A) What effect is Anzaldua showing readers of mixing English and Spanish?

There is a significant message that Anzaldua is trying to present to the readers by mixing English and Spanish in her work. She believes that the aspect of Borderlands is a great issue in America in which she provides that people with indefinite identities like her face discrimination (Anzaldua 205). However, she tries to challenge this by insisting on her original identity by speaking Spanish besides English that is commonly spoken in America. She, therefore, remains at the borderline and justifies her stand by arguing against the fear that borderlands keep the victims out of specific identity occasions. By mixing both English and Spanish, Anzaldua demonstrates her regards to her cultural based Spanish language as much as the environment demands the use of English.

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The use of the two languages also has an effect of demonstrating however experiences that she had had because of having her life mostly at the "borderlands." An example is a case from the story she shares regarding what she went through after being caught speaking Spanish. She writes "I remember being caught speaking Spanish at recess- that was good for three licks on the knuckles with a sharp ruler." This shows the possible resultant opposing views with regard to the borders. The teacher believed in her opinion that mixture should be prevented in any instance in America and children have no option based on language; should speak English. According to Anzaldua (206), she is also reminded that being an American is demonstrated b speaking English; "If you want to be American, speak American. If you don't like it, go back to Mexico, where you belong." Anzaldua has therefore succeeded to show that speaking another language apart from English in America is forbidden; however, she maintains the need to recognize the language through which she traces her origin.

B) What does Anzaldua consider linguistic terrorism in the United States?

Anzaldua introduces a concept of linguistic terrorism in which she demonstrates her concern for how speaking a different language rather than English in America is harshly treated. In her essay, she strongly outlines her emotions towards the act of disposing of one's native language, which referred to as the tongue. She observes that America presents an environment in which English should be the only language to show that one conforms to the provisions of the land. According to Anzaldua (211), there is a great criticism towards the ascent of the Chicano and how this shapes their identity in America. Linguistic terrorism, therefore, implies that all the aspects of one's language are criticized in place in which a different language is spoken. Anzaldua spoke an improper and poor Chicano Spanish during her childhood stage and she faced great criticism from almost everyone with whom she interacted; even her mother scolded her.

Ethnic identity is a concept which has a close connection with linguistic identity. It, therefore, follows that the critique of the way in which one speaks also presents a considerable opposition of who the victim is. Language has great roles in people's lives beyond merely shaping them; it has the role of even adjusting the environments in which they live. The "Linguistic Terrorism" that Anzaldua is talking about is the attack on the individuals to forcefully shape what is believed to be acceptable and what is not. The Americans in this context insists that speaking English is more authentic than any other language; therefore, linguistic terrorism.

Work Cited

Anzaldua, Gloria. "How To Tame A Wild Tongue." Language and Rhetoric (1987): 202-215. Web. 8 Mar. 2019.