Latino (demonym)
The masculine term Latino (/ləˈtiːnoʊ, læ-, lɑː-/),[1][2] along with its feminine form Latina, is a noun and adjective, often used in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, that most commonly refers to United States inhabitants who have cultural ties to Latin America.
Within the Latino community itself in the United States, there is some variation in how the term is defined or used.
Usage of the term is mostly limited to the United States. Residents of Central and South American countries usually refer to themselves by national origin, rarely as Latino. Because of this, many Latin American scholars, journalists, and
Origins
The terms Latino and Latina originated in
Latino has its origins in the French term Amérique latine, coined in the mid-19th century during the
By the late 1850s, with the loss of
Usage
Community usage
Both Hispanic and Latino are generally used to denote people living in the United States.
Governmental usage
The U.S. government Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has defined Hispanic or Latino people as "a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race".[23] The U.S. census uses the ethnonym Hispanic or Latino to refer to "a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race".[24] The Census Bureau also explains that "[o]rigin can be viewed as the heritage, nationality group, lineage, or country of birth of the person or the person's ancestors before their arrival in the United States. People who identify their origin as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish may be of any race."[25] Hence the U.S. census and the OMB are using the terms differently. The U.S. census and the OMB use the terms interchangeably, where both terms are synonyms. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, the majority (51%) of Hispanic and Latino Americans prefer to identify with their families' country of origin, while only 24% prefer the term Hispanic or Latino.[26]
Style guides
The AP Stylebook recommends usage of Latino for persons of Spanish-speaking ancestry, as well as persons "from – or whose ancestors were from – ... Latin America, including Brazilians". However, in the recent past, the term Latinos was also applied to people from the Caribbean region,[27] but those from former French, Dutch and British colonies are excluded.[28]
Contrast with Hispanic
Part of a series on |
Hispanic and Latino Americans |
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Whereas Latino designates someone with roots in Latin America, the term Hispanic in contrast is a
The term Latino was officially adopted in 1997 by the
U.S. official use of the term Hispanic has its origins in the 1970 census. The Census Bureau attempted to identify all Hispanics by use of the following criteria in sampled sets:[32]
- Spanish speakers and persons belonging to a household where Spanish was spoken
- Persons with Spanishheritage by birth location
- Persons who self-identify with Latin America, excluding Brazil, Haiti and French Guiana
Neither Hispanic nor Latino refers to a
Other federal and local government agencies and non-profit organizations include Brazilians and Portuguese in their definition of Hispanic. The U.S. Department of Transportation defines "Hispanic Americans" as: "persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Central or South American, or other Spanish or Portuguese culture or origin, regardless of race".[36] This definition has been adopted by the Small Business Administration as well as by many federal, state, and municipal agencies for the purposes of awarding government contracts to minority owned businesses. The
The
Though often used interchangeably in American English, Hispanic and Latino are not identical terms, and in certain contexts the choice between them can be significant. Hispanic, from the Latin word for "Spain," has the broader reference, potentially encompassing all Spanish-speaking peoples in both hemispheres and emphasizing the common denominator of language among communities that sometimes have little else in common. Latino—which in Spanish and Portuguese means "Latin" but which as an English word is probably a shortening of the Spanish word latinoamericano—refers more exclusively to persons or communities of Latin American origin. Of the two, only Hispanic can be used in referring to Spain and its history and culture; a native of Spain residing in the United States is a Hispanic, not a Latino, and one cannot substitute Latino in the phrase the Hispanic influence on native Mexican cultures without garbling the meaning. In practice, however, this distinction is of little significance when referring to residents of the United States, most of whom are of Latin American origin and can theoretically be called by either word.[37]
The AP Stylebook also distinguishes between the terms Hispanic and Latino. The Stylebook limits the term Hispanic to people "from – or whose ancestors were from – a Spanish-speaking land or culture". It provides a more expansive definition, however, of the term Latino. The Stylebook definition of Latino includes not only people of Spanish-speaking ancestry, but also more generally includes persons "from – or whose ancestors were from – . . . Latin America". The Stylebook specifically lists "Brazilian" as an example of a group which can be considered Latino.
