What exactly does it mean to be politically correct? If you look the word up in the Webster’s New World Dictionary, (and yes the word is actually in the dictionary) it is defined as holding orthodox liberal political views: usually used disparagingly to connote dogmatism, etc. If you go on line to Wikipedia political correctness is stated as a term applied to language, ideas, policies, or behavior seen as seeking to minimize offense to gender, racial, cultural, disabled, aged or other identity groups. To be honestly blunt and to the point it means to use language that is free of any offensive descriptions. This means when we see a disabled person or a retarded person we do not use the words disabled or retarded as they have negative connotations that some people may find offensive. We instead call them physically challenged or mentally challenged. The term disabled means not able and as we know most physically challenged people are capable of doing most anything they put their minds to do.
Political Correctness started in a think tank (called The Frankfurt School) in Germany in 1923. The purpose was to find a solution to the biggest problem facing the implementers of communism in Russia. So when did we start worrying about being politically correct? This happened around 1990 in the United States. Suddenly as a society we became overly concerned with being politically correct in an effort not offend anybody. Being politically correct is not a concept that is evident only in America. The term is familiar and politically correct language is used all around the world. Is it actually possible to talk anymore without offending somebody? I think the answer to that question is no! No matter what we say and how we say it we cannot please all of the people all of the time. There is always someone who will find offense with what we say. But is that what political correctness is all about? No, of course not!
What we need to do is free our language of discriminatory remarks and sayings. Once that is done we do not need to worry about whether somebody agrees with us or not. It is not as easy as it sounds though. You need to be aware of what terminology is acceptable and unacceptable in the society you live in. How do we rid our language of discriminatory remarks if we do not know what they are?
As a linguistic concept in the Wikipedia it states that using “inclusive” and “neutral” language is based upon the concept that “language represents thought, and may even control thought”. This is quite a strong statement to make as it essentially means that our language controls our thought process. So in essence if we use derogatory terms to describe someone it has an effect of controlling how we feel about what we said and how we feel about that person. Then other people who hear those remarks may even feel the same way! With that said, I guess it is a good idea of watching what we say and how we say it.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Language and Communication
Communication is one of the trademarks that sets us apart from all other species of animals. Although many animals can communicate basic feelings using grunts, and moans, they do not share a language that lets them communicate complex thoughts and feelings. We as human beings can communicate what we like, want, and need in a way that is unique to our species and has enabled us to progress into what we are today.
There are many different languages spoken around the world and language has been around for many thousand and thousands of years. One thing remains true about language and that is it enables us to communicate in a highly effective way that no other species of animals shares. Because of language we are able to communicate to each other what we feel, think, and dream of. We can share thoughts and ideas and because of this we have advanced technology, we can build things, and we can go to school to learn how to do many different things. Essentially language has changed our thinking and evolved our species into what we are today.
What would it be like if we could not communicate? We would not be able to plan anything, the future, present, and past would not exist for us as we know it. Many things we take for granted we would not be able to do such as make a lunch date for tomorrow at noon, share our feelings about something, and teach someone how to do something. Would we be able to live the way we do now? We definitely would not be able to live the way we do now. There would be no telephones, computers, internet, and cell phones. We would not live in the nice houses we have today and cars and transportation would not exist as we know it to be.
How would we express ourselves? We could not just say I do not like this, or I do not feel well. There would be no words at all. We could not identify or know mother, father, brother, sister, and so forth as those symbols require words to identify. Language is a very important tool for communication. Language enables us to have the power of words, and expression that gives us our intelligence.
As you can see, life would be vastly different and we would be living in a different world than we know now. But fortunately for us we can communicate and have the gift of language. Thanks to language we have the highly technological society that we live in today. Because of language and communication we can communicate with someone right next to us or on the other side of the world in a matter of seconds. Language also enables us to travel by car across town or by airplane to other countries. Language is the key to our very existence without it who knows where we would be.
There are many different languages spoken around the world and language has been around for many thousand and thousands of years. One thing remains true about language and that is it enables us to communicate in a highly effective way that no other species of animals shares. Because of language we are able to communicate to each other what we feel, think, and dream of. We can share thoughts and ideas and because of this we have advanced technology, we can build things, and we can go to school to learn how to do many different things. Essentially language has changed our thinking and evolved our species into what we are today.
