Luis Olvera and Carmen Valdivia, 1953
Nieves Olvera and Tana Castaneda, 1933
Ramiro Valdivia and Jennie Valdivia, 1931
Nieves and Lupe Olvera
Lance and Renee Dart
Michelle Olvera Dart
Spring 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Love Somebody Like You
Keith Urban
Love Somebody Like You
When my son was younger he told me that if he could dedicate a song to me this would be it. It means a lot to me because it was after the divorce and when my son, daughter, and I were all trying to adjust to our new life. I have kept this song close to my heart since that day. And then my kids went back to playing Pokemon, but we had a moment....
Discussion of family languages questions of Familia Olvera de Dart
1. What language(s) do you speak? What language(s) do you read?
Within our immediate family, we are able to speak English, Spanish, German, and Latin. We are able to read in these languages also.
2. What local, national, political, or academic influences your language use?
Various physical movement through the years to new countries. Some ancestors moved by choice to new countries looking for a different life. Some moved throught military assignment or through employer reassignments. Some left their country because of political turmoil.
3. What influences your preference of language use, growing up and now? Family members mentioned their parents spoke Spanish at home so they also spoke Spanish. My Aunts told me they were expected to speak English at school and they would be punished if they tried to speak to each other in Spanish. In those days corporal punishment was given to children. They reported sitting quietly in their classrooms listening to what was going on in their classes, but not speaking. They said they somehow eventually began to speak, then they would 'become proficient speaking English. They continued to be bilingual and biliterate as they grew up and lived in their parent's home. Eventhough one aunt lived in Chicago and the other in Laredo they shared similar experiences. (Aunt Stephanie and Aunt Maria Rosario).
4. Where did you grow up and attend school?
My immediate family attended school in the United States (Kansas, Michigan, Massachusettes, and Texas). Louie, Maria, Molly and I attended Department of Defense Schools in England where our Dad was stationed in the miltary. Maria began Kindergarten in a village school in Holton, England. She then went to first grade on base at a DoD school.
My children have attended school in Texas, California, and New Mexico.
My parents attended school in Topeka, Kansas (Mom) and Laredo, Texas (Dad).
5. How has your culture influenced your language use?
Before I started this project I thought our family only spoke English and Spanish. I have found out that we have a variety of languages and countries. Since we only speak Spanish and English, the other languages were lost somewhere along the way.
6. Was it easy or hard to learn a second language?
For my older family members they reported that they learned their second language slowly without pressure. The younger cousins mentioned having an easier time learning. That could be as a result of always hearing English and Spanish since birth. It seemed a seamless transition.
7. Why do you think you lost your first language?Part of the answer was addressed earlier, when family members moved to new countries they assimilated into their new home lands. Some people left their home country they did not expect to go back, so they used their home language less and less. There is a saying, "use it or lose it." I think that was a major factor in our early family's language choices (French, German, Portugese).
I have one cousin that lost her Spanish language use from lack of using it. I spoke with her about speaking Spanish since she worked in a Mexican neighborhood. She told me she did't speak Spanish. I told her that she spoke Spanish before she spoke English. I think it is interesting that she doesn't remember speaking Spanish. She thought I was joking with her until I told her to ask my older sisters if she spoke Spanish. When they both told her the same thing I did she was surprised.
8. Why don’t you think you lost your first language?
I asked my aunts and cousins this question and the reasons usually came back to the home language. One aunt mentioned my Grandma didn't speak English and she needed to be able to translate for our Grandma. So as they were expected to speak English at school, they were still able to continue using their Spanish at home. It became more a case of survial skills to help our family members. My family in Laredo always spoke Spanish to my Mom and Dad when we would go visit, they seemed to prefer using that language. They seemed to be using the language to emphasize more emotion in their conversation. They could say the same thing in English but I was told it wouldn't have the same emphasis, the same spirit.
