent at home taking
care of their families. Theres no reason for them to push Tagalog away and
replace it with English.
Coming to a different country can be a big culture shock to anybody,
especially when theres a language barrier. The urge to speak Tagalog can be
overwhelming, but the cruel reality of the need to speak English is much
more powerful. Some Filipinos have an understanding that since English is
more appropriate in this country, Tagalog is just an option and not an integral
part to their identity. But even before coming here, some Filipinos already
have high regards for English because they think this language is the
sophisticated way of speaking.
Part of the reason behind this deference to English is that this language
is taught in schools in the Philippines; I remember in 4th grade my teacher
said, ang hindi magsalita ng Ingles, mababawasan ng puntos, leaving us
with no choice but to speak in English without having any practice so that
our grades wouldn't drop. It was hard but there was a sense of pleasure
knowing that you got your sentences right, that you know another language,
and that speaking that language gives a boost in confidence. But once you
completely indulge yourself in another language, your Filipinoness gets
pulled right out of you and turns you into an American with a Filipino
background. The consequence of your children not even knowing how to
speak or spell Filipino words is very discouraging. I once knew a Filipino 7th
grader who turned Philippines into Filippines, because he said Filipino is

spelled with an F. The reason why it started with an F is because Filipino

was derived from the Spanish name for the Philippine Islands: las Islas
Filipinas. This just proves that theres a whole culture out there left behind
without any doubts by those who actually once knew it.
Theres a constant inner battle among identities, the struggle of
crossing the sea is still our reality. Who are you? Where are you from? The
correct answer is: I am Filipino. Born and raised using the Tagalog language.
A widely accepted language known as English is not enough to deny a minor
language. One day those people who turned away from their roots will go
back searching for their home. We, the Filipino-Americans, have integrated a
new culture completely different from our own, but most of us will always be
proud to be Pinoy.