Identity and CultureAmy Tan's essay, "Mother Tongue" and Maxine Kingston's essay, "No Name Woman" represent a balance between cultures when obtaining of an identity in American culture. As first-generation Chinese-Americans, Tan and Kingston faced many obstacles. Language and appearance barriers while balancing two cultures. By overcoming these obstacles encountered and preserving their heritage, both women gained an identity as a successful American. In Amy Tan's work "Mother's Tongue," she provides insight into how she adapted her language to assimilate into American culture. She modified her language because her mother relied heavily on her for translation. She was her mother's voice, conveying information in standard English to those who were unable to understand her mother's broken English. She talks about her mother's poor English and its impact on her communication with those outside of her culture. Her mother's poor English limited others' perceptions of her intelligence, and even her own perception of her mother was wrong: Tan said, "I know this for sure, because when I was little, the My mother’s “limited” English limited my perception. of her. I was ashamed of his English. I thought her English reflected the quality of what she had to say. (419) The use of Standard English was an essential part of Tan's assimilation into American culture. Standard English was something she learned to help her mother, but more importantly, it was something that helped her succeed as a writer. Tan changed her "English" (family conversation) to include the standard English she had learned at school and from books, the forms of English she did not use at home with her mother . (417-418) Tan made the ch...... middle of paper ...... in his essay “No Name Woman”. The Chinese tradition of storytelling is preserved by Kingston in his books. Americanization gave these women the freedom to show their rebellious side and make their own choices. Rebelling against the ideals of their culture while preserving part of the heritage they grew up with. Both women overcame many obstacles and broke free from old cultural habits, allowing them to identify with a new culture. But above all, they were able to find their identity while preserving their cultural heritage. Works CitedKingston, Maxine Hong. “Woman with no name.” 50 essays: a portable anthology. 4th edition. Ed. Samuel Cohen. Boston/New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2011. 227-39. Print.Tan, Amy. " Native language. » 50 essays: a portable anthology. 4th edition. Ed. Samuel Cohen. Boston/New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2011. 417-23. Printed.