9/16/2024 FINAL PROJECT:

Video analysis
Student’s name: Stephanie
Montserrat Hernández Casas

MODULE: Sociolinguistics
PROFESSOR’S NAME: HECTOR FLORES LOPEZ
 ANALYSIS OF SPANGLISH MOVIE’S
VIDEOCLIP
INTRODUCTION: General context of the movie
Spanglish movie centers on Flor, a single mother from Mexico, who moves to Los Angeles in
search of a better life for herself and her daughter, Cristina after Flor’s husband death. Flor takes
a job as a housekeeper for the Clasky family, a kind but dysfunctional American family. The
Claskys include Deborah, the controlling and insecure mother; John, a talented but
underappreciated chef; their two children; and Deborah’s alcoholic mother. Flor, who speaks little
English, initially struggles with the cultural and language barriers, but her presence soon impacts
the family dynamic, particularly through her strong connection with her daughter and the warmth
she brings to the family.
As Flor becomes more integrated into the Clasky family's life, tensions rise between the two
families, particularly between Flor and Deborah, who tries to decide on Cristina's education and
life, pushing her to a more American lifestyle despite Flor desires for Cristina to keep her Mexican
cultural background and values. Meanwhile, John and Flor develop a quiet bond, based on mutual
respect and understanding and at the same time the bond with John and Deborah weakens for a
lack of communication and an affair of Deborah with other man. Through these interactions,
Spanglish highlights the cultural differences and personal challenges both families face,
emphasizing the importance of communication, identity, and maintaining one's values amidst
external pressures. The film ultimately portrays the complexities of family life, personal growth,
and the balancing act between two different worlds.

CONTEXT OF THE SCENE

In the Spanglish movie scene titled "No Space Between Us", the focus is on a tense and emotional
moment between Flor and her daughter, Cristina. Earlier in the movie, Cristina, who is very smart,
wins a scholarship to attend a prestigious private school. Flor, however, becomes increasingly
concerned about how the school and its privileged environment are changing Cristina’s
personality and values. Flor feels that Cristina is losing her connection to their culture and
forgetting the sacrifices that brought them to the United States.
In this scene, Flor makes a firm decision to pull Cristina out of the private school, which means
Cristina will lose her scholarship. When Flor tells Cristina, the young girl becomes furious. Cristina
is passionate about her education and sees the scholarship as an opportunity for a better future.
She looks angry and misunderstood, believing that her mother is taking away something very
important from her. Cristina expresses her frustration, accusing her mother of ruining her chances,
while Flor tries to explain that she wants to protect Cristina from losing her true self and their
cultural roots. The scene highlights the conflict between a mother’s protective instincts and a
daughter’s desire for independence, as well as the emotional tension of balancing cultural identity
with personal aspirations.
SCRIPT OF THE SCENE
1ST PART 2nd PART
Cristina: Can I sleep at the Claskys' when I Flor: Not space between us! -dice ella molesta
stay late at school? y sorprendida del trato que le da su hija-
-Pregunta miesntras va de la mano de su
madre- Flor: Que sea la última vez, Cristina…que
(ininteligible)…
Adult Cristina as narrator: Shortly after we -Comienza ella en tono de advertencia-
left...my mother told me of another decision
she had reached. I would no longer go to the Adult Cristina as narrator: In the midst of
private school. confrontation, she found clarity…

Flor: Ya no irás a esa escuela. Lo siento Flor: Claro, ahora entiendo lo que está
mucho. -dice Flor, mientras acaricia la cabeza pasando…hija, siento que, que tengas que
de Cristina con tristeza- lidiar con (ininteligible)…
-Dice preocupada-
Cristina: No! No! You can't do that to me! You
can’t do this to me! No, you can’t do this to me! Adult Cristina as narrator: She expressed
-Cristina grita furiosa y sorprendida mientras regret that she had to ask me…to deal with the
tira sus cosas al suelo- basic question of my life at such a young age.