What would it be like if we could not communicate? We would not be able to plan anything, the future, present, and past would not exist for us as we know it. Many things we take for granted we would not be able to do such as make a lunch date for tomorrow at noon, share our feelings about something, and teach someone how to do something. Would we be able to live the way we do now? We definitely would not be able to live the way we do now. There would be no telephones, computers, internet, and cell phones. We would not live in the nice houses we have today and cars and transportation would not exist as we know it to be.
How would we express ourselves? We could not just say I do not like this, or I do not feel well. There would be no words at all. We could not identify or know mother, father, brother, sister, and so forth as those symbols require words to identify. Language is a very important tool for communication. Language enables us to have the power of words, and expression that gives us our intelligence.
As you can see, life would be vastly different and we would be living in a different world than we know now. But fortunately for us we can communicate and have the gift of language. Thanks to language we have the highly technological society that we live in today. Because of language and communication we can communicate with someone right next to us or on the other side of the world in a matter of seconds. Language also enables us to travel by car across town or by airplane to other countries. Language is the key to our very existence without it who knows where we would be.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
WritingThe Right Way
Gary Goshgarian provided a lot of useful information and tips on how to improve your writing. This was a very informative chapter and well worth the reading. The tips that were provided were helpful and easy to understand. Most of us face many challenges when it comes to writing from how to get started, how to say what we want to say, how to spell certain words, to proper punctuation, grammar, and diction.
All of the writers in Chapter 2, “Writers on Writing,” in our Exploring Language book identify that the first problem a writer faces is how to get started with the writing process. It can be very overwhelming staring at a blank piece of paper or computer screen not knowing where to start. Anne Lamott, addresses this issue with her essay appropriately entitled “Getting Started.” According to Ms. Lamott, you need to train your unconscious to kick in for you by sitting down to write everyday at about the same time and staring at the computer until an image starts forming in your mind. Do not get discouraged if at first nothing happens because this technique can take some time and you need to train yourself to be able to do it. Another one of Lamott’s tips is to not be afraid, just plug your nose and jump in. Start by writing everything you remember from your childhood and proceed from there. These tips can be very helpful in getting you started in your writing endeavors. Now that we know how to get started writing we can shift our focus on what constitutes good writing.
In John Leo’s essay entitled, “On Good Writing,” he goes over the rules and gives his audience some tips on improving their writing skills. He starts off his essay by stating that important keys to good writing are candor, clarity, and sincerity. So how do we accomplish this? We need to be specific, not dance around the truth, and be sincere about what we are writing. Your audience will know if your heart is not in your writing. He also states that we should use short sentences, put yourself into your writing, and do not use phrases such as, “I feel,” and “I believe.” Many novice writers are under the misguided notion that using longer sentences makes them a better writer. This is not the case. Short sentences are easier to read and give the reader a more concise understanding of what you are trying to convey. When Leo says put yourself into your writing he means to do your best work. Nobody wants to read a half-hearted attempt at writing, and chances are if you are not inspired by what you are writing about your audience will not be inspired either. Using the phrases “I believe” and “I feel” are just opinions and your audience will appreciate your writing more if you use facts.
My favorite tip from John Leo is to write in your own voice like in a conversational manner. This means you are writing as if you are speaking personally to your audience. By doing this, you, are able to connect with your audience and hold their attention. So the next time you attempt to put your pen to paper keep these rules in mind and good luck. We may not all become professional writers or authors, but remembering these rules and tips may help you achieve a better grade on your next research paper.
All of the writers in Chapter 2, “Writers on Writing,” in our Exploring Language book identify that the first problem a writer faces is how to get started with the writing process. It can be very overwhelming staring at a blank piece of paper or computer screen not knowing where to start. Anne Lamott, addresses this issue with her essay appropriately entitled “Getting Started.” According to Ms. Lamott, you need to train your unconscious to kick in for you by sitting down to write everyday at about the same time and staring at the computer until an image starts forming in your mind. Do not get discouraged if at first nothing happens because this technique can take some time and you need to train yourself to be able to do it. Another one of Lamott’s tips is to not be afraid, just plug your nose and jump in. Start by writing everything you remember from your childhood and proceed from there. These tips can be very helpful in getting you started in your writing endeavors. Now that we know how to get started writing we can shift our focus on what constitutes good writing.
