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Read the excerpt from "Mother Tongue."
Yet some of my friends tell me they understand 50 percent of what my mother says. Some say they understand
80 to 90 percent. Some say they understand none of it, as if she
were speaking pure Chinese. But to me, my
mother's English is perfectly clear, perfectly natural.
It's my mother tongue. Her language, as I hear it, is vivid,
direct, full of observation and imagery. That was the language
that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed
things, made sense of the world.
How does Tan build a central idea of her story in the excerpt?
O Tan describes her friends' understanding of her mother to support the idea that nonstandard forms of English should
only be used in the home.
O Tan uses numerical data to support the idea that nonstandard forms of English are on the decline and being replaced
by one standard form.
O Tan tells a story about her mother's life to support the idea that learning the language of a new country comes
naturally to most people.
Tan discusses her mother's English to support the idea that the language of one's childhood is a person's deepest,
truest form of expression.



Answer :

GinnyAnswer
In the excerpt from "Mother Tongue," Amy Tan builds a central idea by discussing her mother's English to support the concept that the language of one's childhood is a person's deepest, truest form of expression.

Here's how Tan conveys this central idea:
1. Tan contrasts how her friends perceive her mother's English with her own perception. While her friends struggle to understand varying percentages of her mother's speech, Tan finds her mother's English clear, natural, vivid, and full of observation and imagery.
2. By stating that her mother's English is "perfectly clear" and "perfectly natural" to her, Tan emphasizes the deep connection she has with her mother's language. This connection goes beyond mere understanding; it shapes how Tan sees and expresses things, ultimately helping her make sense of the world.
3. Through this portrayal of her mother's language, Tan highlights the richness and authenticity of nonstandard forms of English, challenging the notion that only standard forms should be used outside the home.

Therefore, by delving into her personal experience with her mother's English, Tan underscores the idea that one's native language is a profound and genuine mode of expression that influences perception and understanding in a unique way.

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