Read the excerpt from "Mother Tongue." (Albe
I am a writer. And by that definition, I am someone who has always loved language. I am fascinated by language
in daily life. I spend a great deal of my time thinking about the power of language—the way it can evoke an
emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth. Language is the tool of my trade. And I use them all-
all the Englishes I grew up with.
How does Tan build a central idea of her story in the excerpt?
O Tan references her writing career to build the idea that writing is the most satisfying career choice for Asian
Americans.
O Tan references her work with language to build the idea that all forms of English are purposeful and meaningful.
O Tan references her fascination with language to build the idea that daily life is the best language source for writers.
O Tan references her thoughts about language to build the idea that more people should think about their language
usage.