Language is a universal force that shapes relationships, brings individuals together, and shapes deeply rooted culture. While English is one of the most widely spoken language across the world, immigrants and foreigner speakers are often harshly judged by society based on how well they spoke, regardless of their self-intelligence. These challenges highlight how language shapes identities and continue to influence cultural experiences. This reveals how true communication doesn’t always have to be in perfect grammar, but the underlying importance of what is trying to be portrayed.  

In “Mother Tongue” written by Amy Tan, she writes her own experiences as a Chinese American. Growing up and speaking in primarily ‘broken’ English with her mother and learning standardized English in school, she highlights her experiences on both sides. Sharing her personal experiences with ‘broken’ English allows the audience to be able to relate to her through their own unique, but similar experiences. Language goes beyond grammatical errors and more about meaning and connection.  

Language is a significant part of shaping your own identity but also shows how others perceive another’s intelligence. Not only does it help us perceive the world around us, but it also allows us to communicate with others. Those who speak in non-conventional English are heavily judged because of the stigma society has surrounded it in. Amy Tan explores this idea in her writing “It has bothered me that I can think no way to describe it other than ‘broken’, as it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness and soundness” (Tan 2). She reflects the discomfort of referring to her mother’s way of speaking as ‘broken’ because that was always the way she was used to, but it was done in a way where it seemed negative. Societal norms have impacted the importance of language and the perception of individuals who are not as proficient in the English language. Although English is spoken in unconventional ways, it’s important to affirm that commination lies more in meaning and connection, rather than conforming to Standardized English.  

Language is used to bring people together through culture and experience. Tan reflects these ideas, “That was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed things, made sense of the world” (Tan 2). Being able to code-switch between her speaking to her mother and the rest of the world helps her realize that acknowledging that language does not lose any significance because it differs from the norm. Being able to accept that not all English that doesn’t conform to society should not be seen as unintelligent or ‘wrong’ but instead should be focus on that it ties into deep connections and the accustoms that people are familiar and more comfortable with. This reinforces the central idea that language shape’s identity and cultures because of its ability to connect others, not by grammatical structure.  

Language isn’t used just for communicating with others but can also be used to connect to others on a personal level through developing identities, culture, and relatable experiences. Moving beyond these rigid standards of the use of the English language, instead it should be used to continue to push others to communicate in the way they feel most comfortable and not because it’s ‘imperfect’ English. The authenticity of how people use English to communicate is what makes communication significant and should not be judged.