What Clinicians Should Listen for in the Speech of Latino Families: Communicative Concordance
Authors
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Otto Santa Ana
*
Chicana & Chicano and Central American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Evelyn Aldapa
Chicana & Chicano and Central American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Clarissa Cisneros
Chicana & Chicano and Central American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Ashley Corral
Chicana & Chicano and Central American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Evelyn Quintero
Chicana & Chicano and Central American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Tniztney Reyes
Chicana & Chicano and Central American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Gabriela Robles
Chicana & Chicano and Central American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55121/le.v3i1.787Abstract
Language is a critical consideration for practitioners working with Latino children and their families. These families display a wide range of linguistic backgrounds—from recent immigrants with limited English proficiency, to extended families who speak only Spanish, to bilingual households, to those who primarily speak non-standard ethnic English with some Spanish influence. In this review article, the authors propose that the central goal for practitioners should be to achieve “communicative concordance,” the ability to understand and be understood by Latino families. This extends far beyond merely speaking Spanish, which scholars call linguistic competence. Even bilingual practitioners in the fields of healthcare, education, law, and other services may unintentionally raise communicative barriers in their professional practice if they retain layperson’s misconceptions about language that trigger harmful language ideologies. To address this, this article first offers a linguist’s perspective on language, charting key concepts needed to optimize service to Latino families. These concepts are drawn from syntax, language acquisition, multilingualism, language socialization, indexicality, as well as cultural values, social capital, identity, and power differentials that are expressed via language. This article is structured into sections addressing these distinct aspects of language, each with its own recommendations. The key takeaway is that professional practitioners should develop deep functional awareness about how communication takes place across language and cultural boundaries to best understand and be understood by Latino families. Communicative concordance does not simply mean being able to speak Spanish. In short, effective communication with Latino families requires a nuanced, context-specific understanding of language diversity.
Keywords:
Latino Families, Language Ideology, Clinical Services, Multilingual Cultural Competence, Healthcare CommunicationReferences
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