Edexia for IB English

The pain of language loss in families is exposed through an article written by Mithu Sanyal, who effectively employs narrative voice to promote a message concerning the importance of understanding a native language. Through an anecdotal recount, statistical insight, and an expert opinion to encourage change - all woven with an inclusive narrative voice - Sanyal prefronts the necessity of learning one's native language; not for personal acheivement but familial connection. Sanyal uses voice in establishing a mutual connection with readers from the offset through an anecdotal recount. The writer immediately poses a rhetorical question that invites intimacy: asking whether readers "want to know a secret". In using this question and directly engaging with them, Sanyal gives rise to a sense of immediacy between himself and the audience, encouraging readers to obtain this secret by continuing to traverse through the text. The use of subtle details in adding phrases such as Sanyal's friend who is "an author, like [her]" further places significance upon the importance of establishing a mutual connection in communicating an apparent message regarding familial language loss. Additionally, the emulation of how the author "couldn't understand what [her father] was saying" and her inability to "pronounce [her name] correctly" exemplifies the cost of insufficient language acquisition on familial relations, highlighting the power of establishing immediacy with the reader and its effect on emotional appeal. Yet, her concise and blunt claim that she "can't even say [her] own name" magnifies her internal conflict, spotlighting how narrative voice can mould the truth into an emotional burden for the reader. Hence, Sanyal shines a light on how establishing a mutual connection better transmits her message on native language barriers. Furthermore, Sanyal's sense of immediacy, paired with a statistical insight, elevates her attempt to voice the imperativeness of language acquisition. De Houwer's studies, which reveal that "between 12% and 44% of children ... end up speaking only one language", emphasises how the struggle to claim a language is not merely limited to a number of individuals - it is instead subject to many children globally. Here, Sanyal implements such information to prompt reflection out of the reader, allowing them to question whether they are also subject to this issue. The exclamative phrase that children sense that their other language is "worthless" further underlines how such mistakes are often normalised, calling on the reader to consider Sanyal's argument as a threat towards cultural ecstasy. Thus, the author quantifies the impact of a lack of language acquisition with an emotional undertone, reinforcing the urgency of her message. Finally, Sanyal utilises an expert opinion alongside her sentimental approach towards narrative voice to encourage action from the audience. De Houwer's grave revelation that "language regret" is "not good for family relations" underscores the impact of this widespread issue, not only on individuals, but familial bonds too. The use of anaphora in elevating the importance of speaking one's parent's language "for [parents], for