Choosing Between Languages

In class we have been discussing how we use the different languages that we know. Some of us speak our native language at home, while speaking English as school. Some of us only use a language other than English in our foreign language classes. Some of us speak a mixture of two languages. We have established that depending who we are talking to and what type of environment we are in, we speak differently. Whether we speak in a different tone, use different word choice, or speak in an entirely different language, the context of the situation determines what type of language we will utilize.

In our home environments and in school it usually is pretty clear which language should be chosen. But in day to day life and random situations, it can be extremely difficult to know which language is the appropriate one to speak. Maria Carreira, a native Spanish speaker from Cuba who also speaks English, and an expert of the use of Spanish in the United States, finds herself facing this problem constantly. For Carreira, it comes down to the question "When to use inglés and when to speak Spanish?". This "language-etiquette" can be tricky, and if the appropriate language is not used, can lead to awkward situations.

For example, when ordering at a taco stand, Carreira began to order in Spanish. Upon seeing the "bluest eyes" of the man working there, she automatically switched to speaking English, assuming that he was not capable of communicating in Spanish. He responded in English, but Carreira later realized her mistake when she saw that he had been taking orders in Spanish.

Choosing what language to speak in can be tricky. For instance, if someone is struggling to speak in English, it could be seen as rude to speak to him in Spanish, because it is acknowledging that the person's English abilities are incompetent. It is almost like giving up on the person's abilities in English. On the other hand the person could also be rejoiced that his or her native language is understood and prefer to speak in it. In addition, avoiding speaking in Spanish in an attempt to not hurt the feelings of a person could upset the person if he or she is extremely proud of his or her heritage.

The ultimate goal of language-etiquette is to make the person one is conversing with feel comfortable. Generally, the "which language" decision is made quickly, based on physical judgments. The bilingual speaker takes into account age, social status, clothing, skin color, eye color, hair color, and name (if available) to determine which language is more appropriate.

I personally have had several experiences in which I struggled to choose the polite language to speak. From speaking with workers who have been in my neighborhood, to maids in hotel rooms, to parents of children that I work with, it is really difficult to know which language to speak. I am generally afraid to speak Spanish because I do not want to offend the other person (and because I fear that I will not be fully competent in an all-Spanish conversation), but I do not want to be rude when speaking English if the person clearly does not understand what I am trying to say. I have had experiences speaking Spanish to others in which the other person became extremely excited and trusting because I could share the language, but I have also had experiences where the other person was hesitant to speak in Spanish and seemed to feel disrespected.

The decision becomes even more difficult when appearances are deceiving. Judging someone to see which language he or she prefers may be successful most of the time, but every once in a while it can cause an even more awkward situation. Going up to someone who looks Hispanic and immediately speaking Spanish can result in embarassment, especially if the person does not know any Spanish. In reality, our stereotypes of what a person who speaks a certain language will look like fall short. There is a student on my dorm floor who is black and has an English accent. I know that the first time I talked to her I was extremely surprised because I did not expect her to speak that way. It is similar to when I see a caucasian speaking a language like Chinese or Japanese. Our physical judgments can only carry us so far in determining whether a person actually will speak a language.

Considering the large degree of billingualism in our class, I am curious to know how you guys judge the situation when you are in it. What determines which language you choose to speak? What methods have been the most/least successful? How can we avoid these awkward situations and offending others?


Links:
1. Silverstein, Stuart. "Tongue Twister: English or Español?" La Times. Retrieved from http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004020933_etiquette18.html on November 24, 2007.