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Antonio Caballero
Jim Beatty
English 2030 - 001
13 Dec. 2015
The Offensive Language in Latino Community (Final Project)
The Spanish language is one of the most important in the world, and surely set the tone in
a few years formed a key element of academy, business and other areas in which languages can
be present. The Spanish is also known as "Castilian", by reference to Castile where they spoke
before its expansion to South America, and descends from the Latin Bulgar. He is currently the
second most spoken language in the world and the second most spoken in the United States.
Although some persons speak Spanish, there are certain words that belong to certain countries
because of their culture and customs. That's why Spanish is one of the most difficult languages to
learn because it has a very extensive meaning in his words, known as polysemy.
Every culture has its own customs that vary over time. That is the example of the
Spanish, because this is implemented in society as a form of expression that is subject to change,
presenting new proposals that are considered and accepted or not by the Royal Academy of the
Spanish Language (RAE). That is, creating a word based on a known, and adapt to a country to
be spoken and then registered in the RAE.
On this occasion, I bring an investigation of certain words in Spanish that are offensive in
some countries but not in others. To do this, I had to find two Latin communities with people
from different countries who speak Spanish. After 3 days of searching, I found two: the first is
called "Peer Mentoring Program: Una Mano Amiga" located in the Salt Lake Community

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College - South City Campus. In this program I found different Spanish people, like Argentines,
Bolivians, Peruvians, Mexicans, Ecuadorians and others. The second community has the same
name, but is located at the University of Utah. In this second program I found some Spanish
people, like Americans who speak Spanish, Mexican, Chilean, Cuban, Peruvian, Bolivian, etc.
These programs help people who do not understand certain subjects in college, like mathematics,
English, chemistry, physics and Spanish, as well as help using the official website of your
particular institution, like the official website of Salt Lake Community College, Canvas or the
official website of the University of Utah.
To communicate with them, I had to make 3 appointments in different days (1 in the U of
U and the rest on SLCC), because they are many people which need their help, especially
Hispanics. Complying with the established norm, I began at the SLCC - South City campus on a
Monday evening, hours in which it was quieter for them. To protect the identity of those
interviewed, letters and numbers as F1 or M1 will be put (meaning male or female), but I will
identify in the talks as A. In addition, for a better understanding of this research, I translate the
sentences except the offensive words, putting their significance after the words in quotes.
The first Hispanic is a girl, 23-year-old, architecture student, she was born in Argentina
and currently help in the area of history. She came to America at age 18, so she knows excellent
the Spanish in Argentina.
{Computer music, silent in her room}
F1: (Smile) Hey! Good afternoon (.) What is your name and what can I help you?
A: (Smiling also) Hi! My name is Antonio and I need your help on a research
work.

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F1: Okay, so tell me about your research work.

A: (A little nervous) My research is about the offensive language in Latino
Community (2) My goal is to try to understand how to despite speaking Spanish,
there are certain offensive words that can hurt someone unknowingly (.) So I need
you to help me telling some words in your origin country is offensive.
I must admit that this moment was uncomfortable for me to say that, because she can be
offended by my words. But her answer made my fear disappeared.
F1: (Surprised) Oh, ok, just let me think a moment to remember what words are
offensive in Argentina.
{The computer music ends and another begins}
F1: (A little serious) Ok I've got. For example, "cagon" means coward, "boludo"
means stupid or idiot, "pelotudo" means naive, among others (.) We can say that
we are very dirty mouth in Argentina, but what is offensive is the tone as they
say.
A: Oh, that sounds interesting (.) So tell me what do you (xxxxxx).
After getting this information, I try to change the subject so she would not be offended at the
"dirty mouth" and sits well with me. I must admit it is very difficult to obtain this type of
information when you meet a person for the first time, so for my second intervention I will be
more cautious with my questions.
{Laughing}
A: (xxxxxx) Well, its time to go (.) Thanks for your help.

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F1: (Smile) Ok Antonio (.) see you later!

