How to Tame a Wild Tongue by Gloria Anzaldua

Her true statement is presented in the third section, "Linguistic Terrorism," where Anzalduas states, "Ethnic identity is twin skin to linguistic identity--I am my language," (75). After introducing matter of her tongue as wild and untamable, where Anglos- the dominant and authority-wants her to assimilate, Anzaldua, shifts focus towards the male dominated Spanish language. "Language is a male discourse," is supported with the example of "nosotros," (74). As soon as Anzalduas mentions language as a male discourse, she hastily shifts towards the topic of cultural traitors which are in part, just victims of a dual identity. The purpose of focusing on language as a male discourse is representing it as parallel to the dominating system, which is male and white or conquered by them. Thus this topic shifts towards dual identity because being nonwhite in a white enforcing society results in a misused, altered, chaotic language and therefore, identity also. Anzaldua elaborated on her experience as a Chicana in regards to cultural entertainment and history of her languages in between the main paragraphs on attempts to tame a wild tongue at the beginning and her identity at the end, although identity is not explicitly implied until the last ending paragraphs. Anzaldua'a style is academic, yet she makes it fit her creative style. .
             Academic styled papers give a clear topic sentence and thesis, giving readers the answer before the evidence, whereas Anzaldua's approach gives the evidence leading up to the answer. This is effective in her argument because the structure stress readers' emphasis on learning and exploring how one gets to the conclusion, instead of being given the conclusion and then underlying arguments on it. The academic structure is an easier way of understanding, does not serve as much as a learning tool but a resource. Although it is clear and concise, evidence will fall apart in the process of idea distinction.