Allowing Quote by Sandra Cisneros
“I realize that it's like spices in the kitchen. I need that turmeric. I'm sorry, but cinnamon isn't going to substitute . I feel that I can teach my listener about a new word they can use too. "Well, what words are part of my own community, even if I'm monolingual, that I'm not allowing myself to use in a public sphere?"”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Sandra Cisneros on Language and Identity, 2015
Choosing words that reflect one's community identity is essential, even when speaking a dominant language, to preserve cultural nuance.
In simple terms: Pick words that show your cultural roots, even in a dominant language.
Key Takeaway
Use community language to stay authentic.
Themes
identity
language
culture
Mood
thoughtful
introspective
Type
reflection
advice
When to use this quote
- public speaking
- writing
- teaching
- social media
- personal branding
Key Concepts
code‑switching
cultural preservation
Questions to Reflect On
- What community words do you avoid?
- How does language choice affect your voice?
A Different Perspective
Some audiences may misinterpret or reject non‑standard terms.
![“[Jorge Luis Borges] had short stories, and I was trying to learn how to write short stories, and then he had these things in the middle that were like fables, and I loved hearing fables.” quote by Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a46/sandra-cisneros-862_borges_jorge-luis-borges-had-short-stories-and_102630.jpg)
![“We changed it to emocionó, the way you say in Spanish, "to emotion me" [to be moved]. That, as opposed to "haunt." We wanted the feeling of sadness and grief and obsession, so we used emocionó.” quote by Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8fc/sandra-cisneros-862_changed_we-changed-it-to-emocion-the-way-you-say_108295.jpg)
