So I've done a little research and am so confused why they don't still speak spanish. They were a colony of Spain for about as long as Mexico was (300 years) but mexicans still speak spanish. And why in the heck is english an official language?
Also do they plan on making spanish their official language again (like it was once). Are they doing anything about it?

I live in El Paso where the population is predominantly mexican, i have been trying to get a job for weeks, but every job i apply for i get turned down because im not billingual. i have two kids to feed and the bills keep coming. it makes me so angry. why cant they get out and live in thier own country? they could make it like america if they like it here so much. im sure mcdonalds would open up a chain down there.
i dont think you idiots understand that in america the official language is english. and just because mexicans invaded shouldnt mean that i have to learn thier language to work.

Why do people say Puerto Ricans speak a "Ghetto Spanish" compared to Mexicans?
I hear people say that Puerto Ricans and many other Island Countries in the Caribbean speak the Spanish language in a "Ghetto" way as opposed to Mexicans who speak Spanish in a Clear and understandable way.

Can someone explain why people say this?

Why do people say Puerto Ricans speak a "Ghetto Spanish" compared to Mexicans?
I hear people say that Puerto Ricans and many other Island Countries in the Caribbean speak the Spanish language in a "Ghetto" way as opposed to Mexicans who speak Spanish in a Clear and understandable way.

Can someone explain why people say this?

I feel they say a lot of wrong stuff like abuja for aguja- rompido for roto, nadien for nadie and that's just for starters!
pityakk- they do not speak "a different sort of spanish" tons of their words aren't even found in the freaking dictionary!
asaih- your a moron Spanish is Spanish incorrect spanish is spoken by fools- got it?
Just as english must be spoken correctly or others will deem you a fool!
Hurry- correct english , correct german, correct french and correct spanish THAT MEANS NO INVENTED WORDS THAT DON'T EXIST!
Mona- that's my point lack of freaking simple elementary education!
Mona- that's my point lack of freaking simple elementary education!
Mona- that's my point lack of freaking simple elementary education!
Mona- that's my point lack of freaking simple elementary education!
Mona- that's my point lack of freaking simple elementary education!
Mona- that's my point lack of freaking simple elementary education!
Mona- that's my point lack of freaking simple elementary education!
Mona- that's my point lack of freaking simple elementary education!
Mona- that's my point lack of freaking simple elementary education!
zola- I'm a beautiful latina with european ancestry. I speak both languages perfectly without an accent--love your mex. so much go back and stay there.
Lahooto- that isn't true all my latin american brothers and sister Peru, Equador, Columbia, Spaniards, Venezulans, Argentinian, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and many MORE speak correctly except these us mexicans!
pitty- The Spaniards invaded and colonized EVERY Latin American country! and we're not crying about it like the mex.
Lahi- Caribbean spanish have a different way of pronouncing they drop their s's just like east coasters- EVERY SPANISH COUNTRY HAS A DISTINCNT WAY OF SPEAKING
BUT, correct usage of simple vocabulary is BASIC- It's basic spanish period.

I see in these boards that Puerto Ricans or Native Americans get offended for being called Mexican??

Jennifer Lopez is Puerto Rican and she got famous playing the part of a Mexican named Selana.

Esai Morales played who is Puerto Rican played the part of a mexicans brother in the movie "La Bamba."

Erik Estrada played the part of a Mexican in the Los Angeles PD called Chips

Lou Diamond Phillips who is native american got famous for playing the part of a Mexican name Richie Valens in La Bamba.

Some native americans played the part of Mexican/Guatemalan indians in Mel Gibson's movie Acapolicto.

And then they get offended for being called mexicans??

In Florida, all the spanish speaking people are Cubans and carribeans but, Mexicans take the blame because people think that because they speak spanish they are mexican.

Why can't mexicans be allowed to play the part of mexicans in Hollywood movies??

Hola.
When people refer to the U.S.A. as a Culture. That culture is rooted on several other cultures, like the Mormons, the Jews, the Pilgrims, The Dutch, the Germans, the Italians, the Rusians,,,( you name it).
But in the SouthWest were also the Germans, the Portuguese, the Russians, the Armenians, the Irish, the Mexicans, the Spanish colonization was a melting pot as well.
If you hate indigenous people, or poor people , just say it... But don't mix concepts like Mexican ( Nation ) with racial, ethnic or other issues that are politically incorrect.
Ciao.
Mexican immigrants and Mexican-American U.S Citizens are loyal to the USA, but Proud of their cultural/ethnic/linguistic/heritage.. Do u agree with this?
The South West from Texas to California was rooted on Mexican-Spanish colonies.
Those Colonies are also the history, root, and identity of the USA in the West Coast.

We are America
American Society: Who are they? Think about what I wrote above... then rethink about american