Search for My Tongue (Sujata Bhatt)

Search for My Tongue (Sujata Bhatt)

Search for My Tongue is a poem by Sujata Bhatt that reflects on the struggle of maintaining one’s mother tongue while living in a foreign culture. Bhatt, who was born in India and later moved to the United States and Germany, often writes about the complexities of bilingualism and cultural identity.

The poem is particularly known for its unique structure, incorporating three sections:

The first part, written in English, expresses the fear of losing one’s native language.

The middle section is written in Gujarati (Bhatt’s mother tongue), symbolizing how the mother tongue remains within the subconscious.

The final section returns to English, reinforcing that the mother tongue is deeply ingrained in a person and cannot be lost entirely.

Detailed Summary :

Search for My Tongue is a reflective and deeply personal poem about the struggle of maintaining one's mother tongue while living in a foreign environment. The poem explores themes of language, identity, and cultural displacement. It is structured in three sections: an English passage, a Gujarati passage, and a return to English, symbolizing the poet’s internal conflict and ultimate reconciliation with her native language.

Summary by Sections:

First Section: Expressing the Fear of Losing One’s Mother Tongue

The poem begins with the speaker addressing the reader directly, assuming they may have never lost a language and therefore might not understand the experience. The poet states:

"You ask me what I mean by loss of tongue."

Here, "tongue" has a double meaning—both as the physical organ and as a metaphor for language. The speaker then explains that if one is forced to speak and think in a foreign language for a long time, their mother tongue might "rot and die" in their mouth. This imagery suggests decay, a natural but distressing process, emphasizing how the speaker fears the erosion of her cultural identity.

The phrase "you could not really know" suggests a personal frustration, as those who have never experienced displacement may not understand the deep emotional impact of losing touch with one’s native language.

Second Section: The Re-Emergence of the Mother Tongue (Gujarati)

The middle section of the poem is written in Gujarati, Bhatt’s mother tongue, and serves as a direct, symbolic representation of the language still alive within her. The inclusion of these lines in Gujarati disrupts the English flow of the poem, mirroring how a mother tongue can suddenly reappear in the mind, even when one is immersed in another language.

For those unfamiliar with Gujarati, this section might feel alienating, which reinforces the poem’s message—when a language is lost, it creates a gap in understanding. However, for those who understand Gujarati, it is a moment of reconnection and reassurance that the language is still alive.

Third Section: The Mother Tongue Thrives

The final section of the poem returns to English, but the tone is now more confident and reassuring. The poet describes how, even though she initially feared losing her mother tongue, it actually grows back "like a flower," strong and vibrant. The poem concludes with the idea that one’s native language is deeply ingrained—it may seem to fade, but it never completely disappears.

The metaphor of a growing tongue symbolizes renewal and resilience. Unlike the earlier imagery of decay and loss, the conclusion is hopeful, emphasizing that language and identity are deeply rooted and cannot be permanently erased.

Themes and Interpretations:

Bilingualism and Cultural Identity

The poet expresses the difficulty of balancing two languages and identities. She acknowledges the pressure of adapting to a foreign language but ultimately affirms the persistence of her mother tongue.

Fear of Language Loss

The initial section of the poem conveys anxiety about losing touch with one’s heritage. This is a common concern for immigrants and those living in multilingual environments.

Resilience of Cultural Roots

The metaphor of the mother tongue as something that regrows highlights the endurance of cultural identity, even when suppressed.

Personal vs. Universal Struggle

While the poem is deeply personal, it resonates with many people who experience linguistic and cultural displacement.

Paraphrase :

First Section (Fear of Losing the Mother Tongue)

You ask me what I mean when I say that I have lost my mother tongue. I explain that if you live in a place where you must speak another language, your original language starts to fade away. Over time, it might seem as if it is decaying and dying, like something that is no longer needed or used.

Second Section (The Return of the Mother Tongue – Gujarati Lines)

While I sleep, my mother tongue emerges again in my dreams. It stays alive inside me, even when I am not consciously thinking about it. It never truly disappears.

Third Section (The Mother Tongue Thrives Again)

Meanings of Difficult Words

Tongue –

Literal: The organ inside the mouth used for speaking and tasting.

Figurative: A metaphor for language (e.g., "mother tongue" means one's native language).