There were 28 categories tabulated in the 2000 United States census: Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Central American: Costa Rican, Guatemalan, Honduran, Nicaraguan, Panamanian, Salvadoran, Other Central American; South American: Argentinian, Bolivian, Chilean, Colombian, Ecuadorian, Paraguayan, Peruvian, Uruguayan, Venezuelan, Other South American; Other Hispanic or Latino: Spaniard, Spanish, Spanish American, All other Hispanic or Latino.[38]
Debates
The use of the term Latino, despite its increasing popularity, is still highly debated among those who are called by the name.
When and why the Latino identity came about is a more involved story. Essentially, politicians, the media, and marketers find it convenient to deal with the different U.S. Spanish-speaking people under one umbrella. However, many people with Spanish surnames contest the term Latino. They claim it is misleading because no Latino or Hispanic nationality exists since no Latino state exists, so generalizing the term Latino slights the various national identities included under the umbrella.[46]
Gender-neutral forms
Attempts have been made to introduce gender-neutral language into Spanish by changing the ending of Latino, as in the terms Latin@, Latine,[22] Latino/a,[47] and Latinx.[48][49] Both supporters and opponents of Latinx have cited linguistic imperialism as a reason for supporting or opposing the use of the term.[50]
See also
- Chicano
- Latin American Australians
- Latin American Canadians
- Latin Union
- Latino diaspora
- Latino (disambiguation)
- Latino studies
- List of Latinos in film
- Race and ethnicity in the United States Census
- Racial and ethnic demographics of the United States
Notes
References
- ^ "Latino". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ^ "Latino". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). HarperCollins.
- ^ a b "¿Son sinónimos los términos 'hispano' y 'latino'?" [Are the terms 'Hispanic' and 'Latino' synonymous?]. Hispanic Council (in Spanish). Retrieved August 30, 2021.
- ^ a b "Ask a Scholar: What is the True Definition of Latino?". National Association of Scholars. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ "¿A quién consideran latino en Estados Unidos? (y por qué es más complicado de lo que quizá imaginas)" [Who is considered Latino in the United States? (and why it's more complicated than you might imagine)]. BBC (in Spanish). August 29, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
- ^ a b "Hispanos o latinos - ¿Quiénes somos?" [Hispanics or Latinos - Who are we?]. aboutespanol.com (in Spanish). Retrieved August 30, 2021.
- ^ a b "Are Latins only in Latin America?". February 7, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
- ^ "¿Latino o hispano? Parece lo mismo, pero no es igual" [Latino or Hispanic? It seems like the same thing, but it's not]. El Pais (in Spanish). September 5, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
- ^ "Diferencia y similitudes entre los términos 'Hispano' y 'Latino'" [Difference and similarities between the terms 'Hispanic' and 'Latino'] (in Spanish). January 10, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
- Washington Post. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
- ^ "9 Things Latinos Are Tired of Explaining to Everyone Else". Mic. Mic (media company). Retrieved July 16, 2022.
- ^ a b "Latino, n.". Oxford English Dictionary (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. 1989.
- ^ "latino". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
- ^ "Definition of Latino by Oxford Dictionary". lexico.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
- OCLC 1043876740.
- ^ Shawcross, E. (2018). France, Mexico and Informal Empire in Latin America, 1820-1867: Equilibrium in the New World. Pgs 133-135 Germany: Springer International Publishing.
- OCLC 774498013.
- OCLC 1043876740.
The word latinoamericano emerged in the years following the wars of independence in Spain's former colonies. [...] By the late 1850s, californios were writing in newspapers about their membership in América latina (Latin America) and latinoamerica, calling themselves latinos as the shortened name for their hemispheric membership in la raza latina.
- ^ "The concept of 'Latino' is an American concept". Psfaculty.ucdavis.edu. Archived from the original (ms powerpoint) on July 7, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
- ^ Thomas, Jeffrey (December 8, 2006). "New Survey Paints Vivid Portrait of U.S. Latinos". USINFO. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
Being Latino is an American identity
- ISBN 978-0-520-25827-3.
The very term Latino has meaning only in reference to the U.S. experience. Outside the United States, we don't speak of Latinos; we speak of Mexicans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and so forth. Latinos are made in the USA.
