Comments on: Why do Hispanics insist on being called “Latino” . Do they speak Latin?

By: Enrique

Enrique — Thu, 26 May 2011 03:21:22 +0000

It is strange that people discuss this topic and don’t have the knowledge to talk about it. Well, it is called Latin America due to the French emperor Napoleon III. He was trying to establish a new French Colonial Empire in America (the continent, not the country) and he coined the term Latin America to find a difference with the area controled by the English or Americans (English language) he called that anglo America and the rest Latin America. The French were aware that the Spanish were not longer a world power and considering themselves Latin, they had the excuse to get involved in Latin America. They tried in Mexico and failed but the term latin america remained. In Spain, the people there called the people from central and south american latinos. Interesting to know this because the actual latins are the Italians (prime latins) then Spanish, French, Portuguese and Romanians. The people of central and south america with their huge numbers of native Americans absorbed the term latin (I found this funny since most are mestizos or indians). In my case, I was born in South America but ethnically speaking I consider myself 100% Catalan (from Catalonia) and I am not Spanish, or Latin.

Hope my input help a little.

By: smallguy

smallguy — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:26:13 +0000

Because they don’t know any better. Way back then in history, Spain was called Hispania. Since our language (Spanish) was introduced to us when Spain’s conquistadores came to America , we are consider Hispanic and not Latinos. People who are Latinos are people whose language come from the Latin language. Spanish does too, but Spanish originated in Hispania.

So I think that it may have to do more with people wanting to severed any of their national origin from Spain. In Spanish speaking countries we call Spain “La Madre Patria,” “The Mother Country.” I know people from a lot of Hispanic countries and I feel that Mexicans are the ones that resend Spaniards more than any country.

It may not be ignorance, it may be that people who want to be called Latinos feel that they want a special title for themselves. It’s similar to people from the US calling themselves Americans. They feel that that title belongs to only them, the truth is that it doesn’t. It doesn’t matter if you were born in Canada, US, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Brazil, or any other country in the American continent, you are an American because you were worn in the American continent. It would be like the British calling themselves Europeans and every body else in that continent are just French, Germans, Spaniards, etc. Or the Japanese calling themselves Asians and every body else in the part of the world are just Koreans, Taiwanese, Cambodians, etc. You are an American, European, Asian, African and so on because you are from those parts of the world and not because you come from a specific country.

By: caroline

caroline — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:26:13 +0000

cause latino is a prettier word
no just kidding i dont know or care

By: Brigid_01

Brigid_01 — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:26:13 +0000

Spanish is the most Latin-based of all modern languages, with Portuguese being second.

By: jillhourihan

jillhourihan — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:26:13 +0000

Latinos come from Latin America, Where as hispanics would come from spain.

By: angie t

angie t — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:26:13 +0000

I call em Tacos

By: malintzin

malintzin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:26:13 +0000

because spanish comes from latin, and being a latino, meaning you speak spanish, implies that you are connected with all other spanish speakers. kind of a unity thing. a latino can be of any race. "Hispanic" implies that the person is partly white, from spain. Most people prefer to be called latino, or indigenous if they feel a stronger connection to their native american roots. Some mexicans refuse to be called neither latino nor hispanic. Its all preference.

By: Camilla

Camilla — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:26:13 +0000

latino or latina is a cooler word

By: mozartgirl2000

mozartgirl2000 — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:26:13 +0000

Hispanics are called latinos because they come from Latin America.

By: beesugar24

beesugar24 — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:26:13 +0000

LOL