Tag: Heather Quarles

Sociolinguistic Awareness through Cultural Spaces

Presenter: Nayelli Velazquez

Co-Presenters: Corinna Soriano

Faculty Mentor: Claudia Holguin, Heather Quarles

Presentation Type: Oral

Primary Research Area: Social Science

Major: Human Physiology

Even though some states, such as Arizona and Texas are pushing for monolingual, English-only policies, it is important that cultural spaces such as Mexican markets exist in every community. Through interviews with several people at a Mexican market and grocery store in Hillsboro, Oregon about their experiences with Spanish in the area and about what draws them to shop in the market, we found a consistent message about the importance of these types of places. Many of the people interviewed expressed comfort in having a space to visit that reminds them of their home cultures and as a place where the North American and Latin American cultures are fused into one hybrid identity. We documented many examples of Spanglish, proposed by several scholars as an entire way of life rather than just as a new language. Over the course of this project we have come to realize the benefits of these cultural spaces and we propose community-level creation of cultural havens apart from the politics and social discrimination of our current society. These spaces should be established by the local Latino communities, in order to best accommodate their identities. Ultimately, they would serve as places of cultural expression, and appreciation.

Our Silenced Voice: Nuestra Voz Silenciada

Presenter(s): Virginia-Rose Seagal − Undeclared

Co Presenter(s): Daniel Hernandez, Andres Erasto Rosales, Erik Garcia

Faculty Mentor(s): Heather Quarles

Creative Work Session 4

Research Area: Social Science

(English) The strong front of patriotism that unifies Americans today has been emboldened by our nationalist president. Uplifted through nationalism, patriotism has provided an excuse for racism and nativism – language discrimination being one of the ways the two interact. It’s likely that anyone who has spoken their native language in public has experienced discrimination while doing so. This brief documentary is about the treatment of Spanish speakers in the United States and the use of Spanish in public during a time of high tension and xenophobia. We spoke to those with “English only” opinions as well as Spanish speakers who had experienced discrimination for speaking their language. As Spanish speakers and second generation immigrants ourselves, we often became uncomfortable during the interview process and our project evolved. It became not only about the racism of language and the effect it has on our community, but also about the importance to speak our language with pride and to create an environment of inclusivity. (Español) El empuje del patriotismo que une a Americanos hoy ha sido animado por nuestro presidente nacionalista. Elevado por el nacionalismo, el patriotismo ha previsto una excusa para el racismo y nativismo – la discriminación del lenguaje es una de las maneras que ambos interactúan. Es probable que cualquiera que haya hablado una lengua nativa que no es inglés en público ha experimentado discriminación. Este documental trata sobre los hispanohablantes y el uso del español en público en un clima de alta tensión racial y xenófobico en los Estados Unidos. Hablamos con gente con opiniones de “sólo inglés” e hispanohablantes con una variedad de experiencias de discriminación. Como hispanos hablantes y segunda generación de inmigrantes nosotros mismos, durante el proceso de entrevistas nos sentimos incómodos. El proyecto se convirtió no sólo en el racismo del lenguaje pero también el efecto que tiene en nuestras comunidades, y de la importancia de poder hablar cualquier lenguaje con orgullo como una manera de conectar con nuestra herencia y crear un ambiente inclusivo.