Author Biography

Gabriela Pacheco Martinez is a first-generation Latina college student at Utah State University. She is the oldest of 5 children. Gabriela loves playing soccer with her dad, going on bicycle rides, and generally being outside whenever she can. Gabriela is currently majoring in Psychology and hopes to apply and attend Dental school one day.

This essay was composed in December 2023 and uses MLA documentation.

Audience: Anyone who is part of the Latino/Hispanic culture or is married into the Latino culture.

I am sitting in my living room when the aroma of gossip fills the room. Laughter from my aunts and mama overflows from room to room. Loud vowels and distinct tones are one of the first things I can easily pick up. My uncles are yelling Spanish curse words at the television, specifically at a soccer player for missing the goal. My papa and younger brother Giovani argue about his grades, in a combination of Spanish and English, neither of them backing down from their polarized views. Without saying a word, I understand that no matter what room I sit in, the symphonic language of home follows me.

I see my teenage brother Edgar wandering about the house, lingering from room to room, like a lost soul in his own home. He looks like he’s parched for knowledge, and starving to talk and fully grasp every single word they’re saying.

When we all settle down for dinner, one by one we all discuss aspects of our day in Spanish. We make jokes, laugh at our mannerisms, and say phrases and words that simply do not exist in English. My brother, Edgar’s eyes won’t lift off from his plate, tears filling his eyes and anger slowly bubbling to the surface. Edgar is thirteen and cannot speak Spanish. He can’t laugh at our crude jokes, he misses out on our traditions and specific cultural mannerisms, and we can all see his mental health suffer. It is a heart-wrenching feeling to be unable to communicate with strangers around you, but to have no communication with members of your own family is a different form of loneliness.

Language is necessary for human connection. Nothing could be possible without language.  Even if you Google, ‘Why is Language important’, you are using years of mastered complex systems of words, structures, and grammar to best communicate your feelings, thoughts, and questions to others. Even though the necessity for language should be as clear as water, many Latino/Hispanic individuals now more than ever have stopped speaking Spanish, creating a domino effect. Not speaking Spanish may hurt the way you bond with your family, it hinders translation for non-English speaking families,  and it could result in some ridicule for lack of fluency in Spanish. I believe that the best way we can aid this dilemma is by creating and funding Spanish classes for Latinos, as well as acknowledging that Spanish, although important, is not essential to Latino identity.

In the heart of the energetic Latino community, the importance of speaking Spanish is not merely a linguistic melody; it is a symphony that binds generations and cultivates familial roots. For the Latino Culture, speaking Spanish holds an importance that transcends basic communication, it is the bridge that connects us to our ancestors. Nicole Canún from Homeschool Spanish Academy, a website aiding parents in teaching their children Spanish at a convenient time, discusses introducing Spanish to an entire new generation. She continues, “It‘s easy to see that family is the core of Latin American society and a key source of support, guidance, and encouragement” (Canún 3). The Spanish language has always bonded my family, my father David would always say, “Mientras que hablemos siempre estaremos juntos,” translating to, “As long as we speak, we’ll always be united.” My parents made it very clear that Spanish was more than just a string of words made into a sentence, it was the vessel through which stories of our ancestors were woven into the fabric of daily life. It didn’t matter if it was laughing over my tia’s mole con arroz or consoling one of my siblings through an affectionate conversation. Speaking Spanish became an admired ritual, it was the closest thing I had to connecting to my past ancestors, and my current family members, and creating ties with my future family. Speaking Spanish holds the power to create this unbreakable familial connection.

Parents of non-Spanish-speaking Latinos are often filled with guilt for not teaching their children proper Spanish. Many of these hard-working, sometimes single Latino parents did not have the time to sit down and teach their children Spanish. A recent article written by Sofía Félix Poggi compares the shame of no sabo kids to that of, “their parents [who] have been shamed for not speaking English” (Poggi. 5). A huge aspect of being Latino/Hispanic is the massive commitment we have to prioritize ourselves as groups instead of individually. The emphasis on family, respect, and valuing shared meals as well as conversation is invaluable to the Latino culture. According to The United States Census Bureau, in 2018, 87% of Hispanic parents shared frequent meals with their children (Mayol-Garcia 9). These meals are often the only time busy Latino families can sit down and have a conversation and discuss a variety of different topics.

It is clear to see that the Spanish language is very important to Latino culture. However, the effects of not being able to properly communicate with those around us are detrimental. I can still hear the quiet hum of the hospital waiting room, where I found myself at the age of seven, forced to assume a position that was well beyond my years. My parents, immigrants from Mexico, had the terrifying assignment of attempting to navigate the complex healthcare system in their new home. The ringing of the nurse calling my family’s name is vibrant in my ears. The weight of responsibility and fear rests on my shoulders. Stepping into the examination room, I was forced to become more than just my parents’ daughter, I had to be their translator, advocate for their health, and their moral support. I was their bridge of understanding. To the best of my limited vocabulary, I was determined to translate the doctor’s questions and answers, to ensure that my parents were going to get help. I felt the room’s aura of tense fear become gratitude, from the medical team and my parents. I love helping my parents and I will always be there for my family, but what about the Latinos that aren’t so lucky? Who will translate for them; when will the healthcare system stop lacking the proper translators?

