...Spanglish Movie Reflection This paper examines the movie "Spanglish", which portrays the culture difference in a Mexican woman and a white woman. Some of the characters in the movie were Flor Moreno (Paz Vega) is a poor, Mexican single mother who is hired as the housekeeper for a rich American family in Los Angeles: John (Adam Sandler) and Deborah Clasky (Téa Leoni), their kids Bernice (Sarah Steele) and Georgie (Ian Hayland), and Deborah's alcoholic mother Evelyn Wright (Cloris Leachman). It looks at how "Spanglish" is a film rendering the positions of women with the countless problems they have in today's society including tribulations in racial discrimination, domesticity, poor wages, preteens and body image and low self-esteem. My reflections will compare the differences such as collectivist and individualistic culture, high-context and low-context, high-power distance and low-power distance, and masculine and feminine roles. I would first off like to talk about how most Spanish cultures raised their children to become independent and collectivist. Individualistic are self assured and very independent people and collectivist emphasizes family and work group goals above individual needs or desires. They learn how to survive for them selves, and I feel as if this is a good way of life because in today generation most adults just go running to their parent when things get tough. The current generation is not use to being taught how to be independent. In the movie Spanglish...
Words: 884 - Pages: 4
...Spanglish (movie) En sentido literal, "Spanglish" es un híbrido entre español e inglés, un dialecto que hablan casi 40 millones de latinos que viven en los Estados Unidos. Se refiere al cruce de estas culturas dispares cuando terminan conviviendo juntas bajo el mismo techo. Según Brooks, "Hay tantas cosas que son tan diferentes en estas dos culturas, y esta película tiene mucho que ver con donde coinciden, y donde no podrán coincidir nunca. Uno de los lugares donde pueden coincidir, y donde los personajes de Flor y John encuentran un campo común, es su forma de criar a los niños. Los dos se sienten cómodos siendo los directores de las vidas de sus hijos".Al principio de la película, Flor, madre soltera mejicana, es abandonada con poco dinero y pocas oportunidades con su querida hija de seis años, Cristina. Como explica Brooks, "Flor se siente muy culpable por haberse casado con un hombre que no era un buen padre y esconde todas sus necesidades de mujer joven entregándose a su hija. Esta devoción no es ni un sacrificio ni un martirio para ella, sino la cosa más natural en el mundo".Buscando una vida mejor para su hija, Flor sale de México y se instala en una comunidad latina de Los Ángeles, de la que nunca sale. Efectivamente, sigue anclada en un mundo y en una lengua que le resulta familiar, separada de la cultura norteamericana hasta el día que es contratada como ama de llaves de los Clasky. Como apunta el narrador (Cristina, seis años después del final de la película), "después...
Words: 1275 - Pages: 6
...Diversity: Family Strengths and Challenges FILM Spanglish, 2004 (Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.) MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some sexual content and brief language Format: DVD/VHS Plot Outline: Flor and her daughter Christina immigrate to Los Angeles from Mexico in search of a better life. After 6 years in the familiar and “safe” surroundings of a Hispanic enclave, Christina’s transition to adolescence prompts Flor to seek a job that will make it possible for her to supervise Christina more closely. When Flor gets a job as housekeeper for the family of a successful chef, her interactions with the affluent, eccentric American family challenge her parental and relational values. DESCRIPTION OF CLIP [Scenes 1-3 on DVD] The movie begins with a committee at Princeton University reviewing Christina’s letter of application. Christina, describing how her mother, Flor, has influenced her, narrates the story of their emigration from Mexico and their experiences adjusting to a new culture. They settle in Los Angeles, with its large Hispanic population, where they receive help from extended family members. After six years of isolation in the Hispanic enclave, Christina’s transition to adolescence prompts Flor to seek employment that will allow her to quit her second job and supervise Christina more closely. Flor’s cousin, Monica, accompanies Flor to her interview. [Length: 14 minutes] VIEWING GUIDE: SPANGLISH Review the lists from Marriages & Families Figures...
Words: 943 - Pages: 4
...Proseminar Paper in ESOC Spanglish in the cinema Juan Ramón Abarca García 12-068-391 4th Semester juan.abarcagarcia@stud.unibas.ch 19th December 2014 Table of contents 1.-Introduction, aim and scope..........................................................................................3 2.-Literature review...........................................................................................................3 2.1.-Code-switching...............................................................................................3 2.2.-Spanish in the United States...........................................................................5 2.3.-Spanglish........................................................................................................6 3.-Data and methodology..................................................................................................8 4.-Analysis.........................................................................................................................9 5.-Conclusion...................................................................................................................13 6.-Transcription conventions...........................................................................................14 7.-Transcription...............................................................................................................15 8.-Bibliography...
