Speaking in Tongues. (4)

"Speaking in Tongues" by Zadie Smith (Hitchens, 179-194)

1. In the first paragraph, Smith uses the word voice six times --"This voice...English voice...not the voice...this was the voice...have the voice...this voice..." (Hitchens 179). What is/are the voice(s) the author is referring to?
2. Smith states the claim that many societies believe that "Voices are meant to be unchanging and singular...our voices are who we are, and that to have more than one, or to use different versions of a voice for different occasions, represents...at worst, the loss of our very souls..." (180). What are your views on this claim?
3. Do you think that the voice represents our souls as mentioned in the last paragraph?
4. "For Obama, having more than one voice in your ear is not a burden, or not solely a burden--it is also a gift" (183). Do you think having more than one voice is a burden or a gift? Or is it both?
5. "...I'm not proud to be female either. I am not even proud to be human-- I only love to be so. As I love to be female and I love to be black, and I love that I had a white father" (188). Why is Smith stating these thoughts? Why are they relevant? What is she trying to say?
6. What is the point of Smith's work? What is she arguing? Do you agree or disagree?