One of the best parts of my living in California (in the past) was the cultural diversity and the many gifts that other cultures brought there, including language. Not only are 40% of Hispanic or Latino origin, but so many people are 5th- or more generation and are represented at every level of society.
Other states with less “embedded”history often resent seeing Spanish language materials or ads and have stereotyped views of their neighbors of Latin origin.
My college roommate’s parents came from Mexico before she was born. Her brother Enrique’s nickname was Kiki. I loved that, along with the many things I learned from her and her family. So much that many are missing out on, culturally and linguistically.
I find it surprising you don't see more Spanish-language ads on television. I live in Rapid City, South Dakota--hardly a hotbed of cultural diversity, and we probably have more residents with Asian roots than Spanish.
However, when I watch my beloved L.A. Dodgers on mlb.tv, every so often I'm bombarded with Spanish-language commercials throughout the entire game. Some are dubbed from English (very well-done, I might add); others are original Spanish. Somehow, some AI program (I guess) has figured I'm part of their target demographic. Así es la vida, I suppose.
Curiously, friends watching in other states--including California--don't get those commercials.
I also have noticed the Spanish-language ads on MLB.tv, which I think says something about the demographics of baseball fans — or at least of Dodgers fans. I also observe that one variation on the Diamondbacks' uniform says "Serpientes", which I just love. (Obviously, MLB players represents a large swath of Spanish-speaking countries.)
Fun thing: we went to a Dodgers game live a few years ago, and the music for the seventh-inning stretch was provided by a mariachi band :)
Ha, no, new to me. I appreciate the shout-out to the fan base, but I am absolutely 100% not all in the slightest bit surprised that someone who owns an MLB team turns out to be a dick :(
Off topic. The phrase "De aquí para allá y de allá para acá" has an edge to it, because it speaks to the issue of children of immigrants having a foot in two worlds but not being fully of either. At least with Spanish speakers in the US, there's a huge community at home with its own identity, including its own linguistic identity. But the phrase applies to other immigrants (children of immigrants) as well, and I think that kids from e.g. Asian or South Asian immigrant families can have a harder time trying to fit in both aquí and allá.
Yes! Good one! The “Live más” campaign debuted in February 2012 as part of the brand's 50th-anniversary celebration. Btw, it's also tickled me that the Bell in Taco Bell is an eponym (founder's name was Glen Bell).
Great piece, Nancy. In NZ, more and more English speaking people are weaving Maori language into their own. "Do the mahi" = "do the work", "don't be hoha (pronounced hore-ha)" = don't be annoying or boring. And so on. I don't know what you'd call Maori/English if it ever emerged here - and it's a long way off right now - but it would certainly make us a more interesting country.
Love it! Reminds me of a Hawaiian-English portmanteau, "onolicious,," in which ono means delicious in Hawaiian and -licious means, well, delicious. For the full effect you need to draw it out: oh-no-LEEESH-us.
The 1973 musical Seesaw (book by Michael Bennett, lyrics by the great Dorothy Fields, music by Cy Coleman, based on William Gibson's play Two for the Seesaw) includes a song called "Spanglish," which is well-meaning and jaunty and kind of a complete embarrassment.
Just for fun, here are Anne Bancroft and Henry Fonda (and director Arthur Penn) in a rehearsal publicity shot for the original Broadway staging of the play.*
(For a big-deal movie star who might easily have saved himself the trouble, the labor, and presumably the cut in pay, Fonda returned to Broadway a lot: like, a dozen times once he was famous.)
* [edited to add] I have belatedly learned that though it looks as if you can add photos to a comment here, you in fact can't.
One of the best parts of my living in California (in the past) was the cultural diversity and the many gifts that other cultures brought there, including language. Not only are 40% of Hispanic or Latino origin, but so many people are 5th- or more generation and are represented at every level of society.
Other states with less “embedded”history often resent seeing Spanish language materials or ads and have stereotyped views of their neighbors of Latin origin.
