Richard Rodriguez : Public and Private Language

In the essay "Public and Private language" Richard Rodriguez tackles his issues of learning english in the american education system as a bilingual student.

Richard Rodriguez begins his essay by bringing the reader into his childhood home. When he discusses
Speaking fluently in Spanish with his family in the comfort and security of his home it is with a sense of love. When he is, however, forced to speak English in private or in public it is with hesitation, irritation, anger and fear. There is such an overwhelming disparity of emotions between the love Rodriguez felt for spanish and fear he felt towards english that it is easy to understand how a spanish speaking young child could feel like an outsider among english speaking teachers and fellow students.


The "Public Language" referred to by Rodriguez in the essay is English. In this essay we, as readers, learn public languages are the accepted "main" language used by mainstream society and it is formal. This formal and uptight language of English was a emotional and verbal obstacle for Richard. He would hear his parents stumble over the difficult syllables and confusing words in the presence of sophisticated company and would at once be overcome with disdain and discomfort. Being forced by his parents to practice the public language of english in his home, which he had previously believed to be a private oasis just for his spanish speaking family, was very disconcerting for Richard.


The "Private Language" referred to by Rodriguez in the essay is Spanish. In this essay we, as readers, learn private languages are the accepted "secondary" language commonly used by unique, regional subcultures. We also learn that private language is more than just communication. For a tight-knit family that speaks a different language than the "outside" world it can be a form of communion. A sacred, special bond that only those who understand these languages can appreciate.



In Robert Rodriguez's essay he states "it is true that my public society today is often impersonal... because it depends on my being one in a crowd - I celebrate the day I acquired my new name."
In this essay we learn that even though Rodriguez fought learning english at first, in the end he embraced this new language. Rodriguez believes that although it may be difficult for bilingual students to learn english at first by assimilating and being able to become "part of the other" the lives of these "socially disadvantaged" children will be forever improved.