Words: 5667 - Pages: 23
...Investigación de Spanglish Para este reporte escrito, voy a investigar el cambio de los códigos entre español e inglés, típicamente conocido como "Spanglish". Este tema me interesa porque soy parte del pequeño porcentaje que habla spanglish. Cada día, estoy rodeada por aquellos que lo hablan. Lo escucho en la escuela, el trabajo, y especialmente en la casa. Spanglish es algo normal para mí, pero aquellos que no están familiarizados con el dialecto lo encuentran como una majadería. Para ayudar a educar a los demás, voy a explicar lo que es el spanglish y si sólo hay un tipo. ¿Qué es el "Spanglish"? Sabemos el concepto básico de "Spanglish" que es el cambio de las lenguas de español y de inglés en una frase, oración o conversación. Para tener una mejor comprensión, el spanglish se refiere genéricamente a la influencia del inglés en el comportamiento lingüístico de los hispanohablantes en los Estados Unidos. La estructura de spanglish se divide en 3 subdivisiones: 1) la adaptación de las unidades léxicas de una lengua a la otra en un fonológico y morfológico; 2) la adaptación de algunos elementos léxicos de una lengua a otra semánticamente; y 3) el fenómeno de cambio de los códigos (Rothman and Rell, 2005). Unos ejemplos de estas subdivisiones son los préstamos de palabras como ‘super-marketa’, ‘babi-siter’, ‘lunchear’, etc. Aunque el spanglish era el puente que unió a la comunidad latino a los Estados Unidos, hablantes de inglés criticaron que el spanglish era jerga y un peligro...
Words: 1053 - Pages: 5
...in everyday life. They can especially be applied to films. Films are the outlets of human communication –mimicking life. The film that we will be examining and applying theories to is Spanglish. The film was written and directed by James L. Brooks and was released in December, 2004. The tagline “a comedy with a language all its own,” (IMDb) truly describes the motion picture. Spanglish is about a mother (Flor Moreno) and her daughter (Cristina Moreno) who are forced to leave Mexico for Flor to find work in America. Flor starts working for the Clasky’s whose home in Las Angeles leads Flor into a different culture. John Clasky, the head of the household is a down to earth master chief who has trouble dealing with his neurotic wife, Deborah. As the two cultures collide it makes for laughs and above all, testable space for communication theory. According to Julia T. Wood (2004) in the book, Communication Theories in Action, speech community theory “focuses specifically on how different social groups teach members distinct styles of communicating and interpreting the communication of others.” (p. 220) As indicated by Jennifer Kramer (2007), speech community theory is categorized under the socio-cultural tradition (Kramer, 2007b). An example of this theory in the movie, Spanglish, was how the main character, Flor, and the Clasky family came to represent, what Wood (2004) called, separate “speech communities” (pp. 220-221). Wood (2004) indicated that a speech community...
Words: 2515 - Pages: 11
...(online) issn 1743–1662 Article A linguistic analysis of Spanglish: relating language to identity Jason Rothman and Amy Beth Rell Abstract According to the 2000 census, 35.3 million Hispanics live in the United States. This number comprises 12.5% of the overall population rendering the Latino community the largest minority in the United States. The Mexican community is not only the largest Hispanic group but also the fastest growing: from 1990 to 2000, the Mexican population grew 52.9% increasing from 13.5 million to 20.6 million (U.S. Department of Commerce News, 2001). The influx of Mexican immigrants coupled with the expansion of their community within the United States has created an unparalleled situation of language contact. Language is synonymous with identity (cf. Granger, 2004, and works cited within). To the extent that this is true, Spanish is synonymous with being Mexican and by extension, Chicano. With the advent of amnesty programs such as Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), which naturalized millions of Mexican migrants, what was once a temporal migratory population has become increasingly permanent (Durand et al., 1999). In an effort to conserve Mexican traditions and identity, the struggle to preserve the mother tongue while at the same time acculturate to mainstream Americana has resulted in a variant of Spanglish that has received little attention. This paper will examine the variant of Spanglish seen in the greater Los Angeles area and liken it to the...
