William Butler's Speech Sounds

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“I’m Valerie Rye,” she said, savoring the words. “It’s all right for you to talk to me” (Butler 108); the quote is the last paragraph of the entire text and it transforms the story into another stage. Throughout the whole short story “Speech Sounds”: the world is hopeless, and the society is isolated; the people are silent. Butler uses Rye’s words to describe the inhumane people, and they like the violent and sanguinary beasts. Until the end, Rye plays the role of a deficient person who is struggling with her own silence and fear of the society. However, Rye’s feelings all changes when the two children appear after the merciless shooting and speak to her without gestures. Rye discovers the precious hope in this silent world and disorder; she …show more content…
This is, because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect. And I had plenty of empirical evidence to support me: the fact the people in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good services, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her” (Tan 40). The quote I chose took place at the ninth paragraph (middle part) of the entire text. Two important points are given to us by Amy Tan in this quote from “Mother Tongue” which is the reason I choose it. Above all, Amy points out the mighty powers that language has: it forcefully affects people’s lives; personality; and their lifestyles. Language makes people remember their own cultures and contributes to their own identity. Amy discomposed by her mother’s limited English skills and the way she spoke when she was young, “she (Mrs. Tan) expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect” (Tan 40). “Imperfect” presents Mrs. Tan (as a Chinese)’s difficulties to indicate her mind. However, Mrs. Tan tries to use the authentic English to talk with others; the ways she says and thinks the English language affect her actions that are different compared to other Americans. Therefore, Amy’s another point is coming out: everyone has his/her background and individuality, which should be respected by anyone around the world. Amy lists numerous inequitable pieces of evidence appeared in mother’s life due to Chinese identity to prove. “Fact the people in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good services, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her” (Tan 40). In my opinion, if this quote was changed or absent, the entire text will lose the intense sensation of Amy about her mother and the powerful examples of unjust in the society. The question raised to the point: how to
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