Article

What Clinicians Should Listen for in the Speech of Latino Families: Communicative Concordance

Otto Santa Ana ORCID , Evelyn Aldapa , Clarissa Cisneros , Ashley Corral , Evelyn Quintero , Tniztney Reyes , Gabriela Robles

    Received: 10 September 2025 | Revised: 6 March 2026 | Accepted: 13 March 2026 | Published Online: 20 March 2026

    Abstract

    Language is a critical consideration for practitioners working with Latino children and their families. These families display a wide range of linguistic backgrounds—from recent immigrants with limited English proficiency, to extended families who speak only Spanish, to bilingual households, to those who primarily speak non-standard ethnic English with some Spanish influence. In this review article, the authors propose that the central goal for practitioners should be to achieve “communicative concordance,” the ability to understand and be understood by Latino families. This extends far beyond merely speaking Spanish, which scholars call linguistic competence. Even bilingual practitioners in the fields of healthcare, education, law, and other services may unintentionally raise communicative barriers in their professional practice if they retain layperson’s misconceptions about language that trigger harmful language ideologies. To address this, this article first offers a linguist’s perspective on language, charting key concepts needed to optimize service to Latino families. These concepts are drawn from syntax, language acquisition, multilingualism, language socialization, indexicality, as well as cultural values, social capital, identity, and power differentials that are expressed via language. This article is structured into sections addressing these distinct aspects of language, each with its own recommendations. The key takeaway is that professional practitioners should develop deep functional awareness about how communication takes place across language and cultural boundaries to best understand and be understood by Latino families. Communicative concordance does not simply mean being able to speak Spanish. In short, effective communication with Latino families requires a nuanced, context-specific understanding of language diversity.

    Keywords

    Clinical Services, Healthcare Communication, Language Ideology, Latino Families, Multilingual Cultural Competence

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