- Published: September 12, 2022
- Updated: September 12, 2022
- University / College: Cardiff University
- Language: English
- Downloads: 25
The term Mock Spanish is used to describe various Spanish-inspired phrases in modern American language culture or its use. The use of Mock Spanish has been quite popular in middle class and higher-income, college-educated white Americans; and other population groups that often belong to monolingual Anglo-American circles. Examples of Mock Spanish phrases include but may not be limited to: Hasta la vista, baby (from the movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day; hasty banana (instead of hasta manana); Buenos nachos (instead of Buenos noches); el cheapo; hasta la bye-bye; and no problemo, among others. According to Professor Jane Hill, one of the people who first popularized the term Mock Spanish, Mock Spanish is often not intended to directly imply or demonstrate racism. In fact, Mock Spanish phrases are often used in popular media platforms such as motion pictures and typical English jokes to induce humor. Despite that fact, Jane Hill argues that the use of Mock Spanish constitute a covert type of racism. Covert racism happens whenever a voluntary act or process exhibits any form or racial discrimination in a disguised or subtle manner as opposed to the typical form of racial discrimination that is public and or more obvious. Jane Hill also argued that while most individuals who use the Mock Spanish phrases consider doing so harmless or even flattering, individuals who have Spanish as their native language may find the act insulting.
So far, I am leaning towards the affirmative side in this issue. I agree to Professor Jane Hill’s remarks that Mock Spanish, especially its popularization in Hollywood movies and its use by people in their everyday lives to convey humor or mockery, can be perceived as offensive or even insulting. Native English speakers, despite the fact that English is the universal and as a result of that, one of the highest valued languages, should learn how to respect the use of other languages, the Spanish language in particular. People should be more sensitive about the feelings of speakers of the Spanish language especially for those who are chronic users and abusers of Mock Spanish phrases.