Spanglish

1. Explain the origin and popularity of Spanglish.

A lot of people of Mexican and Spanish origin live in the US and speak
both Spanish and English in their everyday lives. Over the years, these
immigrants have started using both languages at the same time, mixing
Spanish with English vocabulary and grammar.

Over the years, Spanglish has become highly popular among people of
Hispanic origin because they see it as a way of preserving their cultural
and linguistic heritage, and integrating into American society while
differentiating themselves from American-born citizens.

2. What does the author think of Spanglish? Why? Do you agree with
him? Why (not)?

The author admires this language as well as those who manage to

switch easily from one language to another, making up, coining/
inventing new words and phrases, shaping the language in their own
way. He thinks Spanglish is a very creative language spoken by an ethnic
minority that will develop/ spread in the future.

According to him, Spanglish is a creative way of saying: “I am American

and yet I have my own style, taste and language”.

At the same time, Stavans calls Spanglish “the tongue of the

uneducated” (l.46). This implies that Spanglish speakers usually do not
master English and therefore do not succeed in higher education, which
is the key to social mobility.
 3. What are the consequences of speaking Spanglish?

In the US, English and Spanglish are not now intertwined, and the
increasing use of Spanglish may lead to a new form of illiteracy there.

In some parts of the US, the Hispanic community speaks a mixture/ a

blend of both Spanish and English. Therefore, they don’t speak either
language well. They find it difficult to write, speak or even understand
proper English or Spanish. Spanglish speakers are not bilingual.

4. Why is English the door to the American Dream?

The author means that without English, no integration or assimilation is

possible in the US. Every immigrant needs to master English to be able
to make it in America. The way you speak English can open or close
doors in America. If Hispanics use their own words and syntax instead
of English words and phrases, they won’t be understood and
consequently won’t integrate.

Translation

Traduisez de “I had arrived…(L.10) à “Hebrew”. (L.23)

J’étais arrive à Manhattan au milieu des années 80. Mon premier

studio, que je partageais avec trois colocataires, se trouvait à l’angle de
Broadway et de la 122e Rue.

Ce quartier/secteur regorgeait de couleurs : on y rencontrait des

immigrants des Amériques, principalement originaires de la
République Dominicaine, du Mexique, du Salvador et de la
 Colombie. La juxtaposition ethnique était vraiment exaltante.
Mais il n’y avait pas que la vue. Le son était tout aussi important.
La couleur allait de pair avec le son, comme je l’ai vite appris/
c’est ce que j’ai vite appris. J’étais captivé par toutes ces voix
dissonantes/ discordantes que j’entendais lors de ma promenade
habituelle dans l’Upper West Side : anglais, espagnol, yiddish,
hébreu…