Richard Rodriguez is the author of Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez. In this narrative Rodriguez mentions that English should be the only language that is spoken in the home because it is the "language of opportunity". When I heard this, I was troubled. Why can't the home consist of more than one language?
Although I was born in the United States, my parents and two of my brothers were not. My household consisted of English and Tagalog. As a result, I grew up understanding both languages. Sure, I can't speak Tagalog fluently, but by being familiar with the language, I feel like I have a cultural identity as a Filipino. I believe that many immigrant families use their original language in the household because it signifies who they are, their identity. What Rodriguez suggests for families to do in their homes will result in a loss of identity. Rodriguez even admits that when he learned English that his relationship with his parents became more distant and that part of his cultural identity was lost.
What is your view on this? Do you believe that it is better for families to only speak English in the home?
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I disagree with Richard Rodriguez. I believe that being bilingual is a benefit. My household also consist of two languages, English and Spanish, and because of it I feel like I have a culture identity. Speaking Spanish allows me to be close to my family and it has built a strong relationship between us. It is hard to imagine what my life would be like without speaking Spanish.
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