One of the things that I have always enjoyed about being part of two cultures is that I am able to speak two languages. There is nothing more amazing than being able to break down barriers between you and another person by switching gears in your mind and speaking the same language as them. Growing up, this ability felt like a superpower, because not everyone was able to do it, but it was a skill that many people needed. Especially growing up in a border town between the United States and Mexico, it was like the world was blind and I was one of the few with 20/20 vision. 

 

I remember using this skill since I was a young girl (Communication - Level 1). For the longest time, my brother and I used to speak in the opposite language whenever we didn’t want someone to hear our conversation. Although now I realize it was rude to do this in certain situations, at that moment, it felt like an escape from those around us and gave us a little bit of privacy. I, also, used this skill to translate for others, not only in the United States when helping my parents with legal documents, but in Mexico when meeting lost tourists who needed assistance. This later experience always brought me joy when I was younger, because the tourists were always surprised that a little girl could communicate with them so clearly.

 

Although I have spoken two languages for most my life, I never reflected on the connection between language and culture until I entered college (Communication - Level 2). This happened when I took the Intro to Honors (HONR 201) class where we read an article that talked about the differences between each language’s grammar and syntax, which is shaped and influenced by the culture that speaks it. This, in turn, can alter the speaker’s perception and personality based on the language they are speaking. I was deeply impacted by this article, because it made me identify things I had experienced most of my life, but had never been able to articulate. For example, I agree that my personality can change based on the language I am speaking. Whenever I speak English, I tend to feel more formal and professional, because it is a direct and concise language. Meanwhile, whenever I speak Spanish, I feel warmer and friendlier, because its words are more descriptive and specific than in English (i.e. the English phrase “I love you” can be the Spanish equivalent of “Te quiero” (I like you) or “Te Amo” (I love you) based on how you use it). Prior to this class, I thought this was something I struggled with individually. However, the discussion around this article made me realize that it is a natural process bilingual or multilingual people experience and that there is a logical explanation behind it. This realization made me appreciate my culture even more. It, also, made me more sensitive of other people’s languages and the cultural traditions that are bound to it.

 

My understanding of the relationship between language and culture continued expanding when I began working as an IELI English tutor. As a worked with three Asian students from Japan (2) and South Korea (1), I learned that there are many phrases that are non-translatable in our languages, because they are unique to our cultural traditions (Communication - Level 3). For example, in Korean, people use specific terms to address older people as a sign of respect (i.e. females use “eonni” (older sister) when speaking to a slightly elder female, males use “nuna” (older sister) when addressing to a slightly elder female). However, in English and Spanish we don’t use any of these terms of respect unless we are addressing someone who is notoriouslly older than us (i.e. “Sir” and “Madam”; “Señor” and “Señora”). This made me view my own languages through a new lens, by analyzing the cultural traditions that shape some of our words. It, also, made me more understanding of the challenges that come with learning a new language, especially when it is from a culture that is very different from yours. 

 

Over the last year, the concept that language and culture are strongly linked to each other has been reinforced in me as I’ve been volunteering at my local church as an interpreter (Communication - Level 4). I have learned that every culture’s connection to language is different, even when some of these countries share the same language.  For example, in my church, we serve a predominantly Hispanic population. However, everyone is from different areas of Latin America, which can be challenging when translating for them, because some words have different meanings for them based on the country they’re from. Due to this, I’ve learned to be quick on my feet by identify the words that have negative connotations for some people and replacing them with more neutral ones. This has helped me expand my vocabulary and improve my Spanish by teaching me multiple ways of saying the same thing (i.e. “car” = “automóvil,” “carro,” “coche,” “vehiculo,” “vagón”). It has, also, shown me that language is complex and that some things will simply be lost in translation, no matter how hard you try. 

 

Just like with anything, being bilingual also comes with its set of challenges: constantly forgetting words, not being able to find the right ones to express a sentiment, being expected to be master each language, etc. Yet, it is a privilege to have this skill and to be able to communicate with people from cultures and perspectives. Although I have seen the connection between language and culture only through the languages I speak (Spanish and English), many of my experiences as a bilingual speaker are universal which have helped me communicate with and assist those learning a new language better. It has, also, made me more respectful of people’s culture when learning a new language and understanding that you can’t have one thing (language) without having the other (culture). I am thankful for the experiences that have pushed me outside of my comfort zone in this area, because they taught me to reflect on my experiences as a bilingual person, teaching me to make more educated choices. It, also, made me more knowledgeable and appreciative of language and culture, both in my own life and in the lives of others. 

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Below is a picture of my Youth Group and I at our local church in St Paul, MN.