9. Which language do you primarily use today?
Our family speaks Spanish and English as far as conversational languages. Many of us have taken various languages as a requirement for school, but we don't use them conversationally. The most varied, that I am aware of are my children who have studied Spanish, Latin, German and minimal French as a result of school experiences. The charter/private schools that exposed my children to foreign languages did so because the subjects were a requirement for all students. I might have family members that may have similar exposure, but they weren't the ones I interviewed.
10.11. Which language do you use to “think”?
Do you switch back and forth between multiple languages during conversations?
I put these together based upon interviews with my aunts. One aunt mentioned that when she had something to say, she thinks of how she wants to say her message. What emphasis to put on her words were as important to her as to what she wanted to say. I asked why and she said that sometimes Spanish language allows the speaker to add emphasis and emotion to convey to the conversation. English doesn't lend itself to the same "essence" of words. I thought that was very interesting, something I never thought about before our conversation. It is for that reason she code switches, move back and forth between two languages during conversations.
Another aunt mentioned she code switches or explains something in Spanish because when the message is translated in English it might not have the same meaning, something is lost during translation.
When I think of my own experiences, I would insert phrases when I wanted to add emphasis or an extra "essence" to the meaning of my message. The interesting thing is I realize the phrases I have used were French, I don't speak French. I followed my Mother and older sister's example of when they would do the same thing for extra focus on their message. Since starting this project, I learned that one of my maternal Grandmothers was French. Perhaps this was a liguistic tool she handed down to her children which our Mother shared with us. "Crème de la crème,"
"Pièce de résistance," "Je ne sais quoi " and we live on a "Cul-de-sac."
Within our immediate family, we are able to speak English, Spanish, German, and Latin. We are able to read in these languages also.
2. What local, national, political, or academic influences your language use?
Various physical movement through the years to new countries. Some ancestors moved by choice to new countries looking for a different life. Some moved throught military assignment or through employer reassignments. Some left their country because of political turmoil.
3. What influences your preference of language use, growing up and now? Family members mentioned their parents spoke Spanish at home so they also spoke Spanish. My Aunts told me they were expected to speak English at school and they would be punished if they tried to speak to each other in Spanish. In those days corporal punishment was given to children. They reported sitting quietly in their classrooms listening to what was going on in their classes, but not speaking. They said they somehow eventually began to speak, then they would 'become proficient speaking English. They continued to be bilingual and biliterate as they grew up and lived in their parent's home. Eventhough one aunt lived in Chicago and the other in Laredo they shared similar experiences. (Aunt Stephanie and Aunt Maria Rosario).
4. Where did you grow up and attend school?
My immediate family attended school in the United States (Kansas, Michigan, Massachusettes, and Texas). Louie, Maria, Molly and I attended Department of Defense Schools in England where our Dad was stationed in the miltary. Maria began Kindergarten in a village school in Holton, England. She then went to first grade on base at a DoD school.
My children have attended school in Texas, California, and New Mexico.
My parents attended school in Topeka, Kansas (Mom) and Laredo, Texas (Dad).
5. How has your culture influenced your language use?
Before I started this project I thought our family only spoke English and Spanish. I have found out that we have a variety of languages and countries. Since we only speak Spanish and English, the other languages were lost somewhere along the way.
6. Was it easy or hard to learn a second language?
For my older family members they reported that they learned their second language slowly without pressure. The younger cousins mentioned having an easier time learning. That could be as a result of always hearing English and Spanish since birth. It seemed a seamless transition.
7. Why do you think you lost your first language?Part of the answer was addressed earlier, when family members moved to new countries they assimilated into their new home lands. Some people left their home country they did not expect to go back, so they used their home language less and less. There is a saying, "use it or lose it." I think that was a major factor in our early family's language choices (French, German, Portugese).
