Comments on: Excuse Me, What Language Are You Speaking?

By: Hellen

Hellen — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:06:58 +0000

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By: Roxana A. Soto

Roxana A. Soto — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 19:58:36 +0000

Gracias por comprar nuestro libro, Lorna! I hope you find a lot of useful info in it y por favor no dudes en ponerte en contacto con nosotros si tienes cualquier pregunta!

By: Laura S.

Laura S. — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:41:36 +0000

So true – so glad you shared! If my son and I are speaking Spanish, we get asked if we’re from Spain, which I can accept from the non-Spanish speakers but from the Spanish speakers is odd, because we definitely don’t sound like we are from Spain, but that’s what our light complexioned looks ‘translate’ to society. (Ironically, people from Spain always ask if we’re from Mexico City so they must be listening and not caught up in appearances!). People assume my husband (Mexican) is Asian based on his features and so that throws a whole other confusion their way. And if I’m with my mother-in-law (light complexioned, gray eyes), we have been asked if we are speaking an Italian dialect. Not the case if I am with my daughter who has more “typical” Latina looks. The whole thing is crazy so I only explain to the extent I feel up to it!

By: Lorna O. Gorman

Lorna O. Gorman — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:46:45 +0000

Thank you all for your advice. I definitely feel more confident that we can raise our baby Isabel bilingual…I purchase the book Bilingual is Better, cant wait to start reading it…

By: Becky

Becky — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 02:56:56 +0000

We get that ALL the time. Not only from our 2 girls (our biological daughters) but also our Chinese and Ethiopian sons:) (who are both adopted, but speak Spanish as well as their sisters).

By: Carolina

Carolina — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:53:53 +0000

In my honeymoon in the US (California and Arizona), some people would think I was Italian, even when I spoke Spanish (they heard me speak Italian with my husband — he’s Italian). I had a hard time trying to convince them I was actually Spanish (I was on the verge of having an identity crisis, LOL). They said my Spanish accent was odd or weird… and I swear, it’s just simple European Spanish accent! But they were misguided by my use of Italian and, I guess, by the fact that mine is not a common Spanish accent in the US. Also because I am pale, tall, with European traits. The human mind works on attribution processes, and it’s quite normal — we learn on attribution, it’s a skill for survival. The thing is that when it comes to personal or social identity, we feel touched.

I agree, these are opportunities to open these people’s minds and show them there’s a whole world out there

Cheers!

By: Xochitl

Xochitl — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:16:37 +0000

When my son was a baby and we would travel to Germany to visit his grandparents people many times asked me if I was his nanny and would make comments on how good is to have a Spanish speaking nanny! I just laughed! Now that he is 9 his hair is darker and people don’t make those comments anymore!

By: Valeria

Valeria — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:27:47 +0000

Well. I guess I will have the same attitude towards somebody who “look” European and do not speak any of the official languages in Europe. Language is associated to geographical regions, and those regions to certain predominant ethnicities. We have to add to that that most Hispanic immigrants in the US do not come from South America, so Americans are not familiar with the accent and ethnicities that exist there. Therefore, I do not find it strange or awkward. I am from Argentina and people here in the US think we speak portuguese, or think I am Italian because of my accent (which is not the same as in Central or North America). As somebody else said it here, I think you should take this misconception as an opportunity to expand people’s ideas on Latin America and the Spanish language

By: Roxana A. Soto

Roxana A. Soto — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:16:33 +0000

Hi Lorna! I’m glad you found us! I just wanted to add to what both MJ and Ryan have already said: I agree with your speech pathologist friend, stick to one language, which in your case would be Spanish. And your husband can speak to her in English. The more exposure she gets to what will be her minority language, the better. She will learn both simultaneously and she won’t get confused, I promise.

If you look around our blog, you’ll find a lot of info related to this topic. The method that you’d be using is commonly known as OPOL (or one parent one language) and it’s the most popular one when it comes to bilingual children.

Please let us know if you have any questions, congratulations on your decision to raise a bilingual child and good luck!

By: Lilliana

Lilliana — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:53:46 +0000

Casey nailed it. It’s about trying to figure out how to label us. I’m from San Antonio, TX. Both of my parents are from Mexico and I am fully bilingual. I’m not blonde but my fair skin and “lack” of a Spanish accent confuses people just as my lack of an “English” accent amazes my friends and family in Latin America. This is isn’t something I have to deal much with in SA but whenever I travel outside of TX (North usually) it blows people’s minds. Even when I’m not speaking Spanish people have asked if I’m French, Canadian, Hawaiian, Jewish… anything but Mexican. When I tell them I’m Mexican- American they seem unsatisfied. I have also been asked where I’m from because they think I have an accent… it must be because I’m from TX… no “it can’t be”…. maybe because I speak Spanish… no that’s not a Spanish accent… Can’t wait to hear what they say when they hear my hazel eyed, light skinned, girly speaking Spanish with “NO accent”. It just doesn’t fit their labels but it really doesn’t bother me because I think it just shows their ignorance.