Although we need more Spanish-speaking translators in our healthcare system, until then immigrant parents will have to rely on their children to translate. Without being able to communicate with Spanish-speaking family members, medical and social services will be provided at lower quality, often presenting in misdiagnoses. This bridge between doctor and patient is essential, and a bilingual family is often the quickest route to provide care. A recent medical journal by Zachary Berger and Yael Peled, Language and Health (In)Equity in US Latinx Communities, considers the sociolinguistic diversity of the U.S. and how Latinos are often overlooked because there are not available/appropriate native Spanish speakers.

This language barrier is escalated in Deaf Latino patients. “Deaf and hard-of-hearing Latinx face numerous socioeconomic and psychosocial factors…clinicians might request sign language interpretation to communicate with a Deaf patient without being aware that there exists more than a single sign language” (Berger and Peled 10). Deaf Latino patients are overlooked in the healthcare system, and to best support our Latino community, we first have to have Spanish speakers translate the language of their families, such as Mexican Sign Language, until adequate resources are introduced to the American healthcare system.

There is an echo of unperformed cultural expectations from the weight that the Latino Community holds over non-Spanish-speaking/ non-fluent-speaking Latinos. Shame constantly lingers in the minds of young Latinos; I’ve seen it eat away at my brother. It’s like an ugly shadow that follows you. The agonizing internal turmoil is fueled by society’s expectations. Emotionally there is no greater betrayal than not being able to communicate oneself in the language of our familial roots, sensing in oneself a sense of incompleteness. According to NBC News 54% of Latinos who speak very little or no Spanish have been made to feel bad because of it” (Lilley). No matter how irrational these feelings and thoughts may be, they surround everyday lives, control how you see your person, and force a silent struggle with your identity.

Latinos in the U.S. share the experience of being shamed by other Latinos for not speaking adequate Spanish. In a survey created by the Pew Research Center, “Four-in-ten Hispanic adults say they hear other Hispanics make jokes, extremely often or often, about Hispanics who do not speak Spanish or don’t speak it well” (Lopez). Not speaking Spanish is an insecurity for many Latinos who were never even taught the language; they are often questioned about their identity in their family gatherings. Young Latinos are suffering from the “Not Enough” paradigm for not speaking Spanish. This paradigm popularized by Denise Soler Cox is the idea that there is a set list of requirements to be ‘Latino enough’. In an effort to protect their children from racism towards Spanish speakers, parents ostracized their children from their own community and any sense of belonging (Poggi 5).

The cultural and personal benefits of speaking Spanish for Latinos, while it may be one of the ways that connects us to our familial roots, it is not the only way. I must acknowledge that fluency in a language should not and cannot be the measure of someone’s identity. Jack Herrera from The Nation, a magazine that discusses the origin of racial discrimination, explains how difficult it can be growing up not speaking Spanish but having distinct Latino features. He shares that, “There’s a growing consensus arguing that knowledge of the Spanish language isn’t a prerequisite for Latinx identity” (Herrera 2). Not every Latino was given the opportunity to speak Spanish as their first language. Some Latinos were raised in homes where the predominant language was English, or in the case of my brother Edgar, they are drilled in English so deeply that they forget their first language. No matter their fluency in Spanish, every Latino’s identity is enough. To force all Latinos to speak Spanish internalizes that they will never be good enough to label themselves as Latino, completely cutting ties with their heritage. We must not overlook the diverse and rich experience of every Latino. We have to remember to celebrate, not diminish our diverse and unique Latino community, we have to value the variety of ways we can express our heritage.

Not every Latino has the opportunity to learn Spanish from native Spanish speakers. Jonathan Rosa, a professor of education at Stanford University, discusses how stereotypes of language and race are categories that are often co-naturalized. He goes on to explain how tightly race and language are often tied together, “Language is never too far from the picture when you talk about a racialized population” (Rosa 12). There are other ways to pass on your cultural heritage and traditions other than just speaking Spanish; the traits that make you Latino and that will one day pass to your children can be given without ever learning any Spanish. Learning and speaking Spanish should bring you joy, it’s for those who seek that connection with their heritage, but those who do not engage should not be faced with judgment.

