Language Barriers
Sound recording of a Spanish undergraduate student asking for directions to his chemistry class to a Non-Spanish speaking undergraduate student. The recording highlights the challenges of language barriers in the aural architecture of the space. The recording was taken around 12 pm in the hallway between classes in the Klaus building, which is why other students can be heard conversing in the background. Recorded with an iPhone 6 using the built-in microphone and voice memo application.
Klaus Advanced Computing Building, Level 2 Hallway, South End; Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Equity, Communication, Language, Students, College Experience, Conversation, Linguistic Diversity, Aural Architecture, Georgia Tech
Spanish Student: ¿Hola perdón sabes dónde está la clase de química en este edificio?
English Student: Wait sorry, what did you say?
Spanish Student: ¿Tengo un clase de química en este edificio, sabes donde estas?
English Student: I’m not sure what you are saying. I don’t speak… is that Spanish?
Spanish Student: ¿Perdón?
English Student: I don’t know what you are saying.
Spanish Student: ¿Sabes? ¿Sabes dónde está química? ¿Un clase de química?
English Student: Chemi? Chemica? Is that a restaurant? I don’t think there are any restaurants near here but I’m sorry I don’t know.
