Critical Analysis of the Gift of Language by Lan Cao
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Banu GarayzadaSection V6 Nov, 2016Critical Analysis Final paper“The gift of language” by Lan Cao A colossal move in anybodys life will bring about a man to see the world in a radically new point of view, particularly when moving to another nation. In the extract, “The Gift of Language”, the writer Lan Cao expounds on her experience of moving from Vietnam to America because of the Vietnam War. Monkey Bridge , published in 1997, is the semiautobiographical novel of Vietnamese American attorney and writer Lan Cao from which this passage comes. Cao is a professor of international law at Chapman University School of Law. Author claims that being an immigrant as a teen is easier than being as an adult , it can form a different behavior , teach new language, Idea of another country and culture from the inside. Cao talks about her move to America being direct inverse from her mother depends on Americas rural areas, markets, culture and dialect. Moving to this nation required Cao and her mother to roll out improvements, for example, learning English, adjusting to the American culture and rapidly conforming to their surroundings for survival purposes. Cao convinces her readers with the expository procedures ethos, logos, emotion, point of view, tone, and counterarguments that moving to another nation involves an intense move and also making the essential modification. Having high esteem for America, and appreciating the progression they have to make because of their change period or suffering from homesickness and struggling to adjust to America’s lifestyle are two conceivable results that took after Cao and her mother moved to America.
One situation in which children have the burden of aiding their parents is at the grocery store. For instance, newcomers might struggle with the ‘American way’ of shopping they are clueless as to which grocery store to choose from and they might preference other means of shopping. The grocery stores in America are in standard buildings and inside there is an abundance of food “meticulously arranged into a pyramid. Columns of canned vegetables and fruits stood among multiple shelves as people well-rehearsed to the demands of modern shopping meandered through the fluorescent aisles” (615). . Cao’s mother preferred shopping in the outdoor markets in her homeland over shopping in America’s grocery stores because she was accustomed to navigating through “the patternless paths” of food and other various items as well as being familiar with the vendors and knowing exactly how to bargain with them (616). It was clear to see that Cao had a less demanding time conforming to the adjustments in America in contrast with her mom. Thus, Cao needed to come to her moms safeguard and guide her through the procedure of Americanization. Before all else, Cao and her mom were in a condition of culture stun when they at first touched base in America. In spite of the fact that when Cao turned out to be more usual to the American culture, Cao needed to help her mother “ through the hard scrutiny of ordinary suburban life” (Cao1997,P.617) . The perspective of immigrant parents who are not accustomed to the suburban livelihood, do not recognize how to live amongst the identical housing structures, nor comprehend with the boredom that suburbia life entails. I read this book when I heard about it and I loved it . The author does some amazing things with the language, and the plot itself was clever. The book ought to be a fascinating and instructive read for English-talking readers, particularly for their comprehension of the Vietnam war as experienced by Vietnamese-Americans, and for their initial about beginning attempting day by day lives of Vietnamese displaced refugees/migrants in the U.S. The writing style is lovely. The language is often simply beautiful, and the Vietnamese perspective is interesting. Its not one we get often. I also loved the way the characters unfolded, how perceptions often were completely wrong, it is very impressive.