In John Leo’s essay entitled, “On Good Writing,” he goes over the rules and gives his audience some tips on improving their writing skills. He starts off his essay by stating that important keys to good writing are candor, clarity, and sincerity. So how do we accomplish this? We need to be specific, not dance around the truth, and be sincere about what we are writing. Your audience will know if your heart is not in your writing. He also states that we should use short sentences, put yourself into your writing, and do not use phrases such as, “I feel,” and “I believe.” Many novice writers are under the misguided notion that using longer sentences makes them a better writer. This is not the case. Short sentences are easier to read and give the reader a more concise understanding of what you are trying to convey. When Leo says put yourself into your writing he means to do your best work. Nobody wants to read a half-hearted attempt at writing, and chances are if you are not inspired by what you are writing about your audience will not be inspired either. Using the phrases “I believe” and “I feel” are just opinions and your audience will appreciate your writing more if you use facts.
My favorite tip from John Leo is to write in your own voice like in a conversational manner. This means you are writing as if you are speaking personally to your audience. By doing this, you, are able to connect with your audience and hold their attention. So the next time you attempt to put your pen to paper keep these rules in mind and good luck. We may not all become professional writers or authors, but remembering these rules and tips may help you achieve a better grade on your next research paper.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
A Speech That Inspired Millions
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech, “I Have a Dream,” is the perfect example of language that inspires change and hope. Although the subject matter of the speech is that of discrimination and suffering of African Americans in 1963, the tone of the speech is positive and uplifting. The speech inspired the listeners and gave his audience hope of a better future. Martin Luther King, Jr, states at least eight times in his speech, “I have a dream.” When he said that he instilled hope in his audience that things would change and life would get better for them. Where there is hope there is a chance and people will find their way to better their lives, maybe not right away but eventually.
The speech brought the plight of social injustice, discrimination, and segregation of African Americans to the fore front and made all Americans sit back and listen. His speech served not only to give hope to African Americans, but to motivate them to fight for change in a peaceful positive way. We know this because in his speech he states, “In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.” This was a very powerful statement and made it clear that he wanted to protest with dignity and respect in a positive way. Martin Luther King, Jr. urged his audience to go back to their homes with the knowledge and faith that their situation could and would change.
The tone of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech is that of hope and faith and when reading his speech you can almost hear the tone in which he would have repeated it. His analogies were very creative. In particular I was intrigued by his analogy of the bank of justice which was stated as, “But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so we come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.”
His speech was delivered on August 28, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial. The Lincoln Memorial was the perfect backdrop for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, “I Have a Dream,” speech as it not only set the tone of hope for his speech, but also was the symbol of freedom and inspiration.
To be able to watch him deliver his speech in person back in 1963 must have been an awe inspiring experience. Who would have known at that time what a historical event they were witnessing. If Martin Luther King, Jr. could have the hope to inspire a nation and promote change despite what he was up against, imagine what we could do to promote change if we all had that same kind of hope. Men like Martin Luther King, Jr. have made significant changes in our world. We would not be where we are today without men like him who were not afraid to speak out against injustice.
The speech brought the plight of social injustice, discrimination, and segregation of African Americans to the fore front and made all Americans sit back and listen. His speech served not only to give hope to African Americans, but to motivate them to fight for change in a peaceful positive way. We know this because in his speech he states, “In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.” This was a very powerful statement and made it clear that he wanted to protest with dignity and respect in a positive way. Martin Luther King, Jr. urged his audience to go back to their homes with the knowledge and faith that their situation could and would change.
The tone of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech is that of hope and faith and when reading his speech you can almost hear the tone in which he would have repeated it. His analogies were very creative. In particular I was intrigued by his analogy of the bank of justice which was stated as, “But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so we come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.”
His speech was delivered on August 28, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial. The Lincoln Memorial was the perfect backdrop for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, “I Have a Dream,” speech as it not only set the tone of hope for his speech, but also was the symbol of freedom and inspiration.
To be able to watch him deliver his speech in person back in 1963 must have been an awe inspiring experience. Who would have known at that time what a historical event they were witnessing. If Martin Luther King, Jr. could have the hope to inspire a nation and promote change despite what he was up against, imagine what we could do to promote change if we all had that same kind of hope. Men like Martin Luther King, Jr. have made significant changes in our world. We would not be where we are today without men like him who were not afraid to speak out against injustice.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Indifference! Who Cares?
