What Identity Means to Me
Ashley Chang
English 1100_35
August 31st, 2015
Professor Young 

What Identity Means to Me

     In Gloria Andaluza’s story “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” she speaks about 

what identity means to her. She says that her language and where she is from 

makes up her identity.  One’s identity can be made up many factors. Identity to 

me is my language and where I’m from. However, it can also be much 

more. One’s identity is unique, it can be made up of one’s religion, culture, 

tradition and it’s how you and others perceive yourself. It can also include your 

background, gender, and race. 


     For me identity is my culture, my personality, it is my uniqueness. I was

 born in Peru and brought to America as a baby. I have an Asian last name so 

everyone always asks me if I’m Asian. My great grandfather was Chinese and 

that’s the reason for my Asian last name. Although I am not really considered 

Asian I do embrace it and see it as a part of myself. I try to learn as much as a 

can about Asian culture because it is in my blood. I also see being Peruvian as 

my identity. The way I speak, my Spanish, my traditions, the food, my gender, 

my sexuality, all of that makes me who I am. Food to me is a passion and 

Peruvian cuisine reminds me of home that’s how it connects to me. My 

language, the way I speak Spanish, Peruvian slang is a part of how I grew up. 

My personality is also something that makes up my identity, the way I am 

towards others and how self driven I am. I am a bisexual female and I support 

the LGBT community, that bothers some people but it's not about them or who 

they are, I have learned to embrace my sexuality and to be proud of who I am. 

I know I am not like other people my age and I am glad that I’m not. My 

identity is my likes and dislikes, it’s how I live my life.

Ceviche ( Traditional Peruvian Cuisine)

Me Parasailing (I love traveling & doing adventurous things) 

How to Tame a Wild Tongue Quotes

Ashley Chang

English 1100_35

August 30th, 2015

Professor Young

How to Tame a Wild Tongue Quotes

"Who is saying that robbing a people of its language is less violent than war?" -Ray Gwyn Smith 

"Quien tiene boca se equivoca. He who has a mouth makes mistakes." -Mexican saying 

"For me food and certain smells are tied to my identity, to my homeland."

Works Cited

Anzaldua, Gloria. "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" Teaching Developmental Writing. Ed Susan Naomi Bernstein. Fourth ed. New York: Bedford/ St. Martin's, 2013. 245-255. Print. 

Reading Response Questions to "How To Tame a Wild Tongue"

Ashley  Chang

English 1100_35

August 30th 2015

Professor Young 

How To Tame a Wild Tongue Responses

1. The opening scene of Anzaldua in the dentist's chair connects to the overall point of the essay and title by showing the readers that the dentist is getting angry at her "wild tongue" as everyone in her life gets angry at her for not cotrolling the way she speaks.

2. Throughout Anzaldua's writing she uses Spanish to show non-Spanish speakers what its like to not understand. It made sense to me because she used context clues to show what she meant and I can also read Spanish.

3. I believe Academic English can be defined as Standard Spanish and Chicano Spanish defined as nonstandard because in Anzaldua's writing she explains how Chicano Spanish came to be a language and how "Chicanos from the Valley of South Texas were cut off linguistically from other Spanish speakers" meaning her Spanish is not correct, nonstandard. The way one speaks can say a lot about one's identity because if you're speaking nonstandard it says you're probably from the "ghetto" and if you're speaking standard then you're probably from a more sophisticated place.

4. The speaking and writing in Academic English is important because if you cannot speak and write academically then it says a lot about you. One cannot go to and interview speaking nonstandard English but it does not have to be apart of ones identity because in a professional setting everyone should speak Standard English but at home you can be yourself and speak how you wish.

5. I do not know many types of English, only standard and nonstandard and growing up in Paterson, NJ, a place that's considered "ghetto" of course I grew up speaking nonstandard English. However, I do speak Standard English with co-workers and my professors because it's more professional.

6. I do not use a secret language to speak with my friends, just standard and nonstandard English. 

7. With my friends I tend to speak both in standard and nonstandard English, with my mom I speak both nonstandard and standard Spanish since my parents don't speak English, however, with my professors I speak in Standard English because it's more professional and I do not have a personal relationship with them.

8. "I am my language" this means that you are what you speak. This connects to ones identity because the way you speak, one's language, is where you're from, your culture. 

9. The introduction and conclusion connect because in the introduction Anzaldua shows how the dentist is trying to control her "wild tongue" and how he can't, concluding with ".. we, the mestizas and mestizos, will remain" meaning Chicanos will remain strong with their "wild tongues".

10. The language we speak can be apart of our identity because our language is where we come from, our culture.

11. Identity is important to me because it's who I am. Anzaldua believes it is important to have identity. In her writing she says "Being Mexican is a state of soul" meaning she finds it very important that she is Mexican. She also says "For me food and certain smells are tied to my identity, to my homeland" which also describes how important it is to her where she is from. 

Getting to Know Me 

Ashley Chang

I love soccer, over the years I've drifted from it because I've focused on other aspects of my life but growing up in a Hispanic household, soccer is something you learn from the moment you start to run as a baby.

  

Now-a-days I only kick the ball around and make a couple passes, my brother on the other hand is on a soccer team for his high school back home. Some days we sit with my dad to watch soccer games whenever we can as a family because soccer is a sport that brings us all together.

I have lots of passions, I believe that overall I'm a very well rounded person and I have interest in almost everything. However, if I had to pick my top favorite passion then it would have to be cooking. I attended the school of Culinary Arts Hospitality and Tourism academy at Eastside High school in Paterson, NJ and my interest in cooking increased. I was Sous Chef for 2 years, following up by becoming the only Executive Sous Chef (highest position there is) of the year my senior year of high school. We competed in the National Prostart Invitational competition which is a culinary competition between high school students in New Jersey. Even though it was our first year at the competition we managed to get 4th place which definitely was a win for us. 

Now I experiment at home whenever I'm not feeling lazy and I also love to bake, that's where I started. So I can honestly say, cooking is my passion.  

Since my name is Ashley my closest friends sometimes call me Ash but I don't consider that a nickname since all Ashleys can be called Ash. My writing style is like me, I go with the flow of things and that's how I consider my writing to be also. Depending on the subject I use an outline but I always end up changing my mind about what to write anyways so most times I let my mind wander. In high school I didn't write many essays but I did get multiple chances to revise my essays. I also did learn grammar rules, I was in an Upward Bound program at Ramapo College during my summers and I also took a writing class there which helped a lot. If I had to grade myself on my writing now I would have to give myself a B because I know there's room for me to become a better writer. By the end of the semester my goal is to learn how to expand my writing skills to a college level writer.

My music interest is very broad, I listen to pretty much everything from spanish pop, to country, to r&b and rap. 
I do not use Facebook , I don't like it, however, I do use Twitter, Snap Chat and Instagram. Ask me for my @ name!