The Newbie: On Political Language Barriers

by Tracie Mauriello 0 comments

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Tracie Mauriello, covering her first political convention, is skilled at translating political language -- but not when it's in Spanish!

No entiendo lo suficiente español para esto.

How convenient that former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu and U.S. Rep. Francisco Canseco, R-Texas, scheduled a press conference for Hispanic media at the very time I’m working on a story on Latino voters!

I rearranged my plans to hear their remarks but I didn’t anticipate that the press conference would be in Spanish! I learned enough in my high school language classes to find a bathroom in Ensenada, order dinner in Tijuana and even explain in Punta Cana that a hotel shuttle driver had just driven away with my luggage. (All actual events.)

However, I don’t understand enough to reliably report on the nuances of immigration policy when they’re explained to me in Spanish. I can tell you for certain that Mr. Sununu and Mr. Canseco said they believe in hard work and the American dream. Beyond that, well, I could hazard guesses, but not when 205,000 readers deserve for me to get it right.
 

Fail: Checking out presser aimed at Hispanic reporters. Yo no entiendo! #RNC

— Tracie Mauriello (@pgPoliTweets) August 27, 2012

Follow Tracie on Twitter (@pgPoliTweets) for links to her work for the Post-Gazette and Newbie posts for NPF.
Read previous Newbie posts:
Is she ready?
Blog post: 1, Coffees: 3
Local Quotes and Carrot Cake
Well- Laid Plans and the Weather
Meals Scarce, Coffee Count Rising