Second Language as a Portal to Self Expression and Community Integration Jiaxue Li College

Language as a symbol of culture brings tremendous and irreplaceable power. Specifically, a new identity could be seen as a product of learning a second language. Its elements are speaking habits, means of expression, and individual attitudes and emotions. Also, thinking differently in a second language shows that people have acculturation and attachment in their new language.

Yiyun Li is a Chinese born writer who focuses on telling stories about the inner worlds and lives of immigrants. Her story “A Thousand Years Of Good Prayers,” which is set in a subtle and sensitive atmosphere, takes place in the United States. As a father, Mr. Shi travels from China to visit his daughter Yilan. Yilan did not learn to use her native language to openly communicate and express emotions in her childhood. Her silent and depressed family education, led to an unfortunate marriage and cold and silent father-daughter relationship. She believes that finding and using an alternative language, English, makes her a different and new person. She can be more outgoing and have a good time talking and laughing. Therefore, Li, the author, suggests that there are strong connections between a person’s identity and their use of alternative languages does...