Abstract

The Court Interpreters Act, that demanded State and Federal Courts to guarantee translations whenever necessary, transformed the spirit of justice regarding linguistic minorities in the United States. The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez tells the true story of a crime based precisely on the absence of translators in court proceedings. Based on this scenario, the paper reflects on the value of languages and ethnic and cultural diversity in its relation to ethics, justice and peoples’ rights.

Key Words: Puerto Rico | Language | film | literature