I have one cousin that lost her Spanish language use from lack of using it. I spoke with her about speaking Spanish since she worked in a Mexican neighborhood. She told me she did't speak Spanish. I told her that she spoke Spanish before she spoke English. I think it is interesting that she doesn't remember speaking Spanish. She thought I was joking with her until I told her to ask my older sisters if she spoke Spanish. When they both told her the same thing I did she was surprised.
8. Why don’t you think you lost your first language?
I asked my aunts and cousins this question and the reasons usually came back to the home language. One aunt mentioned my Grandma didn't speak English and she needed to be able to translate for our Grandma. So as they were expected to speak English at school, they were still able to continue using their Spanish at home. It became more a case of survial skills to help our family members. My family in Laredo always spoke Spanish to my Mom and Dad when we would go visit, they seemed to prefer using that language. They seemed to be using the language to emphasize more emotion in their conversation. They could say the same thing in English but I was told it wouldn't have the same emphasis, the same spirit.
9. Which language do you primarily use today?
Our family speaks Spanish and English as far as conversational languages. Many of us have taken various languages as a requirement for school, but we don't use them conversationally. The most varied, that I am aware of are my children who have studied Spanish, Latin, German and minimal French as a result of school experiences. The charter/private schools that exposed my children to foreign languages did so because the subjects were a requirement for all students. I might have family members that may have similar exposure, but they weren't the ones I interviewed.
10.11. Which language do you use to “think”?
Do you switch back and forth between multiple languages during conversations?
I put these together based upon interviews with my aunts. One aunt mentioned that when she had something to say, she thinks of how she wants to say her message. What emphasis to put on her words were as important to her as to what she wanted to say. I asked why and she said that sometimes Spanish language allows the speaker to add emphasis and emotion to convey to the conversation. English doesn't lend itself to the same "essence" of words. I thought that was very interesting, something I never thought about before our conversation. It is for that reason she code switches, move back and forth between two languages during conversations.
Another aunt mentioned she code switches or explains something in Spanish because when the message is translated in English it might not have the same meaning, something is lost during translation.
When I think of my own experiences, I would insert phrases when I wanted to add emphasis or an extra "essence" to the meaning of my message. The interesting thing is I realize the phrases I have used were French, I don't speak French. I followed my Mother and older sister's example of when they would do the same thing for extra focus on their message. Since starting this project, I learned that one of my maternal Grandmothers was French. Perhaps this was a liguistic tool she handed down to her children which our Mother shared with us. "Crème de la crème,"
"Pièce de résistance," "Je ne sais quoi " and we live on a "Cul-de-sac."
Castaneda Spanish Surname History
Spain's colourful traditions have over the centuries yielded many distinguished
surnames, which have been carried from the Old World to the New, and to almost
every corner of the globe. The name Castaneda has been traced to its source in Castile, in north central Spain.
Spanish surnames often conserve ancient spellings with few changes, which
distinguishes them from names originating in England, France and Germany. The
variations Castaneda, Castanon, Castarede do, however, share the same origin.
The first group to populate what are today Spain and Portugal were the Iberians,
who traveled north from Africa around tooo B.C., following the rivers inland. Celts
from northern Europe began to establish settlements in the peninsula in the 14th
century B.C., in the northern and western regions, which today are home to Galicia
and Portugal. About zoo years later, the Phoenicians made contact with these peoples,
established small coastal trading centres, and built lighthouses and cities that still exist
today. The other Mediterranean power to establish a presence in Spain was the Creeks,
around 630 B.C. They founded several cities for trading purposes.
Over the next 200 years, the Greeks were displaced by the Canhaghiam, who
wished to expand their Mediterranean empire. This expansion, however, brought
Canhage into conflict with Rome, and led ultimately to war. The 2nd Punic War,
219-201 B.C., determined that Spain would be controlled by Rome. The Romans first
subdued the coastal peoples, who had had contact with other cultures, but it would
take many years for Rome to control the north and west of the peninsula.
