Who has a right to language?

The follow is an excerpt from an interview. I found this particular piece interesting due to the interviewee's childhood offense that a Chinese man should speak better Spanish than a West Indian boy. One of the first large Chinese migrations to Panama was in the 1850s to build the Panama Railroad. Another wave came in the early 1900s for Canal construction, and from then, at different points. The largest West Indian immigration wave to Panama was the early 1900 for canal construction.

Language-- who speaks it, how they know it, how well they know it, and when they use it-- has become a central piece to my investigation. (his real name is not Sr. Fulano just fyi lol)

Me: In your home, were you raised speaking Spanish and English?

Sr. Fulano: I did not speak Spanish until I was 12 years of age. I mean and I probably knew a few words. But for conversation uh uh. When we moved from the Canal Zone to Juan Diaz, mom sent me to the store, just a small store. I was sent to get cooking wine, kerosene oil, which was just for cooking, for burning, flour, I think some eggs or something like that, and the last item I had. I was very organized at that time. Mom told me to get this stuff so I said ok. My brother Enrique, the one that follows me, we both went. I have always been somewhat arrogant, self-confident. Give me A, B, C and last give me “arena”, You know what is arena? (Ariana laughing)

Me: Sand. (Laughing)

Sr. Fulano: And the man said, I don’t sell “arena”. And that smart smart me said, "oh? What is that white stuff there eh? Eh? Eh?" And he said, "No, that is not 'arena' that is 'harina'[flour]”. So when a Chinese can tell you, can correct you, you are in trouble!

So then I recall. I went home. I got the dictionary. And I actually went through the dictionary page by page, by page, by page. And I actually spoke Spanish, conversational Spanish, for a purpose at 12 years of age.

Me: And your schooling----

All of my brothers that came from the Canal Zone, we speak Spanish with an accent. My other brothers that came up in Chorrillo, natural. And spoke English also. With an accent then. So you know… it’s good.