Reflection

Last semester, I learned about an 18 year old boy named Willie Ramirez. In 1980, he was rushed to a hospital where he began receiving treatment for an overdose. Willie’s family only spoke Spanish and they told paramedics that they thought he was “intoxicado” which the non-Spanish speaking paramedics naturally understood to mean “intoxicated”. However, what the word “intoxicado” is translated to is “poisoned” such as food-poisoning. Not only was this a linguistic error but a cultural one as well as doctors did not spend much time trying to understand the situation after hearing that it could be an overdose due to cultural stereotypes of latinos in the United States. Because of this, Willie was misdiagnosed and not treated correctly, which led to bleeding from his brain and he became a quadriplegic. 

 

This story not only helped me understand the importance of accurate interpretation but also the necessity of cultural competence. Learning a language involves much more than just learning grammar and vocabulary. At first, it’s okay to simply focus on the linguistic side of things. I know for me, that is all my brain could really fathom when I started learning Spanish. All I did was flip through dictionaries and fill out pages upon pages of grammar practice books. However, I learned quickly that to really understand and to really be understood, it is necessary to have a grasp on the cultures that the language embodies.

 

To demonstrate a cultural product, I have included a paper about the poem Las ovejas by Andrés Bello that I wrote in a Latin American literature class. As I analyzed this poem, I expounded upon the literary devices and how it contributes to the larger theme at hand- colonialism in Latin America. Bello is able to beautifully capture the tragedy of Spanish colonialism and how Latin America has fallen victim to historical events. What I enjoyed most about writing this paper was realizing how the poetry and literary format of these events really lends to a greater understanding of Latin American culture and many of their core beliefs.

 

I also included an example of a cultural practice with a paper that I wrote about the medical field and the importance of medical interpreters having a cultural understanding of Spanish-speaking people rather than just a linguistic understanding. An example I mention in my paper is the story of Willie Ramirez as it really does embody the need within the medical field specifically to have interpreters who are mindful of cultural differences. Knowing vocabulary and understanding the complexities of a language will only get you so far. Understanding cultural differences is key and can make the difference in life or death in medical situations.

 

Cultural products and practices are essential in understanding people better. I have learned rather quickly as I continue to study Spanish that I must be culturally competent in order to become more fluent. Especially with how diverse Spanish-speakers are all over the world, understanding cultural differences and being able to identify key products and practices makes a world of difference.