A: BYE!
{Close the door}
The next student was surveyed in SLCC - South City campus on a Tuesday evening,
same hours as Monday. The second Hispanic is a man, 21-year-old, scientist student, he was born
in Mexico and currently help in the area of chemistry. She came to America at age 14 and speaks
fluent English and Spanish.
{Sound passage}
A: (Discreet) Sorry to interrupt but (.) Are you the chemistry tutor?
M1: (Smile) Of course my friend. Tell me, what can I help you?
A: Oh ok, I came here that you will explain to me how it is resolved (xxxxxx).
To not make the same mistake I made at the beginning with the Argentina, I try to gain
confidence with him to obtain some offensive words that are original in the midst of the
conversation.
{Laughing}
A: (xxxxxx) That was funny man. So tell me (.) Which words are offensive in
your country?
M1: (Smile) There are many offensive words my friend and usually people get
confused. For example: "Chingar" has different meanings depending on the
context in which you use it. If I say "Que chingados?" means WTF; "que
chingon" means thats cool; "chinga tu " and the name of someone in your

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family is an insult to them. There are also others like "wey" who are you
referring to talking (dude), "que cabron" meaning cool, "a huevo" meaning
well done, among others.
A: Interesting wey (xxxxxxx)
{Laughing}
This time I managed to be very discreet. But I could not continue asking that topic because it
would be highly suspicious for him. Besides if I said I wanted to do an interview, he could take
offense thinking that I was using all this time. So everything was fine.
The last appointment was at the University of Utah. But here I found 2 students who
helped in the area of biology. The appointment was for Friday afternoon because at that time I
have no classes in SLCC. The third Hispanic is a man (M2), 24-year-old, biology student, he was
born in Colombia. He came to America at age 19 and speaks a little English. The four Hispanic
is a girl (F2), 26 year-old, physic student, she was born in Uruguay. She came to America at age
17 so she speaks very good English and almost little Spanish.
{Sound of passage and people writing}
M2: (A bit serious) Oh! You must be Antonio. Who brought the appointment at
this time, right?
A: (Courage) thats right.
F2: (A bit impatient) So Antonio, What are you questions? Sorry for that direct
question but were a little busy.

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When the girl told me that, I have no other to tell them the question directly. It was
understandable because there were many people waiting to help and just, in that week, they were
in final exams and they were the ones who were teaching biology.
A: I need your help on a research about the offensive language in Latino
Community (.) My goal is to try to understand how to despite speaking
Spanish, there are certain offensive words that can hurt someone unknowingly
(.) So I need you to help me telling some words in your origin country is
offensive.
F2: (A little rushed) Well, I come from Uruguay and there are some offensive
words. For example: "chancho" means traffic police; "bocho" means head (2)
"mamado" means drunk (.) "Mariconear" means cry, and "morruga" means
marijuana.
A: And you sir (.) what offensive words do you know that are native to your
country?
M2: Ok Just let me think for a moment.
{Time passed and the girl went to buy something}
M2: Ok (2) I come from Colombia and these are some offensive words that are
original in my country. For example: "lichigo" it is stingy; "chevere" means
cool, everything is ok (2) "traga" means love (.) "Salar" means having bad
luck, and "vaca" means raising money.
A: Amazing. Thanks for your time. Bye.
M2: (Happy) See you!

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This is the end of the interviews. What I have seen is that the people I've asked have felt a
little uncomfortable, and it is understandable because it is not easy to get such information.
However, there are some words that in my original country, Peru, have different meanings, for
example: "cagon" means a person who annoys you a lot. "Pelotudo" means wanker. "Cabron"
means gay. "Chancho" is the pig. "Mariconear" means to become gay. And "vaca" means to
become lazy. There are other words retain their meaning as chevere or salar. It is very
interesting as, despite speaking the same language, have certain words that can unintentionally
offend our South American and Central American neighbor. And this is a custom they have in
their country because they had to spend a lot of time to get them used to that meaning. Is not
only the Spanish the only language presents the variety of words. For example Quechua is a
native language in South America that have different meanings of words. Quechua of Peru is not
exactly like the Quechua in Ecuador. Furthermore, some words are also different within the same
country, because in South America are three important regions: Costa, Sierra and Selva (coast,
sierra and jungle respectively). In the case of Peru, one person talks like jungle singing. In sierra
has more vocabulary for agriculture, and the coast is more focused in his tone. So, we can
conclude that if a person wants to know another country, you must first know your custom,
culture and tradition; and nothing beats that their language.