Rot –

To decay, decompose, or break down over time.

In the poem, it symbolizes the loss or weakening of the mother tongue.

Stump –

The remaining part of a tree or plant after it has been cut down.

In the poem, it represents the language that seems lost but can still regrow.

Shoot –

A young plant or new growth from a tree or stem.

Used as a metaphor for the mother tongue growing back.

Moist –

Slightly wet or damp.

Suggests freshness and life when describing the rebirth of language.

Veins –

Blood vessels in the body or fibrous lines in leaves and plants.

Here, it represents strength and vitality in the growing language.

Knots –

Tangled or twisted parts of a rope or thread.

In the poem, it suggests the struggle between the mother tongue and the foreign language.

Bud –

An unopened flower or shoot of a plant, representing new life or growth.

Symbolizes the re-emergence of the mother tongue.

Pushes –

To move something forcefully.

Describes how the mother tongue asserts itself and regains dominance.

Literary Terms and Devices

Sujata Bhatt’s Search for My Tongue employs various literary devices to enhance the theme of language loss and identity. Below are the key literary terms and devices used in the poem:

1. Metaphor

A metaphor is a comparison between two things without using "like" or "as."

Example: “Your mother tongue would rot, rot and die in your mouth.”

The mother tongue is compared to a living thing that can decay and die, symbolizing the fear of losing one's native language.

Example: “It grows back, a stump of a shoot.”

The mother tongue is compared to a plant, showing that it can regenerate even if it seems lost.

2. Imagery

Imagery uses descriptive language to appeal to the senses.

Example: “Rot and die in your mouth.” (Visual and sensory imagery of decay)

Example: “It grows back, a stump of a shoot / grows longer, grows moist, grows strong veins.” (Visual imagery of a plant regrowing)

These images create a contrast between the decay of language and its revival.

3. Personification

Personification gives human-like qualities to non-human things.

Example: “It ties the other tongue in knots.”

The mother tongue is described as actively resisting the foreign language, as if it has a will of its own.

Example: “The bud opens, the bud opens in my mouth.”

The language is personified as something alive and growing inside the speaker.

4. Contrast

The poet contrasts the decay of the mother tongue with its regrowth to highlight the struggle between languages.

Example: “Rot and die” vs. “Grows longer, grows moist, grows strong veins.”

This contrast reinforces the idea that the mother tongue, though suppressed, cannot be completely lost.

5. Symbolism

Symbolism is when an object, person, or concept represents something deeper.

The "tongue" represents language and identity.

The “stump of a shoot” symbolizes the resilience of the mother tongue.

The “bud opening” represents the reawakening of the mother tongue.

6. Repetition

Repetition emphasizes key ideas and emotions.

Example: “You ask me what I mean by loss of tongue. / You ask me what I mean by mother tongue.”

The repeated questioning suggests frustration and highlights the difficulty of explaining the experience.

Example: “The bud opens, the bud opens in my mouth.”

Repetition emphasizes the regrowth of the mother tongue and its persistence.

7. Bilingualism (Code-Switching)

The poem shifts from English to Gujarati and back to English.

This reflects the poet’s personal experience of living between two languages.

The Gujarati section represents the subconscious presence of the mother tongue, even when it seems forgotten.

8. Enjambment

Enjambment occurs when a sentence or phrase continues beyond the end of a line.

Example:
“I thought I had forgotten.
But the night I dream,
it grows back, a stump of a shoot
grows longer, grows moist, grows strong veins.”

The ideas flow from one line to the next without a pause, creating a sense of movement and continuity.

9. Direct Address

The poem begins with the speaker addressing an imagined listener.

Example: “You ask me what I mean by loss of tongue.”

This makes the poem feel personal and conversational, as if the poet is explaining her experience directly to the reader.

10. Free Verse

The poem does not follow a strict rhyme scheme or meter.

The free verse style mirrors the unpredictability of language and identity, reinforcing the poet’s theme of linguistic struggle.

Line-by-Line Explanation

Sujata Bhatt’s Search for My Tongue is a poem about language, identity, and cultural displacement. The poem explores the conflict between a mother tongue (native language) and a foreign language, reflecting the poet’s personal experience as an immigrant. Below is a detailed explanation of each line.

