Photo credit: yoshimov
I have this extreme obsession with language. It can lead me to analyze almost every utterance that is produced although lately I have been scrutinizing the trilingual toys I have for my baby. I have been staring, analyzing, and pressing the button over and over to listen to the French, Spanish, and English words spoken. I can’t help it! They can sound so silly! For instance, the one in the car says “mo-rah-doh (purple in Spanish),” like the Anglo kids in my high school Spanish class. Seriously? Couldn’t the manufacturer find a native Spanish speaker to say “morado?” It sure makes me wonder if the French version of purple is an authentic accent!
Then I started thinking. Does the authenticity of the accent expressed by a toy really that important? Why does it bother me so much? Why should it matter? What is really at the heart of the matter?
I could start with the fact that the toys are American ones, which can symbolize how little we value multilingualism. If I were in charge of recording foreign language vocabulary for toys, I would make sure the accents were authentic! In other words, the unauthentic accent (one that sounds like Spanish is the speaker’s second language) is a perfect example of how little our society values multilingualism. Now, I know I am reading into this, but still it’s the principle of the matter. How are we supposed to promote multilingualism when the products available are less than satisfactory?
I guess the little voice saying “mo-rah-do” reminds me of how unattainable it can sometimes feel to be able to sufficiently expose my bebita to three languages. It is as if the manufacturer is mocking my intentions. Again, what is really at the heart of the matter? Well, I’ve concluded that learning a second or third language has become somewhat of a commodity. For instance, did you know that children in China have the option of learning English via a program called Disney English (http://disneyenglish.com/EN/about-us/history.html)? Disney has found a way to market their label and their products via language instruction. Parents have found a way to motivate or help their children feel a sense of investment (bribe) to learn another language. In a way, Disney and foreign language instruction have the same appeal, the same attraction to the general population. Well, let’s be honest, at least in China it does. That, in it of itself, says something!
Where does this leave parents and their quest for, not only foreign language exposure, but also authentic and native-like exposure? Good question. I believe this may be the million-dollar question.
But what is really an “authentic accent”? Recently I was told that my accent (in English) did not sound Mexican (which is where I grew up and learned to speak)…….
As the founder of a program that creates bilingual products I have a biased opinion on this subject and will reply from an Anglo point of view since that is where I am coming from amiga Suzanne.
I recall multiple times when native Spanish-speakers have told me that my accent (when speaking their native language) is perfecto. They marvel at a blonde-hair, blue-eyed Irish/Greek gal who can roll her r’s and speak their language with the fluidity of a native-born Chilena (I lived in Chile for a while and learned their dialect). However, when I produce our CDs and DVDs I make sure to enunciate the words in both English and Spanish – perhaps that is the separated sounding mo-rah-do you hear in the toy you mention. Speaking at the rapid clip that many Spanish speakers tend to do would never allow for acquisition of the words.
To Yvonne’s comment, with more than 60 dialects within the Spanish language what constitutes an ‘authentic’ accent? My Cuban friends speak differently than my Puerto Rican ones who speak differently than people born in Ecuador, Argentina, Spain and so forth.
Each family will choose their target language and dialect in the end, and that is what counts to them, their children and their heritage. I applaud toy-makers, entrepreneurs such as myself for trying to create fun bridges between any languages, always entering into the venture knowing you cannot make every person happy as a customer.
I will end this reply with a mention of the book titled The Bilingual Edge by two moms who happen to be raising their own children to know multiple languages plus they are Ph.D.s in linguistics. They give hope to monolingual parents who are trying to introduce 2nd and 3rd languages by emphasizing that being a native speaker of the new language is not as important as is the interaction during the learning.
I hope Suzanne that you and every parent who is aware enough and open-minded enough to raise children knowing more than one language will shed the worry of “I don’t sound native enough” or “That accent is too thick” or “I’ll never be able to say that word correctly to my toddler” and rejoice in the fact that the next generation of children will no longer hold onto an English-only mentality.
¡Gracias a Dios!
I guess you can say I am a little tainted. It feels like all my life people (in general) have expected that I speak Spanish fluently just because I am Latina OR they assume that because I am American and Latina that I probably don’t know “good” Spanish. It is something that has held a constant fixture to this day. I never went studied Spanish and believe the high school class I took DOES NOT count.
I am open-minded about the fact that the experiences I share with my baby will leave a good impression….the thing is my perspective has never been English-only….nor was it my parents…and there really does exist this notion among my Latino peers and family about being able to say things with the accent that is common in our circle…in our family…I can’t just dismiss it…its there and its a very real experience. Now should I fixate on which items I should or shouldn’t buy…naaa and I wont.
I dont know Beth….I believe many other Chicana or American raised Latinos feel the same way….except they may want to say with their family’s accent…be it Cuban or Argentine or Mexican.
Dont get me wrong I dont judge people based on their accent (just toys ha ha) no seriously….it is just something that has been a constant fixture in my life as a first generation born and raised Latina in the US.