Mac os 10.6 torrent. Aria: Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood by Richard Rodriguez Summary and Analysis. “Aria: A Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood” is a memoir of Richard Rodriguez’s bilingual childhood and it was originally published in Hunger of Memory in 1981. Apple computers laptops. In Rodriguez’s memoir, he discusses why he disagrees with bilingual education. His audience is bilingual or anyone that has an opinion towards bilingual education.
- What is an “aria”? Why do you think Rodriguez chose this word for his title? Is is appropriate and/or effective?
An “aria” is a long, accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio. I think Rodriguez chose this word for his title because in his essay, he spoke about how the sounds in songs are in intimate. He says “By simply being occasions when sound escapes word, however, songs put me in mind of the most intimate moments of my life” (328). He uses this word to address what his essay and claim will be about explaining how language is more than just words, but the sounds and the person speaking it. He states, “it depends not on word but on person” (326).
The first four paragraphs appeal to ethos because they give credibility to his knowledge of being bilingual in living in the world of Hispanic culture. The first four paragraphs appeal to ethos because the first four paragraphs act as an introduction into Rodriguez’s life. He says, “I was a bilingual child, a certain kind- socially disadvantaged- the son of working-class parents, both Mexican immigrants” (308). He justifies his ability to speak on this issue through personal experience in order to later address his claim that avoiding the native language to secure identity only leads to an insecure feeling.
- Describe the tone of paragraph 5 where Rodriguez first raises issues of bilingual education.
The tone of paragraph 5 where Rodriguez first raises issues of bilingual education begins serious and formal. He explains very factually what the bilingual education was and who started it. He then continues with his argument that, “it is not possible for a child- any child- ever to use his family’s language in school” (308). Having this tone emphasizes his argument about how a child needs to learn the native language. This statement is strongly presenting his argument as well as offering his empathy towards those who might take part in this new established education system that he claims is broken.
- Why does Rodriguez emphasize the sound of language? Is this an appeal to logos, pathos, or both? Explain.
Rodriguez emphasizes the sound of language to demonstrate that it is not the words that have meaning, rather the intimacy is by who and what sounds are made. He says, “intimacy is not created by a particular language; it is created by intimates” (323). This portrays how his emphasize on the sound of language is what is significant. This is an appeal to pathos because Rodriguez goes on to say while explaining about his grandmother that, “It was enough I was there. The words she spoke were almost irrelevant to that fact- the sounds she made. Content” (327). He adds emotion and that feeling of home when he describes and emphasizes the sounds of words.
- How would you describe Rodriguez's attitude toward his parents? Does it change from one point to another? Identify specific passages.
I would describe Rodriguez’s attitude toward his parents to be very loving, but also reluctant. He says in his essay that much of his family called him pocho, which means bland because he could not really speak Spanish as well after he started to learn English more. Still, he loved his family a lot as he explains, “A family member would say something to me and I would feel myself specially recognized… I would feel embraced by the sounds of their words” (311). This quote justifies how comforted he felt around his family, with the sounds and intimacy that came when they spoke. It does change however, although he felt very loved and special earlier in the essay before he began to use English more, after, he became more distanced from his family life as he used the “public language” more.
- Where in the essay does Rodriguez present his most straightforward argument. Is it effective? Would it have been more effective if it had been placed nearer the beginning? Why?
Rodriguez presents his most straightforward argument in the 55 paragraph when he states, “Intimacy is not created by a particular language; it is created by intimates” (323). I do believe it is effective because it synthesizes his point that language is more than just the words said, it is who says it and the tone in which it is said. It would have been more effective if it had been placed nearer the beginning because then his argument would have been established earlier and more coherent to be justified throughout his essay rather than the end.
- What are the major counterarguments Rodriguez addresses: (He does not address them all at once; identify specific passages).
One of the major counterarguments Rodriguez addresses is that, “children lose a degree of ‘individuality’ by becoming assimilated' (319). This later helps him explain how in truth, individuality is gained when one is assimilated; a public identity is gained. He also has another counterargument saying, “Supporters of bilingual education today imply that students like me (him) miss a great deal by not being taught in their family's language' (313). This demonstrates that actually what is lost is the intimacy rather than the educational benefits received by teaching in the family language.
- Who do you think is the intended audience for this essay? Cite specific passages to support your viewpoint.
I think the intended audience for this essay are those who support bilingual education and those who do not speak two languages. He states, Continually he states that the experience he had with language was intensely personal, 'my society' (310). His continuous counterarguments from the bilingual educators and isolation when he states, “the way gringos spoke” (310). For this isolation and counterarguments, it justifies how his intended audience is the bilingual educators and those for are different from him who have not experienced the bilingual experience he has.
- What is the the tone in the final paragraphs (beginning with par. 69)? How has the tone changed (or not) from the tone in the rest of the essay? What would have been the effect on Rodriguez’s argument of eliminating these last paragraphs?
The tone in the final paragraphs is nostalgic as he looks to the past about his grandmother. Rodriguez switches from his coming of age, growing up with the experiences he has and describing them to looking back on how importance of language. He continues to speak about “the last time” (329) he saw his grandmother and the emotion that came with. He also says, “Among their voices but silent, I traced, then lost, the sounds of individual aunts in the surge of the common prayer” (329). The fragmented and reflective tone he inputs in this last paragraph explains how the tone shift, so too does his claim of how significant language is. The effect on Rodriguez’s argument if he eliminated these last paragraphs would have lost the appeal to pathos. Within this shift, he connects the nostalgia and connection he had with his grandmother from the sounds and language they spoke with each other. Without this shift, his argument would not have been as strong or revealing.
Aria A Memoir Of A Bilingual Childhood Quotes
The general argument made by Rodriguez in 'Aria' is that Personal language and the value it holds cannot be recreated by the system of bilingual education that is in place and it is important for public identity that you know the native language. More specifically, Rodriguez argues that “It depends not on word but on person” (326). Healso states that, 'while one suffers a diminished sense of private individuality by becoming assimilated into public society, such assimilation makes possible the achievement of public individuality' (319). In this passage, Rodriguez isaddressing that assimilation is necessary to have individuality and although you lose some, you gain some as language is more than just words, but the sounds and tone placed within the words. Thus, Rodriguez's belief is that “Intimacy is not created by a particular language; it is created by intimates” (323).
Cohen, Samuel S. 'Aria: Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood' 50 Essays: A Portable Anthology
Aria A Memoir Of A Bilingual Childhood Soapstone
. 3rded. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2007. 307-30. Print.
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