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24/02/2026 8:47 am
In the TED Talk Grammar, Identity, and the Dark Side of the Subjunctive by Phuc Tran, Tran explains how the English subjunctive lets us imagine “what could have been” or “what should have been” but also how that type of thinking can trap us in regret and confusion about who we are. Grammar and identity, for instance, are linked, he argues. Both texts explore how language, be it grammar or self-identification, shapes one’s identity. Yami’s negative self-talk and desire to be described as “hardly recognizable” demonstrate linguistic fragmentation through shaping of identity by grammar, and Tran demonstrates how constant should haves prevent change and development in life and instead keep a person in a position of regret. Both characters are unique in that they have to deal with more than one identity (culture, sexuality, religion, language) while trying to define themselves on their own terms.
How does Yami’s self-description compare to Tran’s “subjunctive” way of thinking? How does the character in your book relate to the idea that the language people use, either through grammar or in their own thoughts, can limit and empower, and shape a persons' identity?
For participants:
-Never use a peer’s real name, only use their username
-Respond to the question based on your book, not your personal opinion
-If the question doesn’t directly apply to something that appears in your book, be clear about what you’re seeing instead
-Make sure to include a summary of your book so far
-Include a quote with the proper citation to give context to your answer
-Acknowledge your lead’s reply to your response with a comment that clarifies information, offer a question to them about their book, or simply give a thumbs up
To exceed: Incorporate a quote from a different Ted Talk or a different CommonLit text that has not yet been discussed in your group
02/03/2026 1:02 pm
In my book, The Poet X, By Elizabeth Acevedo, the main character, X, (Short for Xiomara) doesn’t directly address this issue, however, Xiomara does write poetry for herself in a private notebook, hidden from her family. She hides it from her mother, a severely religious Dominican woman. X keeps this to herself, and uses it as an outlet to release her stress, to flesh out ideas, and to express herself freely. She herself doesn’t talk as much as many, in fact, she doesn’t like or trust many, however, she trusts herself, and her notebook. Poetry is where she feels free, comfortable, at peace. Her notebook and writing is so important to her that she used it as an example in an assignment for school, asking about the most impactful day of her life. It reads, “Sometimes I feel like writing is the only way I keep from hurting” (Acevedo 41). This quote shows just how important the ability to use language and writing to express herself, and release the buildup of stress she absorbs in the average day.
02/03/2026 1:02 pm
My Response: in my book Out Of Nowhere by Marina Padian Tom Bouchard is a great student and a great soccer player and has a hot girlfriend but he is a bad diction maker and is not always doing the right things and he deal with lots and lots of racial diversity
Saeed is Somali and doesn't speak English so he has a hard time communicating with English speaking people for example “a riot of conversion followed,absolutely foreign to me. Somali is a no-holds-barred language.”(pg17)
06/03/2026 2:58 pm
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The Sun Is Also a Star, Nicola Yoon. This story follows Natasha Kingsley and Daniel Bae over the course of one life-changing day in New York City. Natasha, a practical and science-driven teenager, is desperately trying to stop her family’s deportation to Jamaica, refusing to believe in fate or love because she trusts only facts and evidence. Meanwhile, Daniel, a poetic and romantic Korean-American teen, struggles with his parents’ expectations, and they want him to follow a traditional career instead of following his dream of becoming a poet. When they unexpectedly meet, Daniel becomes convinced their encounter is meant to be, while Natasha insists it is just a coincidence. As they spend the day together debating love, destiny, and their futures. They begin to form a powerful connection that challenges everything Natasha believes and forces both of them to question what really shapes their lives. queastion In the noval the sun is also a Star by Nicola Yoon. Daniel Bae struggles to balance his Korean heritage with American culture. His parents expect him to become a doctor and attend Yale, following traditional values, but Daniel secretly loves poetry and wants to choose his own path. Instead of openly rebelling, he tries to please his parents while quietly questioning their expectations, showing his inner conflict between family duty and personal dreams. “Maybe part of falling in love with someone else is also falling in love with yourself.”(Yoon pg 150). this doesnt really go with it, but it shows how he is following his desires, like becoming a poet and doing things he wants, not his parents. |
06/03/2026 4:15 pm
In “Brighter Than the Sun” by Daniel Aleman, the main character is a young girl named Sol, who has to traverse across the border every day just to get a proper education. She attends school in San Diego, California. She is financially struggling with her family. She has to wake up early, about 5 am, to cross the border to arrive at school on time. Sol is the only person in their family who is a US citizen. This is because her mother was struggling with the pregnancy and could not go through with the pregnancy with the medical care they offer in Mexico. She moves in with her friend, Ari. Their mothers became friends years prior, because Sol and Ari were friends when they were younger, making it inevitable. Sol’s mother died a few years ago, making her take on the responsibilities of the family. She conflicts with herself, needing to get a job to help support her family financially, while needing to support them in their emotional or medical state.
My character, Sol, believes that the way people speak and act can bring people places. If you act confidently, you are more likely to get somewhere. Or if you act gingerly, you will be seen as naive. She is looking to be seen as powerful, even though she herself does not believe it. She thrives with the drive to go to college. “She went to San Diego, and later on to Stanford, which suddenly became my answer when people asked me where I wanted to go to college.” (Aleman 68). This was one of the ways she was showing the way she upholds herself. She is putting herself into this place in society where people don’t really expect her to be.