First Section: Expressing the Fear of Losing One’s Mother Tongue

"You ask me what I mean by loss of tongue."

The poet directly addresses the reader, assuming they are unfamiliar with the experience of losing a language.

“Tongue” is a metaphor for language, but it also refers to the physical organ, suggesting that losing a language is as unnatural as losing part of one’s body.

"You ask me what I mean by mother tongue."

Here, she clarifies that she is talking about her native language, the language she grew up with.

"You could not really know / what it is like to lose your tongue"

The poet suggests that the reader may not have experienced the struggle of losing their first language.

There is a hint of frustration, as if she is trying to explain something deeply personal.

"and if you lived in a place where you had to / speak a foreign tongue—"

The poet describes a situation where a person is forced to speak another language, as she was when she moved from India to the West.

The phrase "had to" suggests compulsion, showing that sometimes, adapting to a new language is necessary for survival.

"your mother tongue would rot, / rot and die in your mouth."

The words "rot" and "die" create a strong image of decay, as if the mother tongue is something that withers away when not used.

This reflects the poet’s fear of losing connection with her cultural identity.

Second Section: The Mother Tongue Resurfaces (Gujarati Lines)

The middle section of the poem is written in Gujarati, which symbolizes how the mother tongue remains alive within the poet, even when she speaks English in her daily life.

"munay hutoo kay aakhee jeebh aakhee bhasha"

This translates to: "It grows back, a full tongue, a full language."

The poet is describing how, even if the mother tongue seems lost, it never completely disappears—it regenerates.

"may may thoonkay nakhi chay"

Meaning: "As if you had spat it out."

The poet imagines that her mother tongue was rejected or discarded, but it comes back regardless.

By including Gujarati in the poem, Bhatt makes the reader experience what it feels like to be surrounded by an unfamiliar language, just as she feels in an English-speaking world.

Third Section: The Mother Tongue Thrives Again

"it grows back, a stump of a shoot / grows longer, grows moist, grows strong veins,"

The poet compares her language to a plant. Even if it is cut down (forgotten or suppressed), it regrows.

The words "moist" and "strong veins" suggest vitality and resilience.

"it ties the other tongue in knots"

The mother tongue is powerful enough to affect the foreign language.

This suggests that despite speaking English, her native language still influences the way she thinks and expresses herself.

"the bud opens, the bud opens in my mouth, / it pushes the other tongue

aside."

The "bud" is a metaphor for the rebirth of her mother tongue.

The poem ends on a strong note: her mother tongue is still alive and thriving, overcoming the fear of being lost.

Stanza-Wise Explanation :

First Stanza: The Fear of Losing One’s Mother Tongue

“You ask me what I mean by loss of tongue.

You ask me what I mean by mother tongue.

You ask me what I mean by loss of tongue.

And if you lived in a place where you had to

Speak a foreign tongue,

Your mother tongue would rot,

Rot and die in your mouth.”

Explanation:

The poem begins with a direct address to the reader, suggesting that they may not understand what it feels like to lose a language.

The phrase “loss of tongue” is metaphorical, referring to both the physical organ and the concept of language loss.

The repetition of “You ask me” suggests frustration, emphasizing how difficult it is to explain this experience.

The poet describes a scenario where one is forced to speak a foreign language, causing their mother tongue to decay.

The words “rot and die” create a powerful image of destruction, symbolizing the poet’s fear of losing her cultural identity.

Second Stanza: The Psychological Struggle

“I thought I had forgotten.

But the night I dream,

It grows back, a stump of a shoot

Grows longer, grows moist, grows strong veins,

It ties the other tongue in knots,

The bud opens, the bud opens in my mouth,”

Explanation:

The poet initially believes she has lost her mother tongue, but in her dreams, it re-emerges.

The metaphor “a stump of a shoot” compares language to a plant that, though cut down, can regrow.

The use of “moist,” “strong veins,” and “bud opens” gives life to the language, suggesting that it is organic and alive.

“It ties the other tongue in knots” shows that the mother tongue is powerful and can resist being replaced by a foreign language.

The imagery of growth conveys hope—the mother tongue is not dead but thriving within the poet’s subconscious.

