Communication Quandary

It’s not often that I feel overly sympathetic for inmates of the criminal justice system. In fact we are taught not to feel “sympathy” but instead, “empathy” for their situation. That said, a Hispanic female was housed in my pod the other day. As I was doing a security check I noticed her sitting on the floor of the bathroom crying. Having introduced her to the pod moments before, I was aware of the fact that she spoke almost no English.

After five years of high school and college Spanish I have to say that I can speak very little Spanish. Normally, I would just find another Spanish speaking inmate and have them translate. Unfortunately, out of 36 inmates, she was the only Spanish speaker. I attempted to use an online translator to a degree and hopefully got across a few main points of being in jail. For the most part though, there was almost no communication and I think we both felt a little helpless.

And so, yet another instance of how communication plays a key role in reference, and other, transactions. Is it necessary, as a professional to be able to speak other languages, especially Spanish? Are we obligated to learn a second language? If so, shouldn’t the United States follow the techniques of Asia and Africa where English or a second official language is taught in primary school and earlier?

I’m very torn on this subject because it is frustrating not to be able to get your point across due to a language barrier, when there are already so many other barriers to get over. And yet I feel bad that the US has managed to wipe out so many other cultures in the assimilation process. Ah how I would love to speak German with my grandma. While I did my best to purge the library carts of Spanish reading material, all I can say is that I am glad I wasn’t able to tell her that INS was picking her up in the morning.