Words: 9495 - Pages: 38
...Interpersonal Conflict in Spanglish Dolores Franquiz COM200 Instructor: Katherine Tracy September 30, 2013 The film Spanglish portrays many different interpersonal conflicts among the characters. Interpersonal conflicts is between two or more people it can be personal, an angry disagreement. Conflict can involve emotions and feelings and in the film Spanglish both of these where discussed. (Making Connections: Understanding Interpersonal Communication; Kathy Sole) The first conflict that is evident throughout the film was the language barrier and different cultural background. In the film one of the most noticeable conflicts occurs between Flor, the house keeper, and Deborah, the mother. The movie is constructed on the struggles of relationships, with others characters of the film and within themselves. Flor's personality and parenting methods conflict with Deborah's approach. This conflict resulted in a personal and cultural battle. The conflict between Deborah and Flor increases over time because Deborah is neurotic and her behavior is often irrational and it is upsetting to both the Clasky family and Flor. Flor speaks no English when she starts to work for the Clasky family as their housekeeper which presents a challenge and it is also another form of conflict. The Clasky’s have two children, George and Bernice, the famous chef and father John played portraed by Adam Sandler and, the alcoholic grandmother, Evelyn. During the summer the Clasky’s rent a summer...
Words: 561 - Pages: 3
...The Future of Global Communications: An Analysis of, “What the World Will Speak in 2115” Keren Gaona The University of Texas at El Paso Global Business 3304 May 19, 2016 According to the speculations of linguistic expert, John McWhorter, who wrote the article, “What the World Will Speak in 2115,” in one hundred years English will become the most widely understood language. If current trends continue, in the future one can imagine a world in which humans all share a single universal language. Having a common language would potentially open the doors to many opportunities for increased economic activity and cultural interaction. Additionally, as we travel into the 22nd Century, lesser used and more complex languages that are spoken today will become extinct. Subsequently, the few languages that survive will evolve into simplified versions making them much easier to learn. In agreement with McWhorter, is Andres Martinez, a reporter for Time Magazine who wrote, “Why Mandarin Won’t Be a Lingua Franca.” English is one of the languages that will withstand the test of time because of its strong presence in the world today. Martinez lends insight into how the French have watched English gain dominance in spheres of economic influence. A universal language does not mean the demolition of the diversity of cultures that we observe today, it simply means that English will be a middle ground among the nations. A professor and writer from Harvard Business Review, Tsedal Neeley, goes...
Words: 1442 - Pages: 6
...Anzaldua’s self-identity is shaped through language by her writing style, evidence of robbed freedom and strong culture. In order to properly analyze Anzaldua’s text I will examine her use of language. After reading her essay it is evident that she manipulates her use of English and Spanish in order to raise a reaction from her reader. Linguistic use also drives home her thesis of a strong culture shaping self-identity. The next top of dissection will be Anzaldua’s person identity. As a feminist, she definitely uses language as a tool to express who she is as a person. She feels as though language robs her of her freedom to completely express herself. Lastly, I will examine the magnitude of Chicano culture. Much like a magnetic pull, Spanglish draw’s its culture participants in and gives the speakers an ultimatum: either speak Spanish or be considered a traitor. Each of the topics are thread that weave together to create Anzaldua’s essay “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”. The most visible evidence of language shaping Anzaldua’s self-identity is the text itself. She says, “as long as I have to accommodate the English speakers rather than having them accommodate me, my tongue will be illegitimate” (40 Anzaldua). Anzaldua means that as long as she must alter her vernacular to fit an Anglo’s ear, she will...
Words: 635 - Pages: 3
...slaves brought their practicing religion. It is now mixed into the melting pot of religions. Second example is food. If some gets asked where is Rice and Beans come from, they will quick respond Cuba! But that is not the case. Beans as we all know comes from China, we often see a lot of Chinese eating rice, beans is said to have come from the Middle East. The Spanish Colonies brought this mixture into the “New World”. Now everyone eats rice and beans, in Cuba, Puerto Rico, etc. Lastly, the third example I will be giving is Spanglish. Spanglish is a mixture of two languages, Spanish and English. This new type of mixture can be heard a lot in Miami because Miami has a high population of Hispanics. The kids of the people and come to Miami go to school and learn to speak English, but also know Spanish because their parents taught them. Now, everyone in Miami is bilingual some often speak to each other in Spanglish. For example a sentence of Spanglish would be “Sorry I was late, I was on my way cuando una goma se me poncho and I had to stop and fix...