Some of the original Celts and Iberians had, meanwhile, formed a mixed culture in
the central peninsula, the Celtiberians. Each of the peoples of the peninsula had unique
customs, and each had a different language and religion. These cultures interacted with
the Romans differently, adapting to the new ways.
The Romans were the first newcomers to alter the people's way of life over the
entire peninsula, with their accomplishments in law, agriculture, architecture,
engimeriing and the sciences. Rome pensioned many soldiers in Hispania, founding
cities that still stand today, such as Zaragoza and Mtxida. Maniages between Romans
and local women created a blended Hispano-Roman culture. The emperors Hadrian,
Trajan and Marcus Aurelius were Spanish by birth, as were many Latin writers,
including the two Senecis, Lucan, Martial, Quintilian, Columella and hdentius.
Early in the jth century the Visigoths conquered Hispania, but they lived apart
from the people and never had the same influence that Rome had exerted. The best-known Spaniard of this time was St. Isidore, who became Bishop of Seville. In p~
Spain was invaded by Muslims from Africa, who soon conquered the entire peninsula
except Asnuias, in the north. Traces of their presence remain today in cities such as
Granada and Cordoba, witnesses to the important cultural contributions of the
Muslims.
The Christians of the north, however, began a concerted resistance that would
ultimately re-conquer the peninsula, although the struggle would last almost 800
years. During the tenth cennuy Castile became independent and began a series of
alliances and banles that would push the frontier southward. Castile's first king,
Ferdinand, united his kingdom with bn, and also controlled Galicia. By the end of
the ~rth cennuy the Christian re-conquest had reached Toledo and Valencia, and it
would continue until 1492, when Ferdinand and Isabella took Granada.
The Castaneda family originated in Castile, leader of the Christian Reconquest of
Spain from the Muslims. From Castile the family branched to other regions of the
north, including Lon, Galicia, Navarre and Aragon. As the armies of the Reconquest
progressed southwards, led by Castile, families from the north followed after them
and settled in the newly recapnued lands. Thus the family branched to southern Spain,
becoming established in Seville and Cordoba among other centres, and eventually
Granada. Prominent among members of the family general don Ramen de Castaneda y
Rada, who was made the Count of udalla on June 19, @I.
The fall of Granada on 2January 1492 meant that the Spanish Crown could nun its
attention to empire-building. Ferdinand and Isabella supported Columbus' voyages to
the west, which began an era of exploration and conquest that would take Spaniards
and their languageand culture around the world.
The First explorers were soon followed by the conquistadors, and Spanish
settlements were founded throughout Central and South America. Among the great
conquistadors were Conb,Pizarro, Valdivia and Balboa, who led many others in
search of wealth and adventure. The settlers who built upon these foundations of the
Spanish Empire included members of the Castaneda family. Early migrants to the New
World bearing this surname include: Alonso De Castaneda, who arrived in America in
1512; hbe De Castaneda, who came to New Granada in 1577; Cristobal De
Castaneda, who arrived in America in 1528; Juana De Castaneda, who arrived in New
Spain in 19;as well as Pedro De Castaneda, who came to Peru in 1j6j.
The greatest influx of immigrants to the United States occurred between the I&los
and the 1920s. Between these years, around 37 million immigrants arrived in the
United States. Many of these later settlers followed opportunities westward.
Some of the more prominent bearers of this family name in recent history include:
Carlos Castaneda, American author; Carlos Castaneda (1925-1998) Peruvian author on
Mesoamerican shamanism; Maria "Movita" Castaneda (b.19~) American actress,
second wife of Marlon Brando; Cacho Castaneda (b.1942) Argentine singer and actor;
Juan Castaneda (b.1980) Spanish championship fencer; and Christian Castaiieda
(b.1968) Chilean football player.
One of the earliest coats of arms granted to this family was:
A red shield with three bends of ermine.
The coat of arms found for a bearer of the Castaneda surname did not include a
motto. Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat
of arms, and many families have chosen not to display a motto.
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