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From: Maia <maia>
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 12:06:06 -0500
Whew. Rosemary brought up an interesting point about external perceptions of the Spanish-speaking audience, and having spent a good number of years in California, I think she is absolutely correct. In a place where the Hispanic population is so large it almost seems foolish to call it a "minority", still ESL-speakers are given second treatment by the schools and universities. California is in a constant state of flux regarding the education of its students whose first languages are not English -- and the constant statewide battles about affirmative action and education policies undoubtedly are intertwined with the issues regarding ESL. (In this case, SFL, Spanish as a first language.)
There seems to be a notion that SFL speakers need to be largely rid of their language in order to "make room" for English. In a public school system where scores have plummeted to the national dregs, many educators and administrators nonetheless seem to feel that it would be better, for example, that children learn no math and science at all rather than learn those subjects in a language other than English. At the university, my SFL friends and students were intensely aware of the disadvantages they faced because English was not their first language. People who were quite smart were perceived as "slow" if they were evidently more comfortable expressing themselves in Spanish, or even if they had a Spanish speaker's inflection when speaking English. And although the value of a common language is not to be underestimated, I strongly feel that the devaluing of a first language contributes to an inability to be comfortable with English. (Many people seem to take the visible academic difficulties as evidence that it is crucial that English dominate all. Again, I think that the need for common language(s) is very real, but experience tells me that it will not come from the broken backs of other first languages.)
I have no doubt that much of the rejection of Spanish literature is a rejection of Hispanic language and culture. It is frightening to be in the midst of a group of people who are communicating in a language you cannot comprehend; it is perhaps impossible not to feel the isolation. Some U.S. Americans have responded to this by attempting to stomp out all other languages
(and cultures) from the face of our large island. This is undeniably an issue about unfamiliarity and fear, and about power. I am therefore not surprised that it is perceived that there is "no market" for Spanish language books, or for Hispanic cultural stories. I do think that many "white" U.S. Americans believe that the "Hispanic issue" will be resolved by firmer boundaries with Mexico and by the thorough assimilation of what Hispanic peoples reside here now. (I could recommend that these same people spend a day on the San Francisco MUNI bus system, or a day in the SF mission district - yet I wonder how many people would feel only the disorientation and fear, and miss the glorious possibilities. It is so easy to feel afraid or alone in these circumstances. I know, I have.)
It is particularly ironic then that learning Spanish is sometimes seen as a way to "improve" "white" children, while the actual Hispanic population remains ignored. It is a popular idea that children should be "exposed" to "foreign" languages early in life, to take advantage of their nascent skills. I tend to see more advertising for this -- and in fact receive unrequested catalogs in the mail about this regularly -- than for books that seem to take the existence of U.S. non-English languages and cultures as a given. Unfortunately, I think that many parents and schools look at "foreign" language texts and classes from a business standpoint... will this make our school and students more competitive, and therefore our community more attractive? Rarely is language advertised or discussed as a way to expand one's own ability for expression, for understanding, for depth.
Without a strong perception that the Hispanic populations per s? are something to be supported and maintained, and without a sense that language is a blessing and a beauty all in and of itself, then what need would non-Hispanics see for the books that the Pura Belpr? has been established to recognize?
Maia
Received on Tue 14 Mar 2000 11:06:06 AM CST
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 12:06:06 -0500
Whew. Rosemary brought up an interesting point about external perceptions of the Spanish-speaking audience, and having spent a good number of years in California, I think she is absolutely correct. In a place where the Hispanic population is so large it almost seems foolish to call it a "minority", still ESL-speakers are given second treatment by the schools and universities. California is in a constant state of flux regarding the education of its students whose first languages are not English -- and the constant statewide battles about affirmative action and education policies undoubtedly are intertwined with the issues regarding ESL. (In this case, SFL, Spanish as a first language.)
There seems to be a notion that SFL speakers need to be largely rid of their language in order to "make room" for English. In a public school system where scores have plummeted to the national dregs, many educators and administrators nonetheless seem to feel that it would be better, for example, that children learn no math and science at all rather than learn those subjects in a language other than English. At the university, my SFL friends and students were intensely aware of the disadvantages they faced because English was not their first language. People who were quite smart were perceived as "slow" if they were evidently more comfortable expressing themselves in Spanish, or even if they had a Spanish speaker's inflection when speaking English. And although the value of a common language is not to be underestimated, I strongly feel that the devaluing of a first language contributes to an inability to be comfortable with English. (Many people seem to take the visible academic difficulties as evidence that it is crucial that English dominate all. Again, I think that the need for common language(s) is very real, but experience tells me that it will not come from the broken backs of other first languages.)
I have no doubt that much of the rejection of Spanish literature is a rejection of Hispanic language and culture. It is frightening to be in the midst of a group of people who are communicating in a language you cannot comprehend; it is perhaps impossible not to feel the isolation. Some U.S. Americans have responded to this by attempting to stomp out all other languages
(and cultures) from the face of our large island. This is undeniably an issue about unfamiliarity and fear, and about power. I am therefore not surprised that it is perceived that there is "no market" for Spanish language books, or for Hispanic cultural stories. I do think that many "white" U.S. Americans believe that the "Hispanic issue" will be resolved by firmer boundaries with Mexico and by the thorough assimilation of what Hispanic peoples reside here now. (I could recommend that these same people spend a day on the San Francisco MUNI bus system, or a day in the SF mission district - yet I wonder how many people would feel only the disorientation and fear, and miss the glorious possibilities. It is so easy to feel afraid or alone in these circumstances. I know, I have.)
It is particularly ironic then that learning Spanish is sometimes seen as a way to "improve" "white" children, while the actual Hispanic population remains ignored. It is a popular idea that children should be "exposed" to "foreign" languages early in life, to take advantage of their nascent skills. I tend to see more advertising for this -- and in fact receive unrequested catalogs in the mail about this regularly -- than for books that seem to take the existence of U.S. non-English languages and cultures as a given. Unfortunately, I think that many parents and schools look at "foreign" language texts and classes from a business standpoint... will this make our school and students more competitive, and therefore our community more attractive? Rarely is language advertised or discussed as a way to expand one's own ability for expression, for understanding, for depth.
Without a strong perception that the Hispanic populations per s? are something to be supported and maintained, and without a sense that language is a blessing and a beauty all in and of itself, then what need would non-Hispanics see for the books that the Pura Belpr? has been established to recognize?
Maia
Received on Tue 14 Mar 2000 11:06:06 AM CST