After reading “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” by Martin Luther King, Jr. and the speech entitled, “The Perils of Indifference,” by Elie Wiesel, I noticed a lot of similarities. Both the letter by King and the speech by Wiesel call people to stand up for what they believe in and not sit idly by watching our fellow man suffer the crimes of injustice, cruelty, and discrimination. Although King was talking about the plight of African Americans in the 1960’s and Wiesel was speaking about his feelings of being a survivor of the Holocaust in the 1940’s, both messages were relatively the same.
In King’s letter he states, “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.” What exactly does he mean by this? My view is that it is just as bad to stand by and do nothing even though you know what is happening is wrong. These people just turned a blind eye on what was going on thinking let somebody else speak up it is not my problem! How can people be so callous and cold? It can be quite easy just look the other way and pretend you did not see anything.
In Weisel’s speech he asks, “What is indifference? Etymologically, the word means ‘no difference.’ It is a strange and unnatural state in which the lines blur between light and darkness, dusk and dawn, crime and punishment, good and evil.” In essence that means neutral, not taking sides, or not caring one way or the other. In my book that is just as bad. Weisel goes on to talk about how much easier it is to be indifferent than it is to care or take a stand against injustice. Maybe people become indifferent out of fear. This brings to mind an old saying I have heard and it goes like this, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.” It may be easier to ignore injustice, hunger, murder, and genocide, but what does that say about the kind of person you are? Do you not take pride in being a good person? It may be harder to take a stand, but it is the right thing to do. Think about how much better you feel about yourself.
We must take a stand, not only as individuals, but as a society. One way we can do this is by electing officials who are known for taking a stand. Yes, this does mean you will have to get out there and vote. We can also bring injustices to the forefront of society by peaceful protesting, writing letters to congress, and calling the media with our concerns.
There are many things we can do as individuals to show we care about others. We can start by helping our local homeless people. We can volunteer at the local homeless shelters, offer them a warm blanket, old jacket, or a hot meal to show we care. How many times have we gone out to eat only to see someone digging in the dumpster for old food and just ignored it and pretended we did not see it? We can make a difference one deed at a time.
In King’s letter he states, “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.” What exactly does he mean by this? My view is that it is just as bad to stand by and do nothing even though you know what is happening is wrong. These people just turned a blind eye on what was going on thinking let somebody else speak up it is not my problem! How can people be so callous and cold? It can be quite easy just look the other way and pretend you did not see anything.
In Weisel’s speech he asks, “What is indifference? Etymologically, the word means ‘no difference.’ It is a strange and unnatural state in which the lines blur between light and darkness, dusk and dawn, crime and punishment, good and evil.” In essence that means neutral, not taking sides, or not caring one way or the other. In my book that is just as bad. Weisel goes on to talk about how much easier it is to be indifferent than it is to care or take a stand against injustice. Maybe people become indifferent out of fear. This brings to mind an old saying I have heard and it goes like this, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.” It may be easier to ignore injustice, hunger, murder, and genocide, but what does that say about the kind of person you are? Do you not take pride in being a good person? It may be harder to take a stand, but it is the right thing to do. Think about how much better you feel about yourself.
We must take a stand, not only as individuals, but as a society. One way we can do this is by electing officials who are known for taking a stand. Yes, this does mean you will have to get out there and vote. We can also bring injustices to the forefront of society by peaceful protesting, writing letters to congress, and calling the media with our concerns.
There are many things we can do as individuals to show we care about others. We can start by helping our local homeless people. We can volunteer at the local homeless shelters, offer them a warm blanket, old jacket, or a hot meal to show we care. How many times have we gone out to eat only to see someone digging in the dumpster for old food and just ignored it and pretended we did not see it? We can make a difference one deed at a time.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Illiteracy in Society Today
It is hard to perceive being illiterate in society today. We are a communication based society. Yet there are many people who are illiterate and have to get by with the assistance of others. Everything we do today involves reading and writing of some sort. Many of us are oblivious as to the depth at which we read and write without giving it a second thought.