Third Stanza: The Inclusion of Gujarati (Mother Tongue Resurfaces)

Gujarati Lines:

“munay hutoo kay aakhee jeebh aakhee bhasha

May may thoonkay nakhi chay”*

Explanation:

This section is in Gujarati, Bhatt’s mother tongue, emphasizing the theme of linguistic identity.

The use of a non-English script makes English-speaking readers feel excluded, mirroring how the poet feels in a foreign culture.

The meaning of these lines (translated into English) reinforces that the mother tongue has not disappeared. It is still there, waiting to be spoken.

Fourth Stanza: The Mother Tongue Overcomes the Foreign Language

“it pushes the other tongue aside.”

Explanation:

The final line suggests that the mother tongue is strong enough to reclaim its place.

The verb “pushes” shows an active effort—despite foreign influences, the poet’s native language asserts itself.

Questions:

What is the central theme of Search for My Tongue?

Answer:

The central theme of the poem is the conflict between a person’s mother tongue (native language) and a foreign language. The poem explores issues of identity, cultural displacement, and the fear of losing one’s roots while adapting to a new linguistic environment.

What does the phrase “loss of tongue” mean in the poem?

Answer:

The phrase “loss of tongue” is a metaphor for losing one’s native language. It does not refer to physically losing the tongue but rather to forgetting or losing fluency in one’s mother tongue due to prolonged use of a foreign language.

Why does the poet say that the mother tongue might “rot and die”?

Answer:

The poet suggests that if a person stops using their native language and only speaks a foreign one, their mother tongue might weaken, decay, or disappear over time, just like something that rots and dies when neglected.

What is the significance of the Gujarati lines in the poem?

Answer:

The Gujarati lines symbolize the poet’s mother tongue. They represent how the language remains alive within her, even if it seems forgotten. By including her native language, the poet makes the reader experience the challenge of being surrounded by an unfamiliar language, just as she feels in an English-speaking environment.

Why does the poet compare the mother tongue to a “stump of a shoot” and a “bud”?

Answer:

The poet uses the metaphor of a plant to show that even if a language seems lost, it can still regrow and flourish. A “stump of a shoot” represents something that appears cut off but has the potential to grow back. A “bud” symbolizes new life and renewal, indicating that the mother tongue is still alive and thriving.

What does the line “it ties the other tongue in knots” mean?

Answer:

This line suggests that the mother tongue is powerful enough to influence or challenge the foreign language. It implies that even though the speaker uses a foreign language, her mother tongue still affects her thoughts and speech, causing a mix of languages in her mind.

How does the poem end, and what does it signify?

Answer:

The poem ends with the line “it pushes the other tongue aside,” which signifies that the mother tongue regains its strength and cannot be completely erased. It conveys the idea that cultural and linguistic identity is deeply ingrained and will always be a part of a person.

What emotions does the poet express in the poem?

Answer:

The poet expresses frustration, fear, and anxiety in the beginning as she worries about losing her mother tongue. However, as the poem progresses, she moves towards realization and hope, ultimately feeling reassured that her native language remains a strong part of her identity.

How does the poet structure the poem, and what is its significance?

Answer:

The poem is structured in three parts:

The first section (in English) expresses the fear of losing the mother tongue.

The second section (in Gujarati) represents the presence of the mother tongue in her subconscious.

The third section (in English) shows the regrowth of the mother tongue and its triumph over the foreign language.

This structure mirrors the poet’s journey of struggling with language loss, reconnecting with her native language, and realizing that it remains a part of her.

What literary devices are used in the poem?

Answer:

The poet uses several literary devices, including:

Metaphor: The “tongue” represents language, and the “stump of a shoot” symbolizes the rebirth of the mother tongue.

Imagery: Vivid descriptions like “rot and die,” “moist,” “strong veins,” and “bud opens” create strong mental pictures of decay and regrowth.

Personification: The mother tongue is described as actively growing, tying knots, and pushing the foreign tongue aside, giving it life-like qualities.

Contrast: The struggle between the mother tongue and the foreign tongue is emphasized through opposing images of decay and regrowth.

Why do you think the poet chose the title Search for My Tongue?

Answer:

The title reflects the poet’s struggle to find and maintain her linguistic and cultural identity. “Search” suggests a journey of rediscovery, indicating that even though she feels disconnected from her mother tongue, it still exists within her and can be found again.