Flor: Cristina, por favor… Flor: …porque todavía eres una niña…
-Dice ella apenada porque le genta las mira-
Adult Cristina as narrator: And then she
Cristina: You ruined everything! You ruined asked it.
everything!
-Grita furiosa y triste- Flor: ¿Eso es lo que tú quieres para ti misma?
-Pregunta preocupada y triste-
Flor: Agarra las cosas del suelo
-Le ordena pero sin fuerza- Adult Cristina as narrator: "Is what you want
for yourself...
Cristina: This ruins my life! You've ruined
everything! I will never forgive you! Flor: ¿Convertirte en alguien tan…tan
-Grita furiosa y triste- diferente de mi?
-Mira a su hija, triste-
Flor: Te prometo que todo estará bien, vamos,
vamos mi amor Adult Cristina as narrator: "to become
-Dice ella con arrepentimiento mientras someone very different...than me?"
camina a la parada de autobús-
Adult Cristina as narrator: I have been
Cristina: No, it'll never be all right! You're overwhelmed...by your encouragement to
wrong. This is exactly what I was worried apply to your university...and your list of
about! scholarships available to me.
-Grita furiosa mienstras sigue a su madre- -Narra mientras Flor y Cristina están en el
autobús-
Cristina: I will never be able to forgive you!
Nunca te perdonaré! Nunca! I have a Adult Cristina as narrator: Though, as I hope
scholarship!...and nobody gives this up! this essay shows... your acceptance, while it
-Grita furiosa y desesperada- would thrill me... will not define me.
 -Narra mientras Cristina se sienta en el
Adult Cristina as narrator: The 1.3 miles autobus junto a su madre y se abrazan-
from the Clasky’s house to our bus stop...was
the longest walk I'll ever know. I had publicly Adult Cristina as narrator: My identity rests
scorned my mother. firmly…and happily on one fact: I am my
mother's daughter.
Adult Cristina as narrator: And yet she had
not reacted. Adult Cristina as narrator: Thank you.
Cristina Moreno.
Adult Cristina as narrator: What did spark -Cierra con esta frase su ensayo para la
our climactic moment... was my use of a Universidad-
common American phrase.

Cristina: Not right now. I need some space

-Dice ella de forma cortante y seria, mientras
esperan en la parada de autobús-
Link of the videoclip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DE00LB0QB8&t=9s

ANALYSIS OF THE SCENE

In the Spanglish scene where Flor tells Cristina she will lose her scholarship, we can analyze it
from a sociolinguistic perspective, especially in terms of code-switching and English as a
second language. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Code-Switching: Flor and Cristina both switch between Spanish and English in their
conversations. Flor, who is more comfortable with Spanish, switches to English when
necessary, especially when interacting with people outside their Latino community.
Cristina, on the other hand, is fluent in both English and Spanish, but as she becomes
more integrated into her private school, she starts using English more, which bothers her
mother.
2. English as a Second Language: Flor speaks English as a second language. Throughout
the movie, she struggles with communicating in English, which symbolizes the cultural
and linguistic divide between her and Cristina, who is more comfortable speaking English
because of her time at school.
3. Register or Style: In the scene, there’s a contrast in the register (formality level) between
the characters. Cristina speaks in a more formal, educated way, reflecting her time in the
private school, while Flor uses a more informal, vernacular tone in Spanish, reflecting her
cultural background and lack of formal education in English.
4. Vernacular Language: Flor’s use of Spanish represents her vernacular language, the
language she feels most comfortable with and that connects her to her cultural roots.
The tension in this scene is not just about a school decision, but also about sociolect (the social
class associated with the language spoken). Cristina is shifting towards the language and culture
of a higher social class (English-speaking, private school), while Flor wants to maintain their
original cultural identity, which includes their native Spanish.
In summary, code-switching, English as a second language, and register/style are the key
sociolinguistic factors at play in this scene.

Personal conclusion
From a personal perspective, this scene from Spanglish beautifully captures the emotional and
cultural struggles that arise from bilingualism and the blending of identities. The tension between
Flor and Cristina isn’t just about education—it’s a deeper conflict of maintaining one’s cultural
roots while adapting to a new society. Flor’s use of Spanish reflects her desire to preserve their
heritage, while Cristina’s increasing comfort with English symbolizes her integration into a
different, more privileged world.
The code-switching and language barriers illustrate how language can both connect and divide
people, even within the same family. It highlights the emotional complexity of being bilingual,
where language becomes a marker of belonging, identity, and change. Flor’s fear of losing
Cristina to this new world, where English and privilege dominate, makes the scene powerful. It
shows how language is more than just communication—it is tied to who we are and how we see
the world.