Matthew Yglesias: The Latinx problem

[brooklynite]

Vox

For the past several years, the term “Latinx” has been gaining momentum in progressive circles, even though only 3 percent of US Hispanics actually use it themselves.

The word originates in academic and activist circles, having been coined in 2004 and only gaining popularity about 10 years later. The term is meant to solve two problems. One is that the Spanish language uses the masculine term “Latino” to refer not just to men but also to mixed-gender groups, implying a kind of problematic privileging of the male gender. The other is that the binary nature of grammatical gender — Latino men and Latina women — is a poor fit for the needs and lives of nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people. In academic and activist circles, “Latinx” suggests itself as an elegant gender-neutral solution.

The message of the term, however, is that the entire grammatical system of the Spanish language is problematic, which in any other context progressives would recognize as an alienating and insensitive message. As Terry Blas has written for Vox, in actual Latin American countries, the term “Latine” has gained some currency as a gender-neutral grammatical form. Using a word like that would mark you out as unusual in any Spanish-speaking community. But it’s a formulation that at least respects the basic way the Spanish language works, instead of trying to foist a series of unpronounceable words on it.

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), who represents a heavily working-class, heavily Hispanic area in and around Phoenix, advises Democrats to “start by not using the term Latinx.”

[MineralMan]

1. Inventing that term has bothered me, too.

Latinx is meaningless in Spanish. So, clearly, it is an invention of the English-speaking community, not the community being referenced. I like the idea of Latine, though, since it originated within the community being discussed.

Non-members of any community should not be dictating how that community should be addressed. Instead, it should use the terminology generated by the community itself.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Of course, you could just say 'Latin'

Controversial to use a gender-neutral term that's been used in English for (checks OED) 620 years to refer to people (Chaucer: "the Latyn folk" ), I know, but desperate times call for desperate measures ...

[MineralMan]

3. French, Italian, and Portuguese people are also "Latin" under that definition, though.

Their languages are Latin-based, as well. But, they are not in the same group being referred to.

Hispanic works, and has been in long use. It's also gender-neutral, but it's not a Spanish word, either.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Not in general usage

The word originally meant people from Latium, near Rome, but outside ancient history, no ones is likely to mean that now. Context and general usage tells you it's about Americans. 'Hispanic' has the disadvantage of technically implying a link to Spain, which doesn't fit Brazil. But yes, it seems worth using as well.

[MineralMan]

5. I remain in favor of using whatever terminology the group being discussed

prefers. It's not up to me or anyone else who is not a member of that group to supply words to describe people in that group. General usage by people outside of the group is irrelevant, it seems to me.

I feel strongly about that.

[comradebillyboy]

6. Latinex is a term I neve see used here in New Mexico.

I'm frankly surprised as many as 3% of Hispanics use the term.

Many whose families were here before the US annexed NM in 1849 refer to themselves and their heritage as Spanish.

[Sympthsical]

7. My Latino friends and family hate that word. I refuse to use it or type it

A family member (through marriage) bristles at this term. She told me she feels it actually works against her heritage. In her view, the Spanish language is gendered. It's part of their linguistic heritage.

There is such a thing as wokeness being taken to Level Stupid. This is one of those things. No one wanted this word. No one actually uses it. But some people in academia and then Twitter decided it needed to be a thing. Then well-meaning non-Latinos figured, "Well, this is what we're being asked to say, so I guess we're going to say it now." Especially the media.

Out of respect to my friends and family, I refuse to adopt it.

When only 3% of the pertinent population bothers about it, I don't think anyone else has to go along either.

Everything in this wide world is "problematic" if you talk to a Twitter user sensitive enough and with too much time on their hands.

I have seen Latine. It's also very rare, however. Every time I see it, I think people are talking about a toilet. Takes me a second.

[frazzled]

8. Gender neutral innovations in language are always hard to accept

I’ll agree that the x has no relevance in Spanish, but it does in Spanglish. And I have heard Latino newscasters where I live use Latinx. For Americans, it’s not such a stretch, and not hard to pronounce: it’s Latin-ex. I’ve gotten used to hearing it on TV where I live.

I recall the giant uproar when Ms. was first introduced. We don’t bat an eye now.

Several decades ago the reform temple we belonged to hired a new, female assistant rabbi, who introduced gender neutral language into the services. No more Lord or other male terms (e.g., Father or King as a translation of Aveinu Malkeinu, an important prayer on the High Holidays usually translated as “Our Father, Our King). God should not be assigned a gender. It was completely jarring at first, but soon became so natural that the use of the word “Lord” elsewhere was shocking and offensive to hear.


For an alternative view arguing for the use of the term, by a Latina (!), see

Gutierrez: The argument for ‘Latinx’
Pallas Gutierrez, Op-Ed Contributor
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2018/10/16/opinion/gutierrez-the-argument-for-latinx/

[MenloParque]

9. Silly

I’ve never heard latinx before a couple of years ago and I live in California. My Mexican side of the family has talked about this and really hates the latinx label. The will only use American, Mexican-American, or Paisa if referring to those in our family who were born in Mexico. NEVER Hispanic, Latino, latinx, Chicano, or Pachuco.