Gloria Anzaldua states, ”Until I am free to write bilingually and switch codes without having always to translate, while I still have to speak English or Spanish when I would rather speak Spanglish, and as long as I have to accommodate the English speakers rather than having them accommodate me, my tongue will be illegitimate.” This statement stood out to me because I usually find myself having to switch my between my languages. I was born and raised in Kenya but my family is ethnically Somali, I have had to justify me being Somali when I did not speak the language. It was until I learnt to read and write in Somali that my family members viewed me as a full Somali. Coming to America I had to switch up my language to accommodate people around me, not only my language but my accents to make sure people get what I am saying. I dislike how I am told to speak standard English in front of people to act more civilized and be presentable. Gloria also states that you have to learn the language to be present in the culture. Because language is such a major part of the culture, learning the language should be the first investment.
Thanks for sharing your insights! I’m curious as to what extent Anzaldua’s vision is prescriptive. Does she intend her view of the relationship between language and culture to apply to everyone, or is she simply stating how she personally feels about that relationship?
It is really interesting hearing your insights into how culture and language intertwine. Your story reminds me of Trevor Noah’s book, Born a Crime, in which he says that because he knew many different dialects of South Africa, he was easily accepted into many different groups. It helped him make meaningful connections and understand the perspective of many. I believe that his experience with language and culture, as well as the story you shared, reflect the importance of language in accessing a culture.
Reading both this post and the text is particularly interesting to me. Other than three years of French in high school (95% of which I have forgotten) I’ve only ever spoken English. English is something I’ve always taken for granted, and I have never had to deal with issues that bilingual people have to deal with. However, I think Anzeldua shows the readers how speaking multiple languages can be empowering.