Aluu!

Hi!

Salut!

You Have Two

Jambo!

Oi!

Voices
By Nancy Prasad
Your “Favourite” Language
● How many languages are you able to speak?
● What language do you speak at home?
● What language do you speak most often/is most comfortable
in? Is it the same as the language you speak at home?
Activity Time!
● In pairs, read out this passage in English first.
● Then translate it into another language that you know.
Riverside Secondary is a great school. I am currently studying there
with many of my friends. My favourite subject is English Literature!
I also enjoy playing soccer with my friends during recess time.
Reflection Time (Jot this down in your WS)
● How did you feel reading the passage in English? Describe it
with a simile.
● How did you feel reading the passage out in another
language? Describe it with a metaphor.
● Why do you think you feel that way for these two situations?
 Hi!
You Have Two
Voices…
This poem is about speaking in
two languages – how one feels
more natural than the other.
 Jambo!
01

Using
SMART
Take about 2 minutes to
read through the poem
first.
Using SMART to get an overview of our poem
● Subject Matter
○ What is the topic of the poem?
● Mood

○ How do you feel reading the poem?

● Attitude

○ What kind of feelings do you think the speaker has

towards the subject matter of the poem?

● Reason

○ Why do you think the poet has written this poem?

● Tension

○ What is the main conflict in the poem?

Jot down briefly your thoughts in the boxes in your WS.

¡Hola!
2
Annotating
Try annotating your poem
yourself now.
• What are some literary
techniques you can spot in the
poem?
• What are some words that
stand out to you? What do
they mean?
• Why do you think the poet
chose those words?
Stanza One
You have two voices when you speak
in English or your mother tongue.
When you speak the way your people spoke
the words don't hesitate but flow
like rivers, like rapids, like oceans of sound,
and your hands move like birds through the
air.
Stanza One
You have two voices when you speak
in English or your mother tongue.
When you speak the way your people spoke

● What does it mean to speak the way “your people spoke”?

Stanza One
When you speak the way your people spoke
the words don't hesitate

● Can words “hesitate”?

● What does it mean for words to “hesitate”?
● What technique is the speaker using?
 IPE: “words don’t hesitate”
Identify Purpose Effect
Identify Purpose Effect
What literary device Why does the poet use that What is the effect of this device on you ‘the reader’?
have you found? particular literary device?
- What is the poet trying to
achieve?

The speaker The speaker conveys how By personifying the “words” the person use to be
personifies the person does not able to flow out of them easily and instantaneously,
“words”, where it pause while they are this personification reveals how natural and
does not “hesitate” speaking in their mother charismatic the person sounds when they are
tongue. The speaker speaking their mother tongue.
emphasizes how
effortlessly smooth the
person sounds when they
are speaking in their
mother tongue.
Stanza One
the words don't hesitate but flow
like rivers, like rapids, like oceans of sound,

● How would you describe the water speed of rivers?

● What are rapids?
● Why oceans?
● What are the technique used here?
 IPE: “flow like rivers, like rapids, like oceans of sound”

Identify Purpose Effect

Identify Purpose Effect
What literary device Why does the poet use that What is the effect of this device on you ‘the reader’?
have you found? particular literary device?
- What is the poet trying to
achieve?

The speaker uses a A “river” flows smoothly, without Through the simile, I feel a sense of admiration and respect for the
simile to compare the any interruption while waters person speaking in their mother tongue because of how powerful
person speaking in their flowing in “rapids” are powerful and fluid they sound while talking.
mother tongue to the and fast.
words “river” and By comparing the person
“rapids”. speaking in their mother tongue
to these bodies of water, the
speaker shows how fluid and
expressive the person, where
they can speak as fast and
smoothly as the waters flowing in
the “river” and “rapids”.
 IPE: “flow like rivers, like rapids, like oceans of sound”

Identify Purpose Effect

Identify Purpose Effect
What literary device Why does the poet use that What is the effect of this device on you ‘the reader’?
have you found? particular literary device?
- What is the poet trying to
achieve?

The speaker uses a “Oceans” are vast bodies of This simile evokes a sense of admiration for the person speaking
simile to compare the water. By comparing how the their mother tongue, where we appreciate the beauty and ease of
person speaking in their person speaks to “oceans of communication in mother tongue for the person.
mother tongue to sounds”, the speaker
“oceans of sound”. emphasizes on how the words
flow out of the person easily,
where they have a large pool of
vocabulary that they can use.
Stanza One
your hands move like birds through the air.

● What is the person doing?

● What technique is used here?
● How do birds fly through the air?
 IPE: “your hands move like birds through the air”

Identify Purpose Effect

Identify Purpose Effect
What literary Why does the poet use that particular literary What is the effect of this device on you ‘the
device have device? reader’?
you found? - What is the poet trying to achieve?

