"Aria" By Richard Rodriguez

"But I would have delayed-for how long postponed?-having to learn the language of public society. I would have evaded and for how long could I have afforded to delay?-learning the great lesson of school, that I had a public identity" (Rodriguez 34).

In this quote, I feel as though Rodriguez felt like he had no choice but to become familiar with the English language. Like he had to learn how to speak our public language if hadn't, he would be isolated. He was terrified, especially as a child being one of the only kids who spoke a different language. Almost being on a different planet even, from his perspective. It's like he was forced to speak a language that was so foreign to him in order to fit into our society. If only he would be accepted by his first language, but then again how long would he have until he had to learn the public language. That is something he would of had to do eventually. 

"In an instant, they agreed to give up the language (the sounds) that had revealed and accentuated our family's closeness" Rodriguez 35).  

This quote stuck out to me because when the nuns showed up at his house, their motive was to encourage his parents to have their children speak English at home. This resulted in his parents cutting off their language that brought them together and throwing them into the world of English language. I don't support this at all, in my opinion being bilingual is very valuable. Who wouldn't want to be able to speak more than one language? I think that Rodriguez should of been able to keep using his "private language" while learning the "public" language instead of having to choose between one or the other. 

"I did not realize that they were talking in Spanish however until, at the moment they saw me, I heard their voices change to speak English. Those gringo sounds they uttered startled me. Pushed me away" (Rodriguez 35). 

 When his parents started to encourage him and his siblings to start practicing their English at home, this ended up depriving Rodriguez and his family from using their first language. Instead they started focusing mainly on using English in their household. 

"So they do not realize that while one suffers a diminished sense of private individuality by becoming assimilated into public society, such assimilation makes possible the achievement of public individuality (Rodriguez 39). 

Lastly, I chose this quote because in the end it may be sad when coming to the realization that your no longer as familiar with your first language when entering an American society. Overtime, in this article Rodriguez expressed his feelings about the changes that was going on with his family, how the less they communicated in Spanish, the more he felt disconnected. Initially, English would be Rodriguez's public language and his first language would be kept in the shadows. Or would it? 

Point to share in class: What are some of the benefits of being bilingual?