Lost in Translation: How Much Does The Youth Retain Their Heritage

As more second-generation children grow up speaking mainly English, Fresno State encourages and celebrates cultural diversity. But for many, learning their family’s language isn’t just about vocabulary, but it’s about identity in general, with a past that some are trying not to lose.

Walking across Fresno State, cultural diversity is evident everywhere, from student events to various organizations and clubs. But, beneath the institutions, research says that the actual language and traditions may be threatened as the years go by.

Psychology major Keanu Xayaphonesongkham said growing up surrounded by American media shaped him more than the Lao culture he experienced at home. 

“I experienced a lot of culture from McDonald’s, pop television, and I was really disconnected from my culture,” he said.

Researchers reflect this trend as a sign of heritage loss or a form of complete assimilation, as 1 in 5 asian americans say that they have to hide parts of their culture to fit in.

It’s not only Asian American students who experience this cultural disconnect; the same patterns can also appear in Latino families. Studies show that the percentage of second generation Hispanics who regularly attend cultural celebrations drops to 49% and falls even further by the third generation.

Social Work major Edgar Ortiz says the generational gap can make reconnecting with one’s roots difficult, especially when you never grew up around it as often as your parents did.

“Older generations are a lot more old-school,” he said. “They’re not as open-minded and some of the stuff the younger generation does is very different. So when you change some things they grew up with, they don’t really like it.”

Both students have said that they wish they were more fluent in their own native languages and try to speak them more often to learn.

At a campus as diverse as Fresno State, the future of cultural identity and preservation of culture may depend on how today’s students choose to represent who they are going forward. Through language, family, traditions, and practices that make it visible to the community.

For many students, it’s about not wanting to look back. While for others, it’s about reclaiming a piece of themselves.