- ^ S2CID 149742570– via ResearchGate.
Terms like Latin@, Latine, and LatinU have been deployed—with less traction—to mobilize Latina/o communities
- ^ a b Office of Management and Budget (October 30, 1997). "Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity" (PDF). Federal Register Notice. whitehouse.gov. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
- ^ "The Hispanic Population: 2010 Census Briefs" (PDF). Census.gov. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ^ "Hispanic Origin Main - People and Households - U.S. Census Bureau". Archived from the original on January 19, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
- ^ Taylor, Paul; Lopez, Mark Hugo; Martínez, Jessica; Velasco, Gabriel (April 4, 2012). "When Labels Don't Fit: Hispanics and Their Views of Identity". Pew Research Center's Hispanic Trends Project.
- S2CID 144948747.
- ISBN 9780814720394.
- ^ "Defining 'Hispanic' as meaning those with Spanish-speaking roots in the Americas and 'Latino' as meaning those with both Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking roots in Latin America". Americanhistory.si.edu. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ^ Anderson, Kevin (October 18, 2008). "US elections 2008 (News),New Mexico (News),US politics". The Guardian. London.
- ^ "Herald Style Guide". Sites.google.com. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
- ^ Gibson, Campbell; Jung, Kay (September 2002). "Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, For The United States, Regions, Divisions, and States". Working Paper Series No. 56. Retrieved December 7, 2006.
- ^ a b United States Census Bureau (March 2001). "Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2007.
- ^ U.S. Census Bureau. "U.S. Census Bureau Guidance on the Presentation and Comparison of Race and Hispanic Origin Data". Retrieved March 18, 2007.
Race and Hispanic origin are two separate concepts in the federal statistical system. People who are Hispanic may be of any race. People in each race group may be either Hispanic or Not Hispanic. Each person has two attributes, their race (or races) and whether or not they are Hispanic.
- ^ "B03001. Hispanic or Latino Origin by Spedific Origin". 2006 American Community Survey. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2008.
- ^ U.S. Department of Transportation, "Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Administration Reference Manual For Division Office Civil Rights Personnel", Fhwa.dot.gov
- ^ "His·pan·ic". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). HarperCollins. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^ "American FactFinder Help; Spanish/Hispanic/Latino". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 6, 2001. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
- ^ ALEMAN, EVELYN G. (April 10, 1999). "The Term 'Latino' Describes No One". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ^ "Latino or Hispanic Panic: Which Term Should We Use?" (PDF). Crossculturecommunications.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ^ Fisher, Celia B. and Lerner, Richard M. Encyclopedia of Applied Developmental Science
SAGE, 2004, ISBN 0-7619-2820-0Page 634
- ^ "Global Politician". Globalpolitician.com. Archived from the original on May 3, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ^ "Latino? Hispanic? Quechua? No, American; Take Your Pick". The New York Times. November 18, 1992. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ^ "Gregory Rodriguez: Look beyond the 'Latino' label". Los Angeles Times. November 12, 2006. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ^ Hispanic magazine, December 2000
- ^ Acuña, Rodolfo, U.S. Latino issues, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2003
ISBN 0-313-32211-2
- ^ Steinmetz, Katy (April 2, 2018). "Why 'Latinx' Is Succeeding While Other Gender-Neutral Terms Fail to Catch On". Time. New York. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- ^ Dent, Jonathan (March 18, 2019). "New Words in the OED: March 2019". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press.
- ^ "'Latinx' And Gender Inclusivity How do you pronounce this more inclusive word?". Merriam Webster. 2017. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017.
- ^ "Why People Are Using The Term 'Latinx'". HuffPost. July 5, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
Further reading
- The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States, 4 Vols., ISBN 0-19-515600-5
- ISBN 978-1-59884-139-8
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/40px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png)
- Latino Cultural Heritage Digital Archives
- What's in a name?
- Yale University – Understanding Ethnic Labels and Puerto Rican Identity
- Chicano/Latino Studies University of California, Irvine
- Latino news for and about Latinos
- Progressives, Hispanics are not 'Latinx.' Stop trying to Anglicize our Spanish language.