Hispanic vs. Latino: We Asked A Spanish Professor

Any Latino, Latina, or Latine person filling out a census understands what a head-scratching affair it can be. Documents and forms such as these typically leave out many of the ways Latinos choose to identify. The government’s confusion when trying to put us in a box of Hispanic or Latino seems to have confused everyone else!

To help clarifying some nagging misunderstandings, LATV’s Cultura Shock interviewed Rebeca Acevedo – Professor of Spanish Linguistics at Loyola Marymount University. La profesora spoke on the origins of the Spanish language and how it relates to Latino identity as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.

In the discussion, Acevedo claims that in order to understand the origins of the Spanish language you have to look way back.  So far back that you can’t find it with a google search. Many languages with Latin origins influence one another, making it difficult to pinpoint a “birth certificate.” Researchers like Acevedo study old, handwritten manuscripts in order to learn how the language was used, with the oldest documents in Spain dating back to the 11th century. Back then, those writing the manuscripts were mostly monks affiliated with the church that were educated in reading and writing before the printing press.

Professor Acevedo also stresses the importance of Latinos learning the use of the Spanish language and its origins here in the United States.

The age old saying of “the border crossed us, we didn’t cross the border” still rings true. What about Hispanic vs. Latino?

Hispanic is attributed to those from a predominately Spanish speaking country or those colonized by Spain. This includes a large percentage of Latin America, but also Spain.

Depending on what part of the world you may live in, the term Latino could refer to a wide variety of cultures. Professor Acevedo notes that from a European perspective, Latino is derived from is Latin origins, therefore people of romance languages such as Italians, Portuguese, and even Romanians might claim to be Latino. Latino as we commonly refer to it in the US refers to people with ancestors or heritage from Latin America and isn’t tied to language.

Even though being able to speak Spanish isn’t a requirement, there is still a strong cultural connection to the language for Latinos. For those that may not be fluent in Spanish or any language, Acevedo had a few words of encouragement.

You heard the professor! Take a class, watch a film, and call you abuela. It all helps preserve our culture.