Turmoils while establishing a Chicano identity: A reading of Anazaldua’s theory of “Linguistic Terrorism”

The paper explores the difficulties of women writers in establishing their tradition and language while articulating with the mainstream world. Women of color and lesbians are often targeted in the literary world of Whites. The paper draws inferences from Anzaldua’s essays; “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” and “Speaking in Tongues”. Her own autobiographical experiences become the fuel for her writings. These essays unfold her past with special reference to “linguistic terrorism”. Language varies from one culture to another and the superiority of language is an illogical concept. The native language often becomes subject to racial attacks in diasporic context. Gloria Anzaldua, born in Mexico, was constantly humiliated for her Chicano culture and Spanish language once she moved to United States. She perceived language as the soul of her existence and a verbal medium to revolt. For Anzaldua writing echoes the inner turmoils of oppressed women and elevates them to a timeless realm. She uses writing as a tool to overcome the tradition of silence.