Latinx Literature

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Language-Analysis of two works in the module
Introduction
Language correlates to the cultural identity of people. The two are interdependent, and it is difficult to talk about one without reference to the other. In a nutshell, language is a creation of culture in the society. On the other hand, a language impacts and influences the cultural identity of people in the society. For example, whether people immigrate to Europe or America, a native language will define them. Even if people become assimilated to a certain culture, their language remains significant and distinct. People always keep alive their languages despite visiting various places globally. The essay analysis two literary works that rich in the interpretation of language and culture. These works are ‘How to Tame a Wild Tongue’ by Gloria Anzaldua and ‘My English’ by Julia Alvarez.
Analysis
Language is extremely relevant to the identity of people as it the most significant aspect of culture. Also, language is believed to be tangible about other aspects that define cultural identity of people. According to Julia Alvarez, and her book ‘My English,’ people become bilingual to protect their language from extinction (Anzaldua 33). Anzaldua argues that many people adopt two or more languages, but continue to preserve their native languages. Gloria Anzalia in her book ‘How to Tame a Wild Tongue’ is even more candid on the significance of language to cultural identity.

She argues that people feel insulted when you demean their language. Equally, it means that the bond between language and the cultural identity of people is highly strong to be broken.
Bilingualism influences a person’s psychological development because language happens to be a symbol of culture. A bilingual individual develops his identity and makes him leave some aspects of his native culture. Julia Alvarez argues in her book ‘My English’ that often children are usually confused when confronted by two languages. Alvarez argues that most immigrant parents speak foreign languages such as English in secrecy from their children (Anzaldua 35). By doing so, they are normally interested having the children avoid speaking foreign languages. When children adopt two languages, they are caught between two distinct cultures. Henceforth, it negatively affects their psychological development.
The child is dependent on his family for the development of his language skills. The family is a significant context for child’s psychological development. Many aspects of a child’s language are transmitted through the family. The family constitutes survival for languages for the next generations. Alvarez asserts that this is the main reason most immigrant families control how their children learn other foreign languages (Anzaldua 38). Language is a means of colonization because it makes people impose their cultural identity to other people who have other cultures. Also, language makes the colonizers dominate the victims of imperialism. Linguistic imperialism makes people who feel that their language is dominant to transfer it to other people of other dialects.
Conclusion
In conclusion, language is highly relevant to the cultural identity of people. Language defines the culture of people and who they are. The literary works ‘My English’ by Julia Alvarez and ‘How to Tame a Wild Tongue’ by Gloria Anzaldua explains a direct relationship between language and culture. Both Anzaldua and Alvarez agree that language defines the cultures of people. Language imperialism makes people who feel their languages are special to transfer them to other people that have different languages. Linguistic imperialism is a form of colonization where people become assimilated into different languages and cultural identities.
Works Cited
Anzaldua, Gloria. How to Tame a Wild Tongue, New York: John Willey & Sons, 2012.