My college roommate’s parents came from Mexico before she was born. Her brother Enrique’s nickname was Kiki. I loved that, along with the many things I learned from her and her family. So much that many are missing out on, culturally and linguistically.
One of my college roommates was a Mexican American girl named Enriqueta. Her nickname was Henri.
I find it surprising you don't see more Spanish-language ads on television. I live in Rapid City, South Dakota--hardly a hotbed of cultural diversity, and we probably have more residents with Asian roots than Spanish.
However, when I watch my beloved L.A. Dodgers on mlb.tv, every so often I'm bombarded with Spanish-language commercials throughout the entire game. Some are dubbed from English (very well-done, I might add); others are original Spanish. Somehow, some AI program (I guess) has figured I'm part of their target demographic. Así es la vida, I suppose.
Curiously, friends watching in other states--including California--don't get those commercials.
Interesting! I don't watch enough commercial TV to weigh in, but maybe others can.
Just about the ONLY TV I watch is mlb.tv. (And I generally mute the ads.)
I also have noticed the Spanish-language ads on MLB.tv, which I think says something about the demographics of baseball fans — or at least of Dodgers fans. I also observe that one variation on the Diamondbacks' uniform says "Serpientes", which I just love. (Obviously, MLB players represents a large swath of Spanish-speaking countries.)
Fun thing: we went to a Dodgers game live a few years ago, and the music for the seventh-inning stretch was provided by a mariachi band :)
Do you know about Los Doyers? It's a Dodgers trademark. https://www.duetsblog.com/2011/03/articles/guest-bloggers/los-doyers-goes-legit-are-you-cheering/
Ha, no, new to me. I appreciate the shout-out to the fan base, but I am absolutely 100% not all in the slightest bit surprised that someone who owns an MLB team turns out to be a dick :(
Off topic. The phrase "De aquí para allá y de allá para acá" has an edge to it, because it speaks to the issue of children of immigrants having a foot in two worlds but not being fully of either. At least with Spanish speakers in the US, there's a huge community at home with its own identity, including its own linguistic identity. But the phrase applies to other immigrants (children of immigrants) as well, and I think that kids from e.g. Asian or South Asian immigrant families can have a harder time trying to fit in both aquí and allá.
I reckon that Spanglish had gone mainstream when Taco Bell went with a national (afaik?) campaign that said "Live más".
Yes! Good one! The “Live más” campaign debuted in February 2012 as part of the brand's 50th-anniversary celebration. Btw, it's also tickled me that the Bell in Taco Bell is an eponym (founder's name was Glen Bell).
Love it! 🥰
Great piece, Nancy. In NZ, more and more English speaking people are weaving Maori language into their own. "Do the mahi" = "do the work", "don't be hoha (pronounced hore-ha)" = don't be annoying or boring. And so on. I don't know what you'd call Maori/English if it ever emerged here - and it's a long way off right now - but it would certainly make us a more interesting country.
Love it! Reminds me of a Hawaiian-English portmanteau, "onolicious,," in which ono means delicious in Hawaiian and -licious means, well, delicious. For the full effect you need to draw it out: oh-no-LEEESH-us.
The 1973 musical Seesaw (book by Michael Bennett, lyrics by the great Dorothy Fields, music by Cy Coleman, based on William Gibson's play Two for the Seesaw) includes a song called "Spanglish," which is well-meaning and jaunty and kind of a complete embarrassment.
Aha! Thanks for that. There was a Two for the Seesaw movie, too, with Shirley Maclaine. Did it have songs? I don't know.
An over-the-credits song, I do believe.
Just for fun, here are Anne Bancroft and Henry Fonda (and director Arthur Penn) in a rehearsal publicity shot for the original Broadway staging of the play.*
(For a big-deal movie star who might easily have saved himself the trouble, the labor, and presumably the cut in pay, Fonda returned to Broadway a lot: like, a dozen times once he was famous.)
* [edited to add] I have belatedly learned that though it looks as if you can add photos to a comment here, you in fact can't.