What is behind the growth in the use of Spanglish?
Spanglish is a natural outgrowth of the mixing of not just two cultures, but two languages. Just as we’ve adopted words from the Spanish language, including the names of some of our towns and cities as well as states, those who come to our country speaking only Spanish tend to adopt certain words and phrases for use long before they speak the language fluently. Given that most of us, if we’re honest, would have to admit to learning some profanity in a foreign language before we speak the language, if we ever do, it simply shows the tendency to adopt what is needed and turn it to your own use. Phrases are twisted, adapted in brief-speak, cutting out unnecessary words, or combined to mean something totally different. Children are naturals at this, those who mix in a variety of cultures often coming up with delightful mixes of words and phrases that are then adopted by others as “cute,” but also useful. Many argue that Spanglish is wrong, but it’s simply another way to communicate and mos
