Habla Blog

By Barbara Benjamin-Treviño

With the 2010 Census well into the planning stages, concerns about what terminology to use are again rising to the fore. If you are unsure about whether to use “Hispanic,” “Latino/a,” “Mexican-American,” “Chicano,” or something else, you’re not alone. Categories, labels, words, and meanings all shift with history, politics, governing agencies, generations and new knowledge.

Here are a few pointers to help you communicate more comfortably:

• Most people prefer to be recognized by their national heritage, e.g., Mexican American, Cuban American. There is no one label that fits all. The generic terms of “Hispanic” and “Latino/a” incorporate people from many countries and even more cultures.
• The most important factor in communicating successfully is to demonstrate your genuine interest in and respect for the individual. If you are already doing so, keep it up. Feel free to ask their preference as well. Some may have a decided preference and others may not feel strongly about it at all.
• Generic labels like “Hispanic” and “Latino/a” were created by government agencies and the media to make things “easier” for themselves to manage. In fact, the term “Hispanic” was first used as a census category in the 1970s. Hispanic is still the term you will find on census forms, school registration forms, and other government documents. In recent years the Census Bureau has added another category, “more than one race.”
• “Latino/a” appeared slightly after the use of “Hispanic” became popular. “Latino/a” is the term used more frequently by academics than “Hispanic.”
• “Chicano” (Chee-KAH-no) is a self-ascribed term used to identify oneself with activist politics from the Civil Rights era.
• The terms above are considered part of one’s ethnicity, a category in the census that is distinct from “race.” “Latinos/as” can further identify themselves as white, black, or Asian.

Labels are inherently problematic and often confusing. When in doubt, take cues from the person with whom you’re speaking. As long as your questions are respectful they will be welcome.

As with labels, assumptions are inherently confusing as well. This is manifested sometimes in language preference. Should I approach my new neighbors in English or Spanish? Should I advertise to prospective customers in English or Spanish? There is no shortage of question—or opinions—when it comes to language. Let’s confuse the situation with a few facts.

By way of background, the National Council of La Raza (www.nclr.org), in its “Twenty of the Most Frequently Asked Questions about Hispanics in the U.S.” notes that the majority of Hispanics who speak Spanish are also proficient in English. NCLR refers again to Census Bureau data showing that 31 million U.S. residents age five and older speak Spanish at home. Among all of those who speak Spanish at home, more than one half say they speak English “very well.”

The Pew Hispanic Center (www.pewhispanic.org), in its 2002 National Survey of Latinos, found that 46 percent of Hispanic adults speak both English and Spanish, referring to their ability to carry on a conversation in either language. The Pew survey notes that about 40 percent were largely Spanish speakers and 14 percent, largely English speakers. Given that there were approximately 25 million Hispanic adults in the spring of 2002 (U.S. Census Bureau 2003), this suggests that there were approximately 11 million adult English/Spanish speaking bilingual Latinos.

Numbers alone do not tell any story fully. Context is crucial. That is why the Pew study’s section on “bilingualism at work and home” is crucial. It shows that:

· Although adult English/Spanish bilingual Latinos have some proficiency in speaking both English and Spanish, they tend to use the languages differently depending on the setting. English is far and away the dominant language of U.S. commerce and trade and dominates U.S. workplaces. English/Spanish bilingual Latinos report that they largely speak English in the workplace. About 60 percent of bilingual Hispanic workers usually speak more English than Spanish at work.

· Although language proficiency in the first generation is overwhelmingly Spanish (62 percent) or bilingual (37 percent), the second generation is overwhelmingly proficient in English. The second generation is comprised of largely English speakers (21 percent) and English/Spanish bilingual speakers (74 percent) with only a small fraction that largely speaks Spanish (6 percent).

Some of you may be surprised by these figures because you perceive otherwise. You perceive otherwise for a variety of reasons—some of which relate to what you see, hear, and read in the news. Be careful! ¡Cuidado! Kwee-DAH-doe! One size never fits all.

Barbara Benjamin-Treviño
Bentiva Education Solutions ~Resources for Cross-Cultural Communication
www.bentiva.com

For more information on Spanish for Lawyers, Paralegals, Law Enforcement, Teachers, and Medical Professionals visit our main site at www.wardspeaking.com.  To book programs contact Samantha Cardwell-Ward at 573-356-0406.