Now to tame a wild tongue

Scene Setting: The narrator describes a dentist's appointment where the dentist struggles with the strength of their tongue, metaphorically likening it to a wild animal.
- Silver dental pieces fall into the basin as the dentist attempts to clean and control the narrator's mouth.
- The dentist expresses frustration at the narrator's tongue, calling it 'strong' and 'stubborn.'

Internal Conflict: The narrator reflects on the violence of losing one’s language, drawing parallels between linguistic suppression and physical violence in war.
- Quote by Ray Gwyn Smith highlights this connection.
Childhood Memories: Remembers speaking Spanish at recess leading to punishment, and being sent to the corner for asserting their name's pronunciation.
- Experiences of being told to assimilate to American culture punctuated with: "If you don't like it, go back to Mexico where you belong."

Cultural Critique: The narrator's mother expresses discontent with their English accent, referring to it as "el lenguaje de la frontera."
College Experience: Attends Pan American University, required to take classes aimed at eliminating their accent, reflecting societal pressures on language identity.
- Chicano Spanish is dismissed as 'deficient' by some, yet the author argues it is a valid form of expression.

Identity Through Language: Chicano Spanish emerges as a means of cultural expression for those straddling language and identity between English and Spanish.
- It is described as a 'border tongue' that is evolving and enriching.
Reclamation of Language: Author argues against the notion that Chicano Spanish is incorrect—it's genuine and reflects their lived experience.

Cultural Barriers: The narrator reminisces about childhood sayings that discourage voicing opinion, revealing a culture of silence surrounding women in their community.
- Being talkative is equated with negative traits in women, leading to a tradition of silence.
Creating a New Language: The necessity for the creation of a language that conveys the complexities of their identity as both Mexican and American.

Cultural Linguistics: Highlights a variety of languages spoken within the Chicano community, including:
1. Standard English
2. Working class and slang English
3. Standard Spanish
4. Standard Mexican Spanish
5. North Mexican Spanish dialects
6. Chicano Spanish (varieties based on geography)
7. Tex-Mex
8. Pachuco slang
Loss of Language: Due to external pressures on language use, many have begun to lose their unique variants, leading to fewer speakers.

Struggles of Recognition: Linguistic terrorism is described, where speakers face ongoing attacks on the legitimacy of their language and by extension their identity.
- Chicanos grapple with feelings of inferiority regarding their language, stemming from societal perceptions of legitimacy.
Pride in Language: Encouragement to embrace Chicano Spanish is promoted as a necessary step toward self-acceptance and cultural pride.
Cultural Narratives: Storytelling, music, and folk traditions are highlighted as essential to preserving and celebrating Chicano culture, despite pressures for assimilation.

Hope for Integration: The narrative promotes a vision of eventual integration of identities without sacrificing cultural uniqueness.
Labors of Love: Chicanos navigate a complex identity, reconciling the dual ties they feel to both their Mexican heritage and American upbringing.
- The persistence of language reflects resilience against cultural erasure and a path towards future empowerment.