Why My Mother Cant Speak English
Why My Mother can’t Speak English
Garry Engkent was born in 1948 in China, he came to Canada in the 1950”s. He completed a PH.D in English at the University of Toronto, and has teached at a number of Community Colleges and Universities. Why My Mother can’t Speak English, was first published in the Anthology of Chinese-Canadian writing in 1991.
This short story has shown differences in culture, with different languages. There are parts where Garry’s mother feared of losing her home, and being sent back to China because she was not a Canadian citizen. But in order to become a Canadian citizen, you must speak the Oath of Allegiance in English and for the oral meeting with the Judge. Garry’s mother never really wanted to learn English, she felt that it would change her “Fan Gwei” ways. Fan Gwei is her culture, how she was raised and what she knows. She did not want to change who she was to live in Canada, and she did not want to go back to China.
Garry’s mother was so distraught from reading the “Dai Pao” which is the China newspaper. That she was going to be sent back to China, because our Canadian Government was cutting back old age pensions. Garry had asked his mother to stop reading the Dai Pao that the government was not sending her back to China, but she would not listen. So Garry took his mom to the courthouse to get citizenship papers. The clerk at the courthouse had told them to speak to a Liaison Officer. The officer had asked Garry why his mother cannot speak English after living in Canada for thirty years, or why she has not learned. This is where the officer had stated that she would need to speak English to recite the Oath of Allegiance. Garry seeing his mom so upset he told her that he would help her with translating. Engkent is thinking of his mom and their culture, he loves his mom and will do what it takes to help her. The day came when Garry and his mom met the judge, Garry translated for his mom and she became a Canadian citizen.
The Chinese
Garry Engkent was born in 1948 in China, he came to Canada in the 1950”s. He completed a PH.D in English at the University of Toronto, and has teached at a number of Community Colleges and Universities. Why My Mother can’t Speak English, was first published in the Anthology of Chinese-Canadian writing in 1991.
This short story has shown differences in culture, with different languages. There are parts where Garry’s mother feared of losing her home, and being sent back to China because she was not a Canadian citizen. But in order to become a Canadian citizen, you must speak the Oath of Allegiance in English and for the oral meeting with the Judge. Garry’s mother never really wanted to learn English, she felt that it would change her “Fan Gwei” ways. Fan Gwei is her culture, how she was raised and what she knows. She did not want to change who she was to live in Canada, and she did not want to go back to China.
Garry’s mother was so distraught from reading the “Dai Pao” which is the China newspaper. That she was going to be sent back to China, because our Canadian Government was cutting back old age pensions. Garry had asked his mother to stop reading the Dai Pao that the government was not sending her back to China, but she would not listen. So Garry took his mom to the courthouse to get citizenship papers. The clerk at the courthouse had told them to speak to a Liaison Officer. The officer had asked Garry why his mother cannot speak English after living in Canada for thirty years, or why she has not learned. This is where the officer had stated that she would need to speak English to recite the Oath of Allegiance. Garry seeing his mom so upset he told her that he would help her with translating. Engkent is thinking of his mom and their culture, he loves his mom and will do what it takes to help her. The day came when Garry and his mom met the judge, Garry translated for his mom and she became a Canadian citizen.
The Chinese