Without being able to read or write, life takes on many new challenges. We could not do many of the things we take for granted each day such as reading the menu in a restaurant, texting our friends, reading a good book, filling out an application, and paying our bills. We would not be able to drive legally because we could not pass the written test to obtain a drivers license. We would have to take the bus everywhere and that, too, would pose a problem because we would not be able to read the bus schedule. It would not do you any good to own a computer because you would not be able to use it, and forget about the internet it would mean nothing to you.
Obtaining gainful employment would be nearly impossible even if you did have someone fill out the application for you. Working at Burger King or McDonald's requires being able to read the menu to perform the job properly. You might be able to work as a janitor, gardener, or cleaning lady, but what would happen if your boss left you a note? Of course, you would not be able to read it!
How would it feel to be illiterate today? I am sure you would have to hide the fact from practically everyone. If somebody found out, it would probably cause a great deal of embarrassment and humiliation. Only a few close friends or family members would be allowed to know and you would have to trust them enough not to tell anyone. You would live in constant fear of someone finding out your secret. You would never feel truly free. There is nothing like the freedom of being able to read and express yourself in writing, but you would never know that. You would have to depend on someone else to read your mail to you, the instructions on a frozen dinner, a menu to you, and write your checks for you. Balancing a checkbook would be out of the question, and you would be left quite vulnerable. With this vulnerability it would be able for people to steal from you and you would never know it.
Fortunately, it is never too late to learn how to read and write. Thankfully you can go to your local adult school and learn. A whole new world would open up to you. A computer and the internet would take on a whole new meaning for you. This would be a very liberating experience. All that is needed to read and write is a willingness to take the time and learn. All of us are capable of learning, and none of us is too old to learn. Let's face it in society today being literate is a requirement to lead a full productive life. So long until next time!
Without being able to read or write, life takes on many new challenges. We could not do many of the things we take for granted each day such as reading the menu in a restaurant, texting our friends, reading a good book, filling out an application, and paying our bills. We would not be able to drive legally because we could not pass the written test to obtain a drivers license. We would have to take the bus everywhere and that, too, would pose a problem because we would not be able to read the bus schedule. It would not do you any good to own a computer because you would not be able to use it, and forget about the internet it would mean nothing to you.
Obtaining gainful employment would be nearly impossible even if you did have someone fill out the application for you. Working at Burger King or McDonald's requires being able to read the menu to perform the job properly. You might be able to work as a janitor, gardener, or cleaning lady, but what would happen if your boss left you a note? Of course, you would not be able to read it!
How would it feel to be illiterate today? I am sure you would have to hide the fact from practically everyone. If somebody found out, it would probably cause a great deal of embarrassment and humiliation. Only a few close friends or family members would be allowed to know and you would have to trust them enough not to tell anyone. You would live in constant fear of someone finding out your secret. You would never feel truly free. There is nothing like the freedom of being able to read and express yourself in writing, but you would never know that. You would have to depend on someone else to read your mail to you, the instructions on a frozen dinner, a menu to you, and write your checks for you. Balancing a checkbook would be out of the question, and you would be left quite vulnerable. With this vulnerability it would be able for people to steal from you and you would never know it.
Fortunately, it is never too late to learn how to read and write. Thankfully you can go to your local adult school and learn. A whole new world would open up to you. A computer and the internet would take on a whole new meaning for you. This would be a very liberating experience. All that is needed to read and write is a willingness to take the time and learn. All of us are capable of learning, and none of us is too old to learn. Let's face it in society today being literate is a requirement to lead a full productive life. So long until next time!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Communication A Vital Part of Life
As a child, I found it very hard to communicate verbally. It was not that I could not talk or did not have anything important to say, it was that my emotions would always get in the way. This was very embarrassing for me because if I was nervous or upset it would show in my voice and I would always end up crying. School was the hardest part for me. I would just keep quiet and the kids and teachers at school would just think that I was shy. In a way, I was shy, but it was more than just that. I was afraid that I would humiliate myself and as a result I began writing to express myself. I felt free and could be outspoken for a change. This was a wonderful feeling I was uninhibited and was finally able to express myself without the fear of my emotions getting in the way.
I have learned to love writing as it provided a means for me to express myself in a way I could not before. Although, I am not a child anymore, I still find it easier to communicate in writing. My writing has developed and improved over the years along with my spelling and grammar. I have generally overcome my fear of communicating verbally and I communicate orally most of the time, but I still prefer to communicate in writing from time to time when I feel emotional or nervous about something. The problem with this is I cannot always do so and have had to learn some techniques to calm down and relax. This seems to work for the most part and has made my life much easier.
