As someone learning Spanish with a Spanish-speaking parent, I understand that switch from the different English being used in Mother Tongue by Amy Tan. Communication, when being multilingual, doesn't have to be limited to one language and even if it is, it doesn't have to be entirely perfect to get an argument, idea or statement across, especially when you are used the way the languages or language is being used. The idea and complexity of language and sentence order doesn't have to be limited to only one language, meaning that no matter what you're speaking there are numerous ways for you to get an idea out.

The Author, for example, uses broken English which has become something personal for her and people she shares it with. The way she exchanges words with her mother, or husband, isn't perfect English because it's casual and easier for both of them to understand even if they have a completely perfect grasp of the language. In my opinion, being able to communicate should be held higher than how well your use of language is. Close-knit, multilingual groups often break the boundaries of languages to blend or mix them be it vocabulary or sentence structure; Which is interesting to think about. It happens more often with bilingual or multilingual families, where words turn to more of a concept than a definite thing to say, as if there were a right word to use.

I relate to that experience of communicating, as previously mentioned I am learning Spanish and I live with a Spanish-speaking parent. I grew up familiar with words like abuela and tia to describe family members; Now I find myself sometimes catching myself with bad English because I've been speaking, what we like to call, 'Spanglish' with mi madre. I listen in on the conversations my mother has with my abuela, they often speak in Spanish but I hear catches and glimpse of English because my abuela is still learning the language. From where I stand and how I observe languages being used around me, I don't think much of it when people slip up grammatically or they're still learning. People's negative attitude towards non-native English speakers are usually harsh, it's irrational because they use arguments like 'learn the language' when they've yet to realize the person they're being critical about is, in fact, learning the language that seems mandatory to learn because of how dominant it is in today's world culture.

All that matters is communication, messing up on language does not dictate whether or not you're a not an intellectual. Amy Tan expresses this when she talks about how her mother is a very smart business women, yet most people aren't willing to take her seriously because of her "imperfect" English-- Even when her health may have been on the line. What's most important is that we need to stop associating the capability to speak English perfectly with intelligence and start listening to how people are trying to communicate their ideas.