Dictionary of Meaning

<<Back
Please select a letter:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0-9

Latino

*** Shopping-Tip: Latino
{{Chicano2}}

Etymology
The word '''Latino''' (feminine '''Latina''') derives from '''Latin''' (the adjectives ''latinus'', ''latina''), originally referring to Latium, the area of Rome, by aitiology derived from a king of the name Latinus. The term should not be confused with Ladino language Ladino (the Spanish-based language traditionally spoken by Sephardic Jews) or Ladin (a Rhaeto-Romance language spoken in the Italy Italian Alps), even though the origin for all three names is the same.

Usage in the United States
In the United States of America, the term '''Latino''' refers loosely to any person having Latin American background and living in the U.S. It is typically contrasted with Anglo-American and/or African-American in common speech. More widely it is occasionally used to denote anyone who speaks (or whose national or ethnic origin is traditionally associated with) the Romance languages languages derived from Latin. This meaning, however, is very uncommon for the usage in the U.S. , since it is generally thought to refer specifically to ''Latin America'', and not to ''Latin'' or ''Latium'' (as is the case elsewhere). In the U.S. setting, most frequently the term ''Latino'' is applied exclusively to immigrants from Hispanophone countries in North, Central and South America and their descendants. This widespread meaning has gone into common usage, but remains problematic. Some define ''Latino'' as encompassing Latin American immigrants only, thus excluding the Spanish people in the U.S. but includes the Spanish people in Latin America. The U.S. inhabitants having a background in countries of the Western Hemisphere where other Romance languages languages derived from Latin are widespread (such as Aruba, Brazil, Canada or Haiti where Papiamento, Portuguese language Portuguese, French language French and Kreyol are spoken) are usually not considered to be "Latino". Inhabitants of French Guiana and the French West Indies, for example, are typically thought to have more in common culturally with English-speaking West Indians than they do with residents of Mexico and Central America Central and South America. Conversely, an immigrant from Latin America whose background(s) is/are entirely British and/or other non-Spanish, would most likely be considered Latino by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Criticism of the United States usage
The word Latino is debated as to whether it is profoundly an appropriate label for the people living in the Americas outside of the United States and Canada. Controversy surrounds on the usage since it implies a mirroring of Europe Latin area (see Latin Europe) in the Americas, which never took place (aside of Portugal and Spain Latin Europe includes many other countries that have no role in Latin America). Moreover in doing so, it has excluded millions of indigenous descendants (many of whom speak a native language) that are very much grounded in what is called the Americas. Thus the critique of the word falls on the exclusion of others and/or perpetuating a homogeneity of one race in the Americas. The exclusion falls on the indigenous societies and the seized populations of Africa. Recently, Mexican-descent organizations such as the Mexica Movement [http://www.mexica-movement.org] have challenged the legitimacy of the newly-introduced term of "Latino" on the grounds of its non-applicability to people who are non-European. Since the term Latino refers to Latin Europe and its descendents, people of American indigenous descent are necessarily excluded from such a term. The heavy promotion of the term Latino by European-descent Cubans in Miami onto the much larger Mexican population that is non-European, has fueled sharp critiques of the term as it is currently applied. Given that approximately 10% of Mexico's population continues to speak an indigenous language as its mother tongue, the Latino moniker is especially problematic. The media application of the term "Latino" in conjunction with non-Latino patrimony images (such as Aztec and Mayan pyramids) promises to stir debate about an "umbrella" term encompassing people of separate races and separate civilizations. Critics further point out that Native Americans primarily speak English but are never referred to as Anglos or as "Britannic." Latino, they assert, is likewise non-applicable as an identity to people of indigenous stock (full-blood and mixed-blood) in other regions of the same continent.

Use in Latin America
Most people in Latin America (excluding Brazil), consider "Latino" to be a cultural rather than a racial term. Many Latin Americans therefore describe themselves as "Latino" whether they are of Asian, white, black, or mixed descent.

See also
*Afro-Latin American Afro-Latino *Ancient Rome *Asian Latino *Boricua *Brasil *Chicano *Filipino American Filipino *France *Hispania *Hispanic *Hispanic America *Ibero-American *Isleños *Italy *La raza *Latin rap *Latin Union *List of U.S. cities with Hispanic majority populations *Lusitanic *Mexican American *Mestizo *Mestiço *Moors *Mulatto *Portugal *Portuguese people Portuguese *Portuguese American *Romania *Spain *Spanish (disambiguation) *Spanish American *Neoconquistador Category:Ethnic groups in the United States de:Latino es:Latino fr:Latinus it:Latino pl:Latino pt:Latino

*** Shopping-Tip: Latino