Speaking with (dis)respect: a study of reactions to Mock Spanish

Abstract

This paper reports on an investigation into the reactions of 147 participants of various ethnicities to a language practice in the USA that has been characterized as Mock Spanish, a special register in which Spanish words or phrases are used to evoke humor by indexing an often unflattering image of Spanish speakers. Research questions include whether Mock Spanish is indeed racist discourse, whether it can by definition be used only by non-Latinos, and whether there are any correlations between individual reactions and informants' racial-ethnic selfidentification, gender, age, educational attainment, Spanish language proficiency, and frequency of contact with native Spanish speakers. Este trabajo informa sobre un estudio de las reacciones de 147 participantes de varias etnicidades a una práctica lingü ística en los Estados Unidos que se viene denominando Mock Spanish, un registro especial en el cual se usan palabras o frases para evocar el humor con imágenes de hispanohablantes que suelen ser poco favorables. Las cuestiones que se intenta resolver en este estudio incluyen si el Mock Spanish es en realidad un discurso racista, si por definició n puede usarse ú nicamente por los no-latinos, y si hay alguna correlació n entre las reacciones de los informantes y su autoidentificación étnica y racial, su sexo, edad, nivel de instrucció n, competencia lingü ística en el españ ol, y frecuencia de contacto con hablantes nativos del españ ol.

The importance of being earnest

“…Many more examples can be found in the studies cited above, tokens from which I have attempted to avoid duplication of here. For further discussion of what does and does not constitute Mock Spanish, see Callahan (2010).…”

“…Non-Latino, non-heritage learners and users of Spanish are admonished by U.S. Latinos to approach the second language with respect and diligence, lest their use of Spanish be perceived as mocking or cynical and self-serving (e.g. Callahan 2004Callahan , 2010Mendoza-Denton 2008). 7 As to the question of whether non-native speakers of Spanish or those in the process of learning Spanish should refrain from using Spanish in a humorous way, my answer to those who are interested in avoiding offensive speech is yes.…”

“…For a more thorough treatment of these factors, see Callahan (2010). Participants in Breidenbach (2006) and in Callahan (2010) cited these factors as potential attenuators of Mock Spanish's offensiveness. Mass media is also of interest for its role in the reproduction of elite discourses (van Dijk 1993).…”

“…3 (Hill 2008, 156-157) Hill's (1995aHill's ( , 1995bHill's ( , 1998 work on Mock Spanish is seminal. Others who have treated the subject include Barrett (2006), Breidenbach (2006), Callahan (2010), Mendoza-Denton (2008), Potowski (2011), Schwartz (2006, and Zentella (2003). Barrett (2006) analyzes the use of Mock Spanish by non-Latino restaurant workers to address Spanish monolingual co-workers; Zentella (2003) describes U.S. Latinos' linguistic virtuosity and how it defies the pejorative image of Hispanics that Mock Spanish indexes.…”

“…Mendoza-Denton (2008) reports that exaggeratedly anglicized pronunciations -in the style of the examples given at the beginning of this paper -were judged highly offensive by her Chicana consultants. Callahan (2010) conducted an investigation into the reactions of 147 individuals representing four ethnicities to examples of Mock Spanish from various sources. Research questions included whether Mock Spanish is indeed racist discourse and whether it can by definition be used only by non-Latinos.…”