Connection Through Speech

“Hablas Español bien. ¿Eres una mastra?”

“No, viví en El Salvador.”

            I look back and forth from the waiter to my mom not understanding what they were saying. Almost every time we went to a restaurant and the waiter spoke Spanish she would have a conversation with them. All the adults sitting at the table looked like they understood every word as the kids waited for the conversation to end so they could be told what was said. When I heard my mom say El Salvador I knew right away that she was explaining how she knows Spanish so well.

            Spanish has always been apart of my mom’s life. The first twelve years of her life she lived in El Salvador because her father, who was a missionary, became the principal of a school there to help it get back on its feet. Her parents made sure she and her brother were immersed into the culture. One of the ways they did this was send them to an all Spanish school. When they came back to the states she was still connected to El Salvador especially because she never lost the language.

            Remembering the language has helped her in many ways. One way it helped her is that when she has gone back to El Salvador or when she went to other Spanish speaking countries she was still able to speak Spanish. This was important because none of the people she visited could not speak English. Language helped my mom connect to her country because without it she would not be able to communicate with people Spanish countries. One way it has helped her is a woman she knows talks in Spanish when she is angry. Most people have to have her repeat what she says in English so they can help her. My mom is able to both understand her and talk to her in Spanish so it is easier for my mom to help her. Being able to communicate is a very important skill. Knowing more then one language helps with communication in a diverse area and helps connect someone to more of the people in that area.

            According to Glona Anzaldúa, “Ethnic identity is twin skin to linguistic identity.” She is saying that what language someone speaks and how they speak it ties in directly to their history, and the history of their of their family. I find this true for my mom because even though my mom has not lived in El Salvador for her entire life she is still ethnically tied to the place. This because she could still connect to El Salvador because when she visited she did not have to stay in the touristy area because she could speak the language.

            Spanish has also been in my life. I cannot speak Spanish beyond what I have learned in school. Still the sound of it has always been familiar because I have heard it all of my life.  

            One of the ways I was introduced to Spanish is that Mama Alba, my first babysitter, spoke only Spanish. My mom though that this would make me learn Spanish at a young age. Unfortunately I spent most of my time with her foster kids who spoke both Spanish and English.  I was also stubborn so once I learn how to say something in English I did not want to relearn it in Spanish.

            My mom wanted me to get at least a little of the experience of her childhood. So my family traveled to El Salvador when I was almost three, Costa Rica when I was five, and Guatemala and Honduras when I was ten. It was not until I was ten that I wanted to do more then just go to different countries; I now also wanted to understand what they said. Unfortunately, since I was older I was never able to learn. I had fun on these trips, but the trip would have been better if I knew Spanish because I could connect to the people there more. 

             Overall, I have learned how much language helps connect people to other countries. Being able to speak with out limitations because of little knowledge helps both parties communicate and u677feel connected. If someone is unable to connect through language then they will never feel apart of that country. The learned language must not be lost for if it is lost then that person can no longer feel like that country is apart of them because what connected them to the country is lost and can not be easily obtained.