It may take years before the harm done to families can be fully assessed.
When the children are young, the parents feel hindered but not necessarily
defeated if they cannot communicate easily with them. One family that has
been in the United States for nearly 20 years revealed the extent to which
breakdown in family communication can lead to the alienation of children
from their parents. The four children, who are now teenagers, have completely
lost their ability to speak or understand Spanish. The children are
ashamed of Spanish, it was reported. They do not acknowledge it when
their parents speak it, even though it is the only language the parents know.
The mother reported that her 17-year-old son is having problems in school.
He is often truant and is in danger of dropping out. She has tried to influence
him but can't because he doesn't understand her. A recent attempt at
discussion ended in physical violence, with mother and son coming to blows
when words failed them.