How to Tame a Wild Tongue

Anzaldúa code-switches between Spanish and English throughout the essay. When and why does Anzaldúa switch from English to Spanish? How do the moments of code-switching shape the essay?

Anzaldúa writes, “Language is a male discourse” (35). Are there passages in the essay that extend this point beyond the context with which it is first introduced? Does Anzaldúa amend this statement by the end of the essay? Are there instances where language becomes a female discourse in the text?

What is the role of Indigenous “Indian” culture and language in the text? How is Indigenous identity significant to Anzaldúa’s sense of Chicano identity and culture? Explore the points Anzaldúa makes about politics and Indigenous ethnicity. How do they contribute to her argument?