The speaker “Birds” flying through the air are often smooth, This simile draws out how expressive and
uses a simile to graceful and swift. By comparing the person comfortable the person is when speaking in
compare the gesturing while speaking their mother tongue to their mother tongue, making me feel happy for
movement of “birds”, the speaker emphasizes on how comfortable how natural the person feels while speaking.
the person’s the person is when speaking their mother tongue,
hands to how where they are able communicate spiritedly and
“birds [move] animatedly. Additionally, “birds through the air”
through the signifies a sense of freedom and effortless flight.
air”. This comparison thus also emphasizes on how
freely the person is speaking.
Let’s SMART Stanza 1!
You have two voices when you speak
in English or your mother tongue.
When you speak the way your people spoke
the words don't hesitate but flow
like rivers, like rapids, like oceans of sound,
and your hands move like birds through the air.

Subject Matter: The speaker is talking about how the person sounds when
they are speaking in their mother tongue.
Mood: The stanza feels peaceful and harmonious, where the person is able
to speak smoothly in their mother tongue
Attitude: There is a sense of respect and awe towards the fluid way the
person speaks when they are using their mother tongue.
Stanza Two
But then you take a stranger's voice
when you speak in your new tongue.
Each word is a stone dropped in a pool.
I watch the ripples and wait for more.
You search in vain for other stones to throw.
They are heavy. Your hands hang down.
Stanza Two
But then you take a stranger's voice
when you speak in your new tongue.

● Who is the “stranger” here?

● What is the “new tongue” here?
Stanza Two
Each word is a stone dropped in a pool.

● What is the technique used here?

● What do you see when a stone is dropped in a pool?
 IPE: “Each word is a stone dropped in a pool.”

Identify Purpose Effect

Identify Purpose Effect
What literary Why does the poet use that What is the effect of this device on you ‘the reader’?
device have you particular literary device?
found? - What is the poet trying to
achieve?

The speaker Compared to “oceans”, a “pool” is This metaphor thus emphasizes how the person speaks more
uses a metaphor smaller in size. This suggests how laboriously in English, where we can empathize with how
to compare how the person has a limited range of challenging and awkward the person feels. We also
each word the vocabulary to use in English. At the appreciate the fluid way they had spoken in their mother
person speaks in same time, unlike “rivers” and tongue previously, especially after seeing how difficult it
English is like a “rapids”, the visual imagery of the seems to speak in another language.
“stone dropped stones “[dropping] in a pool” is
in a pool”. quite jarring and disjointed. This
imagery thus emphasizes on the
awkward and fragmented way the
person is speaking in English.
Stanza Two
I watch the ripples and wait for more.
You search in vain for other stones to throw.
They are heavy. Your hands hang down.
● What is the imagery here?
● What does this imagery tell you?
● What technique is the poet using?
● How do you think the person speaking feels right now?
 IPE: “I watch the ripples and wait for more.”

Identify Purpose Effect

Identify Purpose Effect
What literary device Why does the poet use that particular literary What is the effect of this device on you ‘the
have you found? device? reader’?
- What is the poet trying to achieve?

The speaker uses a “Ripples” are limited movement of water Watching the stunted and slow way the
visual imagery of how compared to the fast-flowing waters of the person is speaking when they talk in English
they watch the “rapids”. Through this imagery of how each makes us feel frustrated for them.
“ripples” created word the person speak in English is like a
when the stone is “ripple”, the speaker highlights how the person
dropped in a pool. speaking is not able to converse smoothly and
They “wait for more” effortlessly. Instead, they are only able to
shows how they are convey slowly, with only one word at a time.
waiting for the person At the same time, the speaker has to “wait for
to continue speaking. more” ripples, showing how slow and
inefficient the person is when speaking in
English.
 IPE: “You search in vain for other stones to throw.”

Identify Purpose Effect

Identify Purpose Effect
What literary device Why does the poet use that What is the effect of this device on you ‘the reader’?
have you found? particular literary device?
- What is the poet trying to
achieve?

The speaker The speaker describes the By continuing this metaphor, I feel even more helpless for the
continues the struggle the person feels while person speaking in English. I can visualize how the person
metaphor of how the trying to find additional words feels while speaking in English, where they desperately grasp
person feels speaking to communicate effectively. for words within their limited pool of vocabulary just to convey
in English, where “Search in vain” suggests that their thoughts to the speaker.
they “search in vain” the effort to find more English
for other words to words is ultimately futile,
say. despite the person trying hard
to do so.
 IPE: “They are heavy. Your hands hang down.”

Identify Purpose Effect

Identify Purpose Effect
What literary device Why does the poet use that What is the effect of this device on you ‘the reader’?
have you found? particular literary device?
- What is the poet trying to
achieve?

The speaker By describing the English words In comparison to how the person’s hands were like “birds”
emphasizes on the the person is trying to find as previously, this visual imagery emphasizes on the person’s
“heavy” weight of how “heavy”, the speaker emphasizes discomfort while speaking in English. I sympathize with them,
the person feels when on the huge burden the person where this visual imagery allows me to feel the weight of the
trying to find more feels while communicating in person’s struggle with the English language.
words to convey their English.
thoughts. The speaker “Hands hanging down” creates
also creates a visual an image of defeat and
imagery of the “hands exhaustion, where the person
hang[ing] down” by the seems helpless and dejected
person’s sides. while speaking in English.
Let’s SMART Stanza 2!
But then you take a stranger's voice
when you speak in your new tongue.
Each word is a stone dropped in a pool.
I watch the ripples and wait for more.
You search in vain for other stones to throw.
They are heavy. Your hands hang down.