Although the Latino identity is valid and can flourish without Spanish, the language connects Latinos to their community in a fulfilling way. Because of this, we must fund more Spanish classes, especially for Latinos as an investment in preserving our culture, unifying our community, and creating academic equity. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center shows, “24% of Latino adults in the U.S. say they can only carry on conversation in Spanish a little or not at all” (Lopez). Spanish is the key to beginning to unlock our beautiful cultural heritage. Creating these Spanish classes empowers Latino individuals to look deep inside themselves and embrace their roots, birthing a sense of pride and empowerment. Referencing the Pew Research Center survey, “95% of Hispanic adults believe it is important for future generations of Hispanics in the U.S. to be able to speak Spanish” (Lopez). Being able to be fluent in Spanish fosters communication with our families and communities, ensuring that our traditions don’t die with them. Academically speaking, teaching Spanish in our schools strengthens the Latino individuals who yearn to connect/ reconnect with their roots, as well as accepts the worth of language diversity, and helps create a more welcoming and inclusive educational environment. It allows us to completely address the individualistic challenges that Latino students face, as they try to survive the demands of language and excelling in school. In a Radio program produced by Maria Palma, on Boise State Public Radio, she interviews Emily Stauss, a UNR (University of Nevada) student taking a Spanish class for Latino students with limited Spanish skills. Stauss explains how “[She] will finish her class with Professor Ortiz at the end of the year, but hopes to continue improving her Spanish to connect with her mother and grandparents, and to teach the language to her future children” (Palma). Schooling and tutoring for Spanish can raise the confidence of young Latinos. Spanish class provides students the security in themselves and supportive peers; they deserve an environment where they are allowed to make mistakes.

The importance of speaking Spanish for Latinos is the bridge to connecting with families, creating more equitable healthcare for Latinos and Deaf Latinos, and creating a tighter sense of culture rather than one of judgment. Creating funded classes made for Latinos who want to learn Spanish is the best way to achieve the best world for Latinos. To be able to speak and understand Spanish allows us to strengthen and help our community. When we don’t introduce Spanish early and make sure Latinos feel like they adequately know Spanish, the next generation of Latinos lose out on cultural mannerisms, they become relentlessly ridiculed, and it worsens their mental health and sense of community. We need to ensure that our next generation of Latinos/Hispanics feel safe in and out of their community. Even though Spanish is only one aspect of being Latino, it also allows us to further preserve our vibrant and diverse culture. We live in a world that is forever evolving, reconnecting with our ancestors through language is a way we can keep ourselves grounded and connected with our culture. This is a strong bridge that fosters a sense of belonging and unity within the rich mosaic of the Latino identity.

Works Cited

Abuelo, Carolina, MD. “Why We Need More Spanish-Speaking Doctors.” US News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report L.P., 25 Aug. 2020, www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2020-08-25/why-we-need-more-spanish-speaking-doctors. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Berger, Zackary, and Yael Peled. “Language and Health (in)Equity in US Latinx Communities.” AMA Journal of Ethics, American Medical Association, 1 Apr. 2022, journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/language-and-health-inequity-us-latinx-communities/2022-04#:~:text=Linguistically%20discordant%20care%20often%20leads,up%2C%20and%20worse%20health%20outcomes.&text=That%20is%2C%20care%20in%20a,to%20deleterious%20or%20disparate%20outcomes. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Herrera, Jack. “Latinxs Don’t Need to Speak Spanish.” The Nation, Katrina Vanden Heuvel, 29 June 2020, www.thenation.com/article/society/latinidad-spanish-exclusionary/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

Palma, Maria. “Is It Necessary to Speak Spanish to Identify as Latino in the U.S.?” Boise State Public Radio, 19 Oct. 2023, www.boisestatepublicradio.org/arts-culture/2023-10-19/is-it-necessary-to-speak-spanish-to-identify-as-latino-in-the-u-s. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Pew Research Center. “Is Speaking Spanish Necessary to Be Hispanic? Most Hispanics Say No.” Pew Research Center, 18 Aug. 2020, www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2016/02/19/is-speaking-spanish-necessary-to-be-hispanic-most-hispanics-say-no. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Poggi, Sofía Félix. “How Important Is Speaking Spanish for the Latinx Identity?” BoldLatina, 8 Dec. 2022, boldlatina.com/how-important-is-speaking-spanish-for-the-latinx-identity/. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Mayol-García, Yerís. “90% of Hispanic Parents Shared Frequent Meals with Their Children.” Census.Gov, U.S. Department of Commerce, 3 Jan. 2023, www.census.gov/library/stories/2022/10/family-dinner-more-common-hispanic-and-immigrant-families.html. Accessed 04 Dec. 2023.

Mendoza, Jordan. “Report: Many Latinos Who Can’t Speak Spanish Are Made to Feel Bad About It.” NBC News, 20 Sept. 2023, www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/latinos-views-speaking-spanish-spanglish-identity-pew-research-center-rcna105790. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Rosa, Jonathan. “Jonathan Rosa, Faculty.” Stanford Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, 2 Feb. 2023, ed.stanford.edu/faculty/jdrosa. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

Simons, Sasha-Ann. “How Important Is Speaking Spanish to Latino Identity? Most Hispanics Say Very.” WBEZ Chicago, 25 Sept. 2023, www.wbez.org/stories/how-important-is-speaking-spanish-to-latino-identity-most-hispanics-say-very/6242e713-7161-4630-8227-159cfe0adec0. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.