While reading the second section of Native speaker, there were many important developments.
“He started speaking in English. Sometimes, when he wanted to hide or not outright lie, he chose to speak in English. he used to break into it when he argued with my mother, and it drove her crazy when he did and she would please, ‘No, no!’ as though he ahd suddenly introduced a switchblade into a clean fistfight…” (Pg. 63)
This quote is about Henrys father who constantly was giving Henry mixed signals about his identity. Henrys father who was a diligent worker and an immigrant to the United states, would stress to Henry to represent his heritage, but Henry never seemed to be good enough since henry would constantly quote himself as being an B+ student at life. By Henrys father breaking out in English to fight or lie about something it was to his family that speaking English was the “bad word” like Fuck is to us. Henrys mother freaking out about it, shows that it has a large impact on their family. To Henrys mother, when henrys father used English it was like he was physically beating her. I think that she became so upset because obviously Korean was the first language spoken in the house, and she doesn’t really understand many things in English. additionally, I feel that in the relationship aspect in their marriage, even when arguing the fight should be in the same language that they both can fully understand. As for the father having the inappropriate language to me that is a huge slap in the face, and completely uncalled for.
