Question
In the paragraph 4, how does the author describe the differences between the English she uses with her mother and the English she uses with her husband? What does this suggest about the relationship dynamics within her family?
Just last week, I was walking down the street with my mother, and I again found
myself conscious of the English I was using, the English I do use with her. We were
talking about the price of new and used furniture and I heard myself saying this: "Not
waste money that way." My husband was with us as well, and he didn't notice any
switch in my English. And then I realized why. It's because over the 20 years we've
been together I've often used that same kind of English with him, and sometimes he
even uses it with me. It has become our language of intimacy, a different sort of English
that relates to family talk, the language I grew up with.
[5] So you'll have some idea of what this family talk I heard sounds like, I’ll quote what
my mother said during a recent conversation which I videotaped and then transcribed.
During this conversation, my mother was talking about a political gangster in Shanghai
who had the same last name as her family's, Du, and how the gangster in his early
years wanted to be adopted by her family, which was rich by comparison. Later, the
gangster became more powerful, far richer than my mother's family, and one day
showed up at my mother's wedding to pay his respects. Here's what she said in part:
[6] "Du Yusong having business like fruit stand. Like off the street kind. He is Du like Du
Zong — but not Tsung-ming Island people. The local people call putong, the river east
side, he belong to that side local people. That man want to ask Du Zong father take him
in like become own family. Du Zong father wasn't look down on him, but didn't take
seriously, until that man big like become a mafia. Now important person, very hard to
inviting him. Chinese way, came only to show respect, don't stay for dinner. Respect for
making big celebration, he shows up. Mean gives lots of respect. Chinese custom.
Chinese social life that way. If too important won't have to stay too long. He come to my
wedding. I didn't see, I heard it. I gone to boy's side, they have YMCA dinner. Chinese
age I was 19."
© Houston ISD Curriculum 2023-2024
Just last week, I was walking down the street with my mother, and I again found
myself conscious of the English I was using, the English I do use with her. We were
talking about the price of new and used furniture and I heard myself saying this: "Not
waste money that way." My husband was with us as well, and he didn't notice any
switch in my English. And then I realized why. It's because over the 20 years we've
been together I've often used that same kind of English with him, and sometimes he
even uses it with me. It has become our language of intimacy, a different sort of English
that relates to family talk, the language I grew up with.
[5] So you'll have some idea of what this family talk I heard sounds like, I’ll quote what
my mother said during a recent conversation which I videotaped and then transcribed.
During this conversation, my mother was talking about a political gangster in Shanghai
who had the same last name as her family's, Du, and how the gangster in his early
years wanted to be adopted by her family, which was rich by comparison. Later, the
gangster became more powerful, far richer than my mother's family, and one day
showed up at my mother's wedding to pay his respects. Here's what she said in part:
[6] "Du Yusong having business like fruit stand. Like off the street kind. He is Du like Du
Zong — but not Tsung-ming Island people. The local people call putong, the river east
side, he belong to that side local people. That man want to ask Du Zong father take him
in like become own family. Du Zong father wasn't look down on him, but didn't take
seriously, until that man big like become a mafia. Now important person, very hard to
inviting him. Chinese way, came only to show respect, don't stay for dinner. Respect for
making big celebration, he shows up. Mean gives lots of respect. Chinese custom.
Chinese social life that way. If too important won't have to stay too long. He come to my
wedding. I didn't see, I heard it. I gone to boy's side, they have YMCA dinner. Chinese
age I was 19."
© Houston ISD Curriculum 2023-2024
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In paragraph 4, the author contrasts the English she uses with her mother and the English she uses with her husband, revealing significant insights into her relationship dynamics within her family. When speaking to her mother, she uses a more fragmented and informal style, which reflects the nuances of their familial interaction and a shared cultural background. This informal English is characterized by simplified structures, as seen in her wording ("Not waste money that way"), which denotes a familiarity and comfort level typical in family conversations.
In contrast, the English she uses with her husband has evolved into a "language of intimacy," suggesting that their relationship incorporates a distinct blend of formal and informal communication. Despite the linguistic differences, both forms of English indicate deep connections; the language shared with her husband has roots in the same cultural background. This indicates that while her relationship with her mother may remain steeped in traditional familial dynamics, her relationship with her husband has adapted to include a unique, personal dialect that fosters intimacy.
Overall, these differences suggest that familial relationships can create distinct linguistic identities, influenced by specific contexts—such as culture and intimacy. The author’s awareness of her linguistic variations underscores the complexities of navigating multiple relationships and how language acts as a bridge or barrier to understanding between family members.
In contrast, the English she uses with her husband has evolved into a "language of intimacy," suggesting that their relationship incorporates a distinct blend of formal and informal communication. Despite the linguistic differences, both forms of English indicate deep connections; the language shared with her husband has roots in the same cultural background. This indicates that while her relationship with her mother may remain steeped in traditional familial dynamics, her relationship with her husband has adapted to include a unique, personal dialect that fosters intimacy.
Overall, these differences suggest that familial relationships can create distinct linguistic identities, influenced by specific contexts—such as culture and intimacy. The author’s awareness of her linguistic variations underscores the complexities of navigating multiple relationships and how language acts as a bridge or barrier to understanding between family members.