Question

Based on “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan, write a thematic statement and write one rhetorical strategy that creates pathos. Explain why it is effective for the author's argument.

Answer 1

Thematic Statement: There is no single way to speak English. Therefore, a country as diverse as the USA must consider all of these forms as valid.

Rhetorical strategy that creates pathos: Foreigners are constantly disrespected and underestimated for not speaking standard English.

Step-by-step explanation:

"Mother Tongue" is a text written by Amy Tan, where she discusses her experience with the English language, being he, an American Chinese citizen, who lived with the standard English language and the English language as her mother, a Chinese immigrant spoke. Amy reports that it has greatly affected the way she views the language and the country. For her, such a diverse country should accept and respect all the ways in which English is spoken, however, she saw her mother being disrespected and underestimated, several times, for speaking "broken" English, which provoked a strong feeling of shame. and humiliation.