Sunday, January 31, 2010

Mexican vs. Chicano Spanish

Valdes mentions that people who identify themselves as Mexican Americans are those coming from rural or working-class speakers. They are people who use archaisms such as truje, asina, caiba, and haiga. This has also been linked to "Chicano Spanish". I am not convinced that this is Mexican Spanish because many first and second generation Mexican Americans do not speak in this manner and will label people who do so. I have met many Mexican Americans that cringe when they hear Chicano Spanish, even more so if they are classified or labeled in the "category", and will often say "no hables como un Chicano". Because many Mexican Americans do not speak "Chicano Spanish" therefore, they do not identify themselves with the Chicano movement. I find that many of them are newly incoming immigrants that perhaps have lived in the states about 30 or more years and were not familiar with or affiliated with such movements. Furthermore, many of them do not agree with the movement. I read a book titled Macho by Victor Villasenor, which is a great example of people who despised such movements. the protagonist was a man who primarily came to the U.S. to work, therefore, labeled the Chicano movement as a group of people who were lazy. Not only is discrimination around us, it is within us. Many Mexican Americans would never refer to themselves as Chicanos because many Chicanos deny their Mexican roots and believe they are of higher stature than Mexicans, claiming they are from "Spaniard" roots. Whether the words mentioned above are Mexican or Chicano Spanish, they are a form of Spanish. Perhaps historical education on the laws and movements that took place would clarify some misunderstandings from both parties.

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