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The Language Plug

The author summarizes Miriam Marquez's essay "Why and when we speak Spanish in public". Marquez argues that speaking one's native language, especially to parents, is a sign of respect for one's culture and parents. While English is the most common language in America, speaking another language does not make someone less American or disrespectful. The author agrees and shares a personal experience of being embarrassed for speaking Spanish in elementary school but learning to take pride in her culture and language from her confident mother. In conclusion, native language should be spoken to stay connected to one's roots and culture, and it is a way to show respect, not a sign of being un-American.

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128 views

The Language Plug

The author summarizes Miriam Marquez's essay "Why and when we speak Spanish in public". Marquez argues that speaking one's native language, especially to parents, is a sign of respect for one's culture and parents. While English is the most common language in America, speaking another language does not make someone less American or disrespectful. The author agrees and shares a personal experience of being embarrassed for speaking Spanish in elementary school but learning to take pride in her culture and language from her confident mother. In conclusion, native language should be spoken to stay connected to one's roots and culture, and it is a way to show respect, not a sign of being un-American.

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Gabriela Garcia

Professor Malvin
English 114A
September 22, 2015
The language plug
Respect is one of the most valuable things you can give a person. In the short essay Why
and when we speak Spanish in public Miriam Marquez emphasizes that speaking Spanish to her
mother in public is done out of respect. Throughout the reading she shares a common experience
that many diverse families go through. Although English is Americas most common language,
it is a free country in which we have the right to speak our cultural language without being
ashamed.
Marquez argues that we shall speak our foreign language to our parents to show them our
respect and dignity. She respectfully says that For me and most bilingual people I know its a
matter of respect for our parents and comfort in our cultural roots (528), many of us are so used
to speaking one language at home that it is just a comfort of ours. My first language was Spanish
and it is the language that I am most fluent in, I always feel more comfortable speaking it rather
than English. Many bilingual people share a common problem in which we are stuck whether
we should speak one language or another. Id call it an Off and on switch because you have to
constantly change the language based on whom youre speaking to. I have made some friends
that do not speak Spanish at all, and when they meet my parents they have trouble
communicating with them, but I have enough respect for my parents to not be ashamed and I

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translate everything for them. I agree when Marquez mentions that it could be disrespectful when
lets say a group of people are talking a foreign language and one person doesnt know it, but
when I translate for my parents I do it out for respect of both people. Some can see it as
disrespectful, but for me I see it as a form of respect that I have for my parents and culture. It
would be rude of me to not speak Spanish with my parents because it is the only language they
are extremely fluent in. As she mentions Its certainly not meant to be un-American (528),
meaning that speaking our foreign language wouldnt make us less of an American, nor is it a
sign of disrespect towards this country, but it is definitely a huge sign of respect for our parents.
It would be disrespectful if they have watched their children and grandchildren become so
American that they resist speaking Spanish (Marquez 529), agreeing with Marquez, I will
always speak Spanish when Im with my parents.
Although English is the most common language in the U.S, Many of us may ask
ourselves what is the definition of a true American. Marquez emphasizes that being American
has very little to do with what language we use during our free time in this free country (529) ,
meaning that America isnt about what language we speak, many immigrants keep their native
tongues to stay in touch with their cultural roots. Staying in touch with our culture is very
important, because to me and my family, our background and ethnicity plays a huge role in ones
identity. My family is very prideful of being Latino, and Ive had them all tell me that its part of
my identity. We should never be shamed nor stopped from speaking our native language in
public because we should never lower our standards for others. Confidence is what is truly
needed when it comes to speaking a foreign language. We should be confident of where we come
from, and where our family is from. There is no true way to un American because we are a
variety of cultures and ethnicities, and our language does not define how American we are.
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Living in this country doesnt stop us from speaking a native language; it is up to us to stay in
touch with our culture and to never forget where we come from.
In comparison to Marquezs experience, as a little girl, I had my own experience that
once made me fear speaking Spanish. I went to an elementary where the majority was white and
one day during the student conferences my mother was shamed for not speaking English. That
day made me feel embarrassed and ashamed that my classmates saw me and my mother as less.
My mother and I werent meant to be seen as un-American nor were trying to disrespect
anyone. My mother just had a lot of confidence with herself and Spanish that she did not let it get
to her. With time I began to realize that others should not define and, nor was my mother trying
to be disrespectful towards anybody. My mother is just really confident with herself, and with
time she taught me to always stay in touch with my culture. Although she is slowly becoming
fluent in English, she says Spanish will always be her primary language because she can show
her confidence to others that way. This is similar to Marquezs experience because she mentions
that although her mother has lived in the U.S for 40 years and is extremely fluent in English, they
always speak Spanish in public and its meant to show confidence and respect towards their
culture.
In conclusion, we speak our native language in respect for our people and parents. We do
not try to be un-American we only strive to stay in touch with our cultural roots, and to never
be ashamed of where we come from. Marquez strongly emphasizes that it is up to us to try to
stay in touch with our culture. Confidence is what is truly needed in order to speak foreign
language in front of others. Most importantly, we should never lose contact with our native
tongue.

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Works cited
Rosa, Alfred F., and Paul A. Eschholz. ""Why and When We Speak Spanish in Public""
Models for Writers: Short Essays for Composition. n.p., n.d. 527-29. Print

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