The Importance Of Spanish As A Latino Language For Communication

In the reading, “(Re)constructing Latinidad: The challenge of Latina/o studies.” it explains the challenge that is, defining what it is to be a Latino in America. In the reading, it gives reasons as to why there is a challenge, examples include how diverse the Latino community is in America and how others in America perceive the Latino community. After reading the article, I saw two main ideas that Aparicio had and they were; redefining what it means to be Latino in America and to show that there are issues in the Latino community that need to be addressed. Then I will provide my reaction based on the ideas I got out of the reading.

In Richard Rodriguez’s article, “Blaxicans and Other Reinvented Americans”, he states using race as a basis for identifying Americans is not valid, culture should be what defines a person. For example in the essay Rodriguez states, “I am Chinese and that is because I live in a Chinese city” (91). This indicates that just because he is categorized as Hispanic it does not define who he really is, since he is saying that since he grew up in a Chinese culture and he knows more about Chinese cultures than he knows about his own family culture. Rodriguez defines himself Chinese also because he grew up the Chinese way and not the Hispanic way, but deep down Rodriguez knows his race is actually Hispanic but he rather define himself as Chinese because

Castro appeals to a younger audience in many ways, pleading for a call to action in continuing to teach Spanish to the 2nd and 3rd generation Hispanics. He knows that these are the people who he needs to reach with his words. The kids and young adults who should take pride in their culture, but maybe aren’t because their heritage through their native language wasn’t passed down to them. These are the people with the power to revitalize the Spanish speaking natives in America’s

For numerous Latino students the answer to that language question is Spanish. Spanish is the first spoken language for many Latinos,

In Richard Rodriguez’s essay “Blaxicans and Other Reinvented Americans,” Rodriguez main claim is that race can be defined by one’s community. In “A View From the Melting Pot: An Interview With Richard Rodriguez,” by Scott London, Rodriguez mentions that he grew up categorized as Hispanic, but, throughout time, when he left the place he called “home” he developed to a different race, eventually categorizing himself as Chinese. Rodriguez’s claim is supported by “Some Hispanics have too easily accustomed themselves to impersonating a third race, a great new third race in America.” Rodriguez is implying that based on someone 's community or surroundings, it reflects into a race. For instance, Rodriguez now considers himself Hispanic because he

One of my biggest supporters are my parents. Their support and conviction about the worth of acquiring an education has shaped my beliefs, values and ambition to continue higher education and use my career in a progressive way to give back to my community. Unfortunately, not everyone had the same support system like I did. Many of my peers struggled whether to continue their education or financially support their family. This is a very dangerous reality within the Latino community that needs to be addressed and resolved immediately.

The Pew Research Center also argues in their article “Afro-Latino: A deeply rooted identity among U.S. Hispanics” that; “Identity for U.S. Hispanics is multidimensional and multifaceted.” , identity for Latinos doesn’t just fall under one racial category, it’s a multidimensional aspect with many factors to consider. Many Latinos identify themselves just as the country that they orginate from and that’s what their racial identity is to them. It also becomes an even more difficult to categorize Latinos under specific racial categories when you consider the history of many Latino countries and the colonization that occurred in these countries. According to the Pew Research Center, many of these countries have mixed populations including “indigenous Americans, white Europeans, slaves from Africa and Asians.”.

In Sandra Cisneros “Mericans” she creates a young character named Michelle who faces cultural differences and nonunderstanding, gender roles and culture stereotyping which can be exhibited in the real world. The author introduces Michelle as a foreigner with in her own culture, with this being said throughout the story Michelle seemed to be uninterested in her Grandmothers ideals and the principles of the Mexican heritage. The evidence behind this statement is; throughout the passage Michelle refers to her grandmother as being “awful” (Cisneros 93). I think a big reason for this is the fact that the grandmother has the children wait outside the church doors as she goes and say her daily prayers.

During my two interviews my with my two people of the Hispanic culture I came to find they were both had a good level of health literacy from a quick glance. It’s interesting I came to this conclusion fast after asking them each their questions, because I barely know these two on a personal level. Raul I met last year at comicpalooza, where we bonded over love over television and movies and came in contact since, mostly having conversations about show/movies; but never had conversations on anything like this level. Francis I met over swim class this fall at UH recreation center, so I came to the conclusion to pick two people I didn’t really know to ask these questions for this paper.

He shows this through his many experiences with bilingual court and education. At the end of his essay, Espada concludes with a basic summary of what he has learned. Espada claims “The repression of Spanish is part of a larger attempt to silence Latinos, and, like the crazy uncle at the family dinner table yelling about independence or socialism, we must refuse to be silenced.” Through the summary the reader understands despite English being the prevalent language the in the U.S. today the Spanish culture is still being preserved through bilingualism. On the other hand Rodriguez argues that in order to gain a public identity, one must be willing to sacrifice some part of their own cultural identity.

So, what happens when a person is constantly discriminated against for the language they speak? They create their own, which is where the explanation for Chicano Spanish comes into play. According to Anzaldúa, Chicano Spanish is “…for a people who cannot identify with either standard (formal, Castilian) Spanish nor standard English…A language which they can connect their identity to, one capable of communicating the realities and values true to themselves” (77). This is something that Mexican-Americans want nothing more than to be who they really are without having to choose a

“The virtual personas of Latino immigrants (represented as a threat to the nation) make the authority that has accumulated for real immigrants in their role as workers and consumers vanish” (Chavez 47). In the public eye Latinos are depicted as noncompliant and dangerous citizens and noncitizens of the United States. “The virtual lives of ‘Mexicans,’ ‘Chicanos,’ ‘illegal aliens,’ and ‘immigrants’ become abstractions and representations that stand in the place of real lives” (Chavez 47). It is depressing to understand that the majority of the United States strictly sees Latinos as these distorted images. At the end of the day each individual’s life matters, we all need to become more compassionate for one another.

Every individual has their own perspective in a Latino due to how they are viewed by others. Most stereotypes come from social media and largely by the famous latinos which has a big impact on how various mistake the overall view of Latinos. Plenty of Latinos are American citizens who actually become successful. All Latinos are different in many ways for example, not all look alike, some do not even speak spanish, many are accused of selling drugs, and Latinos do not always party every weekend.

Students in Texas schools should be required to learn to speak Spanish because you have to learn it to be able to speak it even if you do, and because it would improve people to speak another language And to maybe get help to speak another language for example if you came some where else to go learn French what you will do is go to some place to learn that language like Texas because you can take good classes just to learn that language, just like for Spanish. The Spanish classes could have been different or way harder to learn there to learn different ways of Spanish to find a easiest way for it. Its important to speak Spanish because you will need Spanish in life like when you talk to other people you may not know because , they will

Brenda Jimenez SPAN 3023 Dr. Taylor Research Project 2 One jargon or slang that I think that I’m fluent at is the Spanish slang. I think that this jargon is particularly used by native Spanish speakers. Hispanics have the tendency to use some Spanish words that don’t exist in the Spanish language. This non existing Spanish words might confuse those who are learning the language.