In a WIP set in the U.S., I have several characters whose first language is Spanish and who are immigrants themselves or fairly recent ancestors were immigrants.
Is there a correct choice between calling them Hispanic vs Latino? I see it both ways and do not wish to insult anybody. i don't remember the details, but remember that Dan Quayle caused a stir by saying they should not be called Latin Americans because they don't speak Latin.
Hispanic applies to people from Spanish speaking countries, while Latino applies to anyone from Latin America. Brazilians are Latino, but not Hispanic. Around Phoenix, AZ, there are some of the Mexicans that do not like one or the other of the terms and will correct you.
That was supposed to be the asexual term, but ask any Latino or Latina, and they will tell you that they are not asexual, but highly sexual.
The Mexican migrant workers in my area preffer Hispanic but we do have a very proud 3rd generation Cuban Latino women who is a Farrier. If your really want to watch action sit back and see this latino who works with a hammer and anvil go off if she is in the belief that someone is abusing an animal reputation uphelled.
There are people who will Pretend to be "Offended" by almost anything! There is no satisfying them!
"Hispanic" typically refers to people from Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. However, more than 250,000,000 (Two Hundred Fifty Million people from those areas Don't speak Spanish; many speak Portuguese. Some speak other languages, including Welsh)
Spaniards prefer to be termed Spanish, or European, and most would be offended to be referred to as "Hispanic" (I have witnessed this multiple times). People from the Philippines, the most common language is Tagalog, or English; although at one time they were part of "New Spain, as was Mexico. Filipinos (and Filipinas) don't like being called "Hispanics" even if they speak Spanish. This is true for people from the Cape Verde Islands, and even Puerto Rico.
Latino seems to be the least controversial choice; as long as it is applied to people from the Western Hemisphere. Even then, some folks don't like it. Many Argentinians prefer to call themselves "Europeans" (or at least they did in the 1970's and 1980's, and before. I don't know if that is still the case.) Some other peoples, in particular those of Mayan, and similar pre-Columbian peoples have different preferences (often linked to domestic Political matters).
College professors, and some perpetual students in the USA, Canda, and Europe, have their own peccadillos...
I mostly use Latino, unless a character differentiates by using Hispanic. In particular, if I am using a "public figure" who has publicly identified as Hispanic; or if the term was common in the era my story is set.
"Chicano" and to a different degree "Tejano" have specific meanings, at least to certain sub-groups.
Tejano specifically refers to people of Mexican descent living in South Texas. While Chicano refers to a male of Mexican descent.
That is what I indicated in my post.
Furthermore, "Chicano" is a Political movement, mostly in California, Arizona, and New Mexico (as well as some other areas); primarily, but not exclusively on university campuses.
I have alos heard "Chicano" used for "workers rights" male and female, primarily related to agricultural workers; in particular "seasonal" "cross-border" or illegal/"undocumented" agricultural workers.
"Hispanic" typically refers to people from Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
We Europeans also sometimes use it as an aggregate for the population of Spain and Portugal.
AJ
We Europeans also sometimes use it as an aggregate for the population of Spain and Portugal.
(... and thereby annoy both Spaniards and Portuguese - neither of whom like being lumped with the other, in my experience. "Iberian", perhaps?)
and thereby annoy both Spaniards
Good! They always give us nul points in the Eurovision Song Contest.
and Portuguese
Not good. They're our traditional allies.
AJ