When it comes to reduce Latin America to a single definition, I am aware that it is an almost impossible task, because it means different things to different people. Originally, the term refers to countries in South and North America (which it usually includes the Caribbean and “Central America”), where the Romance Languages are spoken.
The word romance has nothing to do with being romantic. In terms of languages, the word “romance” came from the Latin word “Romanicus,” which is derived from “Roman”. Since the language spoken in Rome was the Vulgar Latin, or Latin spoken by the “common people,” we call Romance Languages for all languages and dialects descended from “Vulgar Latin”. So, people in the 18th and 19th centuries started calling “Latin America” to those countries in the Americas that speak languages derived from Vulgar Latin, which are primarily Spanish, Portuguese, and French.
A total of 21 countries, all of them south of the United States, speak Romance Languages. All of them, except for 3 countries, speak Spanish. Brazil speaks Portuguese, and French Guiana and Haiti speak mostly French. There are other countries in the Caribbean that do not fit this definition because their official language is English, even though they are in the same region as the Latin countries.
Aside from having a common “root language” and having a history of colonization, these countries have no reason of being grouped together. Even among those of us that speak Spanish, at times we do not understand each other because of the use of regional slangs, a rich variety of accents and the speed communication is being conveyed.Even within my own family, sometimes there is a need to explain ourselves because a word or phrase, have different meaning to different nationalities. Think about it, I, a Nicaraguan, married a Cuban. Our two children speak more English, and when it comes to communication with their grandparents, who do not speak English, they speak “Spanglish,” which is a whole different language. My daughter married an Ecuadorian and my son’s girlfriend is a mix of Cuban and Puerto Rican. Our family gatherings are just as funny as it is, at times, confusing.
As we conclude, here are a few things that we need to be reminded about “Latin Americans”:
1. A significant number of Latin Americans are not Latin neither in culture nor in origin. Many are of them are Indians, Africans or of mixed blood.
2. Most of those countries differ considerably from each other in size, social structure, population, make up and level of economic development.
3. Some of those countries have a high percent of illiteracy, while others pride themselves to have a high number of well-educated individuals that speak several languages, are very familiar and relate well with European culture.
4. Most, if not all, of these countries are exceedingly nationalistic and do not see themselves as Latin Americans, but like to be viewed as Cubans, Argentinians, Chileans, Mexicans, Nicaraguans, etc.One thing is for sure, God loves them and wants us, His people, to deliver His message to them. And those of us who are charged to communicate that message via radio and other media, have the challenge to continually figure out ways to “pack” His message, in ways, that are culturally relevant to them. In creating an hour-long program, everything counts, from the selection of popular music that is tasteful, positive, and culturally appropriate to culturally relevant news and information, to biblically sound messages that speak to where they are in their world. In every segment of the program, we must consider what we are learning about their world. The goal is to successfully establish a bridge between their world and His word.
Categories: SPANISH
