does any one feel it is necessary for someone who is only 1/2 spanish to learn to speak spanish?

Question

I mean the most ridiculous thing to do is to assume someone speaks one language based on their skin color,black people dont speak a native african language so why assume all spanish or hispanic people speak spanish? learn english people .

and also dont ask why or how come maybe that person was never taught to speak anything else but english.

Answer 1

I know what you are saying, my son used to hate that. He looks spanish although he is brasilian/italian. Everywhere we went, when he was a child they would automatically start a conversation or tell him how cute he was in spanish....he'd just look at them with embarrassment and say 'I don't speak spanish"
Today, he does, he learned to speak a little to get by, but it used to puzzle him. People just assume because of a certain look that you speak a certain language, don't get upset though, just tell them you are a descendent but do not speak the language, you don't need to give too many details as to why not, that is your business, besides they will probably be more embarrassed for making an assumption.....and you know what happens when you assume right. Good Luck.

Answer 2

I'm Mexican, born and raised in the U.S. Mom and dad were too. Spoke Spanish until I was 5, then "forced" to speak English. I like English and try and increase my vocabulary as much as possible. But I do get asked by Mexicans if I speak Spanish (for translation purposes). I don't anymore and it always sucks to say no. I think it would be great if I could communicate for and with these people. I feel the language is a part of me and I hope to find the time to learn it again and expand my horizons. Wouldn't it be nice to be asked if you spoke the language and be able to say "Claro que Si!"

Answer 3

I don't see why you shouldn't learn it even if you don't think you need it, I doubt that. People are spending a lot of money just to be able to exchange couple of sentences in other language. If you have somebody to teach you for fee, what's the problem? In my country there is a proverb saying that a person's value is measured by the number of languages he or she speaks.

Answer 4

Africans lost their language ,Hispanics are so a very part not half! ,of the new world that it is a pecado not to speakSpanish! What do you mean by half Spanish? Mom or dad? , what is the other half? My great grandma came from Sicily to Puerto rico by ship in th , she married a Vidal rivera from the Canary Isi l , ,my grandma on my dads side was a Spanish io-Arab, Nazario was the name, Lazaro her dad, Iam a th ird generation born in Puerto rico , Iam a full Puertorican , what do you mean by half Spanish? -

Answer 5

Personally I find it important to learn the language of your culture. It helps you connect to who you are and to your history, your parents' history. Even if you're only half it's still good to know at least a bit of each language. Plus the more languages you know the better it is. It opens up barriers, especially if you travel.

Answer 6

Who cares what you are - learn and speak whatever languages you want.

I'm mostly of German blood - but I learned Spanish, Japanese and Chinese.... German's just not as useful to me. No one ever says "you have German blood - you speak Germa, right?" So why should it be different with Spanish??

Sometime's it's fun to have a more stable idea of who you are by getting more in touch with your "roots" --- but at the end of the day, you make who you are by yourself.

Answer 7

No, it is not necessary if you deem it so, if you feel that you dont need to learn it, no one is forcing you to.

However, the general concensus is that people speak their native language, especially from counties like mexico or asia

Answer 8

You shouldn't learn the language to fit the stereotypes, but I think its a good thing to know more than one language.

Answer 9

Well, you dont HAVE to do it. But if you feel proud or happy for being just what you are, 1/2 as you say, then I guess you should get interested in your parents (or one of them) culture, but if you just wanna forget about it, that's fine, you're right, you should have been taught years earlier.
Let me tell you that being bilingual is really important, but it's ok, if you consider that you dont need it, that's your problem.

Answer 10

my husband is half hispanic and he doesnt know spanish. He understands a little of it and knows a few words here and their but not to hold a conversation.