Examples of Chicano English Vernacular

Ling 102/WI Introduction to the Study of Language
Examples of Chicano English Vernacular
From Locks on Nuestras Bocas: The Chicano Cultural Identity as a Result of History
by Sarah Ramirez, online at http://www.nd.edu/~frswrite/mcpartlin/2002/ramirez.shtml
Exampe 1: A scene in My Family, Mi Familia presents examples of Spanglish in a
conversation between Chucho and Jimmy.
Chucho: Y mi jefita? Como esta?
Jimmy: She’s been cryin’ a lot.
Chucho: Y mi jefe? Que dice?
Jimmy: Nada. Dad never says nothing.
Chucho: Tell ‘em que … nevermind.
Jimmy: Well, hasta manana.
In Standard English, they would have said:
Chucho: And my mom? How is she?
Jimmy: She’s been cryin’ a lot.
Chucho: And my dad? What does he say?
Jimmy: Nothing. Dad never says nothing.
Chucho: Tell them that … nevermind.
Jimmy: Well, until tomorrow.
In Standard Spanish, the conversation would have been:
Chucho: Y mi madre? Como esta?
Jimmy: Llora mucho.
Chucho: Y mi padre? Que dice?
Jimmy: Nada. Nunca dice nada.
Chucho: Dile que … olvidalo.
Jimmy: Bueno, hasta manana.
Example 2: Author Sarah Ramirez describes a normal conversation with her mother :
"Ama, are you gonna take me to la escuela or no?
Porque I have to be there pa’ una meeting de Student
Council. Si no me quieres llevar, I can always ask Papi.
Es que, I gotta be there ahorita. So, por favor, hurry up!"
Had Sarah spoken to her in Standard English, she would have said:
"Mom, are you gonna take me to the school or not?
Because I have to be there for a Student Council
meeting. If you don’t want to take me, I can always
ask Dad. It’s just that I have to be there now. So, please,
hurry up!"
Hurley Fa07
Ling 102/WI Introduction to the Study of Language
On the contrary, if Sarah could speak Standard Spanish, she would have said:
Mama, me vas a llevar a la escuela o no? Tengo
que estar alli para una reunion del consejo de Estudiantes.
Si no me quieres llevar, le puedo preguntar a mi papa.
Lo que pasa es que tengo que estar alli hora mismo.
Asi que, por favor apurate!"
Hurley Fa07