Language and Cultural Identity

Kevin Garcia, an intern for NPR, writes in this article about is personal experience as a Mexican-American who is monolingual and how much his lack of knowing the Spanish language has created a disconnect between him and both his community and culture. Garcia is not alone in his circumstance because according to a PEW Research Center study which he cites found in 2017 that "while the number of Latinos who speak Spanish at home continues to increase due to the overall growth of the Latino population, the share of Latinos who speak the language has declined over the last decade." He writes that he has struggled with his Mexican identity, since language is such a huge part of a culture. In addition, Spanish transcends Hispanic borders and unites the varying experiences and communities of Latin Americans, this is referred to by a single word: Latinidad.

Garcia has experienced feelings of shame when the extent of his American assimilation becomes apparent to his "Hispanic compatriots" when they view him as "just American" not Mexican-American. Although he did not grow up speaking Spanish, he nevertheless embraced his culture by making tamales, singing Selena songs, and dancing ballet folklorico. In trying to find answers about how to define his relationship to his culture, Garcia quotes Amelia Tseng, a professor of linguistics at Georgetown University who reasons that this language insecurity that many second and third generation Latinx Americans feel stems from the level of "opportunity you have to keep it", referring to Spanish language retention. She adds that "there are barriers to bilingualism that are often outside of our control: social pressure, stigmatization, and discrimination." Garcia ends his article with acknowledging that he is not sure if he will ever be able to find comfort in his lack of knowing Spanish. Lastly, it is important to remember what Professor Tseng says which is "Let's celebrate all identities, and not just the ones we think are correct."

Link: https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2018/03/10/588306001/can-you-lose-a-language-you-never-knew