Tame Wild Tongue

In “How to Tame a Wild Tongue,” Gloria Anzaldua argues for the permission to define her own Chicano/ Feminist voice without being hindered by stereotypes and limitations. Gloria argues that, “wild tongues can’t be tamed, they can only be cut out,” but specifically argues that different accents stir up one big culture. She says “We oppress each other trying to oust Chicano each other, tying to be the “real” Chicanas, to speak like Chicanos.” meaning each Spanish is a variation of two languages, and that there’s different ways she speaks to others in certain situations like having two tongues. Gloria also argues that she shouldn’t be embarrassed by her language and accent by saying “I am my language” meaning her language is what makes her special and unique. Also

“We speak a patois, a forked tongue, a variation of two languages” (208), meaning she had a language that was neither Spanish nor English, but a language she could relate to when speaking with others, “We needed a language with which we could communicate with ourselves, a secret language”. Pointing out that Chicanos took the initiative to create a language that is a mix of all the different languages they speak. But even with their efforts no matter how much they try she says, “We oppress each other trying to oust Chicano each other, trying to be the “real” Chicanas, to speak like Chicanos. (210)”. They oppress each other by thinking that their way of speaking is better than the others way. By doing this they make not only themselves uncomfortable speaking Spanish but get others to think that they aren’t the ideal Chicano/a. That’s why Anzaldua tells herself, “I will no longer be made to feel ashamed of existing. I will have my voice: Indian, Spanish, white. I will have my serpent’s tongue—my woman’s voice, my sexual voice, my poet’s voice. I will overcome the tradition of silence.