What I have found works the best for me is to overcome my fear by, "taking the bull by the horns," so to speak. The more you confront your fear the easier it becomes for you to get over it. You know what they say, "Practice makes perfect!" I can really identify with Malcolm X as when he learned how to write it opened up a whole new world for him and he felt free. I felt the same way when I learned how to express myself in writing.
I never really realized how important language and communication were until I met my husband's family for the first time. They are Cuban refugees and when we first met, they had only been here for a few years and did not speak English. They seemed friendly enough, but I could not communicate with them unless my husband was there to translate everything we said. Then came the moment my husband, (who was my fiance at the time,) had to leave for a few minutes. Some of his family members who arrived late came by to introduce themselves and say hello to me unaware that I did not speak a word of Spanish they tried to carry on a conversation with me. The expression on my face when my husband came back was that of sheer embarrassment. Of course my husband rescued me and told them that I did not speak a word of Spanish and they all laughed and understood why I did nothing but say "What?"
After the initial meeting with my husband's family, I decided that in order to be able to communicate with my in-laws I would need to learn Spanish. So, I bought a Spanish books and learned how to count, the days of the week, months of the year, and most nouns in Spanish. With the help of my husband and in-laws I began speaking Spanish. My husband's way of helping me was by teaching me to say things in Spanish the wrong way then having me repeat them in front of his family who would laugh hysterically at me. But that was okay because I taught my husband and in-laws how to say things in English the wrong way too, then I would have them repeat it.
After all the joking was over and I got serious about learning Spanish, I actually learned quite a bit. My in-laws , by the same token, learned to speak some English. We now can communicate together in what I refer to as "Spanglish," where we both speak some English and some Spanish, and we end up understanding each other quite well. My father in-law even taught me how to cook Cuban food with no translation from my husband at all!
I have learned to love writing as it provided a means for me to express myself in a way I could not before. Although, I am not a child anymore, I still find it easier to communicate in writing. My writing has developed and improved over the years along with my spelling and grammar. I have generally overcome my fear of communicating verbally and I communicate orally most of the time, but I still prefer to communicate in writing from time to time when I feel emotional or nervous about something. The problem with this is I cannot always do so and have had to learn some techniques to calm down and relax. This seems to work for the most part and has made my life much easier.
What I have found works the best for me is to overcome my fear by, "taking the bull by the horns," so to speak. The more you confront your fear the easier it becomes for you to get over it. You know what they say, "Practice makes perfect!" I can really identify with Malcolm X as when he learned how to write it opened up a whole new world for him and he felt free. I felt the same way when I learned how to express myself in writing.
I never really realized how important language and communication were until I met my husband's family for the first time. They are Cuban refugees and when we first met, they had only been here for a few years and did not speak English. They seemed friendly enough, but I could not communicate with them unless my husband was there to translate everything we said. Then came the moment my husband, (who was my fiance at the time,) had to leave for a few minutes. Some of his family members who arrived late came by to introduce themselves and say hello to me unaware that I did not speak a word of Spanish they tried to carry on a conversation with me. The expression on my face when my husband came back was that of sheer embarrassment. Of course my husband rescued me and told them that I did not speak a word of Spanish and they all laughed and understood why I did nothing but say "What?"
After the initial meeting with my husband's family, I decided that in order to be able to communicate with my in-laws I would need to learn Spanish. So, I bought a Spanish books and learned how to count, the days of the week, months of the year, and most nouns in Spanish. With the help of my husband and in-laws I began speaking Spanish. My husband's way of helping me was by teaching me to say things in Spanish the wrong way then having me repeat them in front of his family who would laugh hysterically at me. But that was okay because I taught my husband and in-laws how to say things in English the wrong way too, then I would have them repeat it.
After all the joking was over and I got serious about learning Spanish, I actually learned quite a bit. My in-laws , by the same token, learned to speak some English. We now can communicate together in what I refer to as "Spanglish," where we both speak some English and some Spanish, and we end up understanding each other quite well. My father in-law even taught me how to cook Cuban food with no translation from my husband at all!
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