The Relationship of Language Brokering to Ethnic Identity for Latino Early Adolescents

TLDR

Language brokering is common among children of immigrant parents, who translate written and face‑to‑face communication for parents and others. The study surveyed 55 sixth‑grade Latino adolescents about their brokering experiences, acculturation level, and ethnic identity. Participants generally view brokering positively, less acculturated students translate more, and positive feelings toward brokering are linked to stronger ethnic identity, indicating that brokering may enhance ethnic identification.

Abstract

Children of immigrant parents often translate written and face-to-face communication for parents and other adults, also known as language brokering. Fifty-five sixth-grade, Latino adolescents report their experiences and feelings toward language brokering, their level of acculturation, and their ethnic identity in a questionnaire. Generally, the participants view language brokering positively. Those who are less acculturated are translating more frequently than those who are more acculturated. Feelings toward language brokering also positively influence level of ethnic identity. This study demonstrates that language brokering may result in stronger feelings toward the ethnic group and greater ethnic identity.