American Culture & History
What holiday is celebrated on July 4th in the United States?
Independence Day
What is the term for a person's individual way of speaking?
Speech
What is identity?
The characteristics, beliefs, experiences, and qualities that make up how a person understands themselves.
What major topic do both authors discuss?
Identity and belonging in America
What is one major theme of “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”?
Language and identity
What document declared the American colonies independent from Great Britain?
The Declaration of Independence
What is a dialect?
A particular form of a language associated with a region or social group
What is diversity?
The presence of differences among people, such as differences in culture, race, language, or background.
What factor shapes Anzaldúa's experience of America?
Language and Chicana culture
What does Anzaldúa believe happens when people are repeatedly told their language is wrong?
It can diminish their sense of self.
What is the name for the cultural traditions, beliefs, and practices shared by a group of people?
Culture
What does bilingual mean?
Being able to use two languages
What is a stereotype?
A generalized belief about a particular group of people.
What factor shapes Lorde's experience of America?
Race and Black identity
What does “belonging” mean in the context of these readings?
Feeling accepted and recognized as part of American society.
What term describes the process of adapting to or adopting another culture?
Assimilation
What is code-switching?
Changing between languages, dialects, or ways of speaking depending on the situation or audience
What is prejudice?
A preconceived opinion or feeling about a person or group, often formed without enough knowledge or experience.
How do both authors challenge the idea of a single American experience?
They show that people's experiences of America differ based on their identities and how society treats them.
How can language become a form of resistance in Anzaldúa's essay?
Maintaining and using her language allows her to resist pressure to assimilate.
What is the term for a person's sense of belonging to a particular group based on shared culture, history, or other characteristics?
Identity
What is language discrimination?
Treating someone differently or negatively because of the language or variety of language they speak
What is discrimination?
Treating a person or group unfairly because of characteristics such as race, culture, language, or identity.
What is one major similarity between the two readings?
Both use personal experiences to reveal larger issues involving identity, discrimination, and belonging in America.
Why are the two readings from class especially effective to compare?
They both explore themes and ideas surrounding identity, language and culture.