Subject Matter: The speaker is talking about how the person sounds when
they are speaking in English.
Mood: The stanza feels frustrating and awkward, where the person is
unable to speak fluidly in English.
Attitude: The speaker seems empathetic towards the person speaking,
where they seem to be able to understand the difficulties the other person
experiences when speaking English.
Let’s SMART Stanza 2!
But then you take a stranger's voice
when you speak in your new tongue.
Each word is a stone dropped in a pool.
I watch the ripples and wait for more.
You search in vain for other stones to throw.
They are heavy. Your hands hang down.

Tension: The discomfort felt by the person speaking English is palpable,

where we can feel how the person is unable to convey what they want to say
smoothly. We feel frustrated for the person speaking, where they seem
discouraged while speaking in English.
Stanza Three
You have two voices when you speak;
I have two ears for hearing.
Speak to me again in your mother tongue.
What does it matter how little I understand
when the words pour out like music
and your face glows like a flame.
Stanza Three
You have two voices when you speak;
I have two ears for hearing.
● What does the speaker mean by having “two voices”?
● What about “two ears for hearing”?
Stanza Three
the words pour out like music
● What does it mean to “pour out”?
● What technique is used here?
 IPE: “the words pour out like music”

Identify Purpose Effect

Identify Purpose Effect
What literary device Why does the poet use that particular literary What is the effect of this device on you ‘the
have you found? device? reader’?
- What is the poet trying to achieve?

The speaker uses a “Music” is harmonious and pleasing to the ear. This simile creates a sense of admiration for
simile to compare By comparing the way the person the person speaking in their native language,
the flow of words communicates in mother tongue to music, the where we are able to visualize how easy the
the person has in speaker emphasizes on how rhythmic and person feels while speaking in their mother
their mother tongue melodic the person sounds while speaking. tongue. It also makes me appreciate the
to the way music At the same time, “pours out” shows how a beauty of language itself, where I am able to
“pours out”. large number of words can flow out of the understand how language can be harmonious.
person speaking easily. This seamless barrage
of words further highlights how effortlessly
fluent the person is when speaking in their
mother tongue.
Stanza Three
your face glows like a flame
● What does it mean to “glow”?
● What technique is used here?
 IPE: “your face glows like a flame”

Identify Purpose Effect

Identify Purpose Effect
What literary device Why does the poet use that particular What is the effect of this device on you ‘the
have you found? literary device? reader’?
- What is the poet trying to achieve?

The speaker uses a A “flame” is bright but yet warm. By This comparison makes me feel touched
simile to compare the comparing the person’s face to a “flame”, because I am able to imagine how comfortable
glow of the person's the speaker emphasizes the warmth and the person feels while speaking in their mother
face to the gentle vibrancy the person has when speaking in tongue. The comparison to a “flame” emphasizes
brightness of a their mother tongue. At the same time, it on how lively and warm the person is when
“flame”. also conveys a sense of enthusiasm the speaking in their mother tongue, making me
person has while speaking in their mother appreciate the pride and joy the native language
tongue, where the passion they have for brings to the person.
the language burns as brightly as a
“flame”.
Let’s SMART Stanza 3!
You have two voices when you speak;
I have two ears for hearing.
Speak to me again in your mother tongue.
What does it matter how little I understand
when the words pour out like music
and your face glows like a flame.

Subject Matter: The speaker expresses how they prefer to listen to the
person speaking in their mother tongue than English. The speaker likes
seeing how comfortable and fluid the person is when they are speaking in
their mother tongue.
Mood: The stanza feels warm and inviting, where the speaker appreciates
how charismatic the person is when they are speaking in their mother
tongue.
Let’s SMART Stanza 3!
You have two voices when you speak;
I have two ears for hearing.
Speak to me again in your mother tongue.
What does it matter how little I understand
when the words pour out like music
and your face glows like a flame.

Attitude: The speaker seems respectful and reverent of the person

speaking in their mother tongue, where they admire the confident and
expressive way the person sound when they speak.
Tension: The speaker does not understand what the person is saying. Yet
the speaker still prefers hearing the other person speak in their native
language.
In summary…
● Subject Matter
○ The poem is about the different experiences people have
speaking their mother tongue, and the English language
which is not their mother tongue.
● Mood
○ Awed? Brooding? Contemplative? Amazed? Grateful?

Touched?
● Attitude
○ Respectful towards the use of Mother Tongue? Excited

about the use of Mother Tongue? Disdainful towards the

use of a foreign language that you are not used to?
In summary…
● Reason
○ To encourage people to be more appreciative of their own
Mother Tongue
● Tension
○ How different speaking in your Mother Tongue and English

feels/sounds. Although the speaker may not understand

what the person is saying when they use their Mother
Tongue, the speaker prefers hearing it over English.