Growing up, I often felt “ni de aquí, ni de allá”—from neither here, nor there.
In my case “there” was Mexico, the country from which my father immigrated. Growing up in Los Angeles, California, I spoke Spanish at home and English at school.
That makes me a heritage language learner, which the Center for Applied Linguistics defines as a “student who is raised in a home where a non-English language is spoken, who speaks or at least understands the language, and who is to some degree bilingual in that language and in English.” It is estimated that 68 million people in the U.S. speak a language other than English at home.
However, even after minoring in Spanish in college and later working in a fully Spanish-speaking setting at the Mexican Consulate, I still felt like I could not truly call myself fluent in Spanish.
After recently graduating from a rigorous master’s program in translation and interpretation, I’ve reflected on my experience and have come to a few conclusions I wish to share with fellow heritage speakers.
Yes, some things might be easier, especially with cultural familiarity, but there is much more depth in a language which we sometimes are not taught at home or even in any academic setting. In my case, I skipped some fundamentals of Spanish grammar classes in college because I was considered a “native speaker” in their standards. That definitely backfired, as I continue to learn new grammar rules and exceptions to this day. Learning a foreign language is incredibly hard and a tremendous accomplishment (hats off to those of you who have learned nonheritage languages). Learning your heritage language presents its own set of difficulties because you are forced to unlearn and relearn many elements which can cause frustration and self-esteem issues.
Ignore comments like, “Spanish translation and interpretation must be so easy since Spanish is similar to English.” Languages are shaped by people, experiences, cultures, and communities. They define our world and are all wonderful, unique, and complex. Naturally, some languages are harder to learn, especially if we are unfamiliar with the alphabet, characters, pronunciation, etc. But do not underestimate the challenges other linguists face, and especially don’t make these types of comments to students or professionals who are tirelessly working to excel in the same field as you.
Do not doubt yourself and your skills because you feel that you are ‘ni de aquí, ni de allá.’
This is a big one, especially for my heritage speakers. I cannot express enough how much this type of statement breaks my heart. (I’ve said it myself several times throughout my life.) Growing up as a heritage speaker you hear your parents use many words specific to their region or upbringing, and they become a part of your everyday vocabulary. When used in other contexts, you become insecure as you realize a word or saying is uncommon or not formally recognized by official institutions. Yes, some words are not used in other countries and keeping your audience in mind is imperative to the flow of communication. However, this notion of not speaking Spanish “correctly” is hurtful to our cultures and communities who shaped the language. Maybe it’s a part of their vernacular, colloquialisms, slang, or jargon, but it’s not incorrect. We are wiser because of our cultural nuances and understanding and we must not forget that.
It seems that this field cherishes those who learn foreign languages through school settings or abroad (which is fantastic). But what about those who learned it at home? Heritage speakers have special skills that are incredibly beneficial to the language industry. I hope we can encourage heritage speakers through our training and programs to become a part of this field. I want to tell them that this field is for them despite them feeling like they’re not good enough (or perhaps feel “less Latina” or like a disappointment to their culture). With the right training and practice, we can all learn to enrich our language abilities. Languages are constantly evolving. Professional translators and interpreters have to constantly research before assignments or projects because we are not walking dictionaries or encyclopedias. Do not doubt yourself and your skills because you feel that you are “ni de aquí, ni de allá.”
Did I doubt my own language abilities throughout my two years at the Middlebury Institute? Yes. Did I maybe have a slight identity crisis? Perhaps. With all this said, I was fortunate enough to have peers who fervently supported and listened to me and professors who provided their insights, while allowing me to question the way things work in both languages.
I hope this article resonates with other heritage speakers in the translation and interpretation field and beyond, as I know I’m not alone in this journey of constant learning, growth, and self-doubt.
The original version of this reflection was published on LinkedIn.
Contact Sarahi Juarez: juarezlanguage@gmail.com
Master of Arts in Translation; Translation and Interpretation; Conference Interpretation
| by Nozomi Ambe MACI ’23
Conference Interpretation graduate Nozomi (Zoe) Ambe shares how faculty support and the MIIS alumni network helped her launch a career as a professional interpreter.
| by Sierra Abukins
Interpretation students at the Institute hone their interpretation skills by practicing in a wide range of settings, from plant nurseries to the aquarium, conferences to wastewater treatment plants.
| by Sierra Abukins
Over 8,000 people from across the world recently tuned in for a conversation with top employers, academics, and practitioners on how the field is changing and what’s next.