Words: 281 - Pages: 2
...COM 200 WEEK 4 ASSIGNMENT To purchase this visit here: http://www.activitymode.com/product/com-200-week-4-assignment/ Contact us at: SUPPORT@ACTIVITYMODE.COM COM 200 WEEK 4 ASSIGNMENT Choose one (1) movie from a list provided below: Brooks, J. (Director). (2004). Spanglish [Film]. Los Angeles: Gracie Films. Cohen, B. (Producer), & Mendes, S. (Director). (1999).American beauty[Film]. Los Angeles: Dreamworks Goldwyn, T. (Director). (2006). The last kiss [Film]. Los Angeles: Dreamworks. Haggis, P. (Director). (2004).Crash [Film]. Los Angeles: Bob Yari Productions. Mordaunt, W., Tadross, M. (Executive Producers), &Tennant, A. (Director). (2005). Hitch [Film]. Los Angeles: Sony Pictures Watch your selected film, identify an interpersonal conflict that was not handled effectively, and write a two-page paper (excluding title and reference pages) regarding why the conflict was not handled effectively and what could have been done differently. Be sure to focus on one particular interpersonal conflict and not the movie as a whole.Films can be viewed online via streaming media sites, such asNetflix or Amazon Instant Video. You may also rent DVDs from these sites, or from your local DVD rental outlet. Some films may be available for free at streaming sites, such asHulu orCrackle. You may also check them out at low or no cost from your local library. Activity mode aims to provide quality study notes and tutorials to the students of COM 200 WEEK 4 ASSIGNMENT in order to ace...
Words: 1196 - Pages: 5
...Rudolfo Anaya interestingly demonstrates how Antonio becomes aware of the diversity of cultures that he encounters in school and his community. This demonstrates to him that there is the existence of different people and a different language in which he is not accustomed too. This leads for him to find strength within groups of people in which he can identify with as experiencing the same identity crisis. In a similar manner, growing up speaking Spanish in my household and learning English in school became a difficult experience for me. Rudolfo Anaya portrays Antonio as a translator himself throughout the book as he is constantly shifting from spanish, english, and spanglish. I believe spanglish to represent an essential aspect of the plural personality Gentzler talks about in relation to border writing. Spanglish, to both Antonio and I, becomes a way of translating and communicating with those who share our similar experience. Gentzler also arguments that, “ In Bless Me, Ultima, Anaya reveals a kind of underground culture of people who have access to and can interpret such hidden markers.” (Gentzler, p.149) This supports my argument in which border writers pick and choose aspects of both spaces within the binary which leads to the creation of a form of communication which the community affected can communicate effectively with one another. Only the individuals within this community have the ability and the power to understand and translate the similar experiences and language...
Words: 973 - Pages: 4
...Compare and Contrast The theme I chose to centralize my paper on is race and/or ethnicity. I will compare and contrast two poems: “Child of The Americas” by Aurora Levins Morales and “What It’s Like to Be a Black Girl (For Those of You Who Aren’t) by Patricia Smith. Morales is a woman if mixed race; Puerto Rican and Jewish, while Smith is African-American. We all want to think that someone’s race or color of their skin wouldn’t determine how they are treated or how they are perceived, but this is not the case. When talking amongst friends about someone they do not know we often describe them by using their skin color. And when meeting someone new one of the first questions we ask is “what race are you?” or the harsher “what are you?” Both of these poems give the reader a look into the mind of two young women of different races, one being mixed and the other being an African American, and how each girl views herself. The poem, “Child of The Americas” by Aurora Levins Morales, the reader looks into the consciousness of a young multi-racial woman. Morales herself is a multiracial woman “Puerto Rican-born and Jewish American Aurora Levins Morales is a poet, essayist, historian, and activist” (Fiandt, 2006). Morales’ poem talks about finding ones identity. Morales starts her poem off by stating that she is an American “she does not claim any single identity beyond “American” and this “American” includes the multiple races and nationalities that have entered the Western hemisphere”...
Words: 1986 - Pages: 8
...idea what the word meant. The word Chicano traces back to the pre-Columbian era, when Mexico was still Meshico. It stems from Meshicano, an ancient Nahuatl word used by the Aztecs meaning “native.” The natives referred to themselves as Meshicanos, and even Shicanos, thus giving birth to the term “Chicano”. The term made its appearance in America, and was used to identify children born on American soil of Mexican descent. Our forefathers came to America seeking better lives and new opportunities for their children. With them, they brought their culture: music, food, customs and traditions. The combination of this with mainstream American culture is where we Chicanos get our way of life. An example of this is Spanglish, our own language. Spanglish is a combination of Spanish and English words interchanged in sentences, the continuous switching from one language to other for emphasis or when we simply cannot recall how to say a word. Another example is the celebration of Thanksgiving, which is not a Mexican tradition, but...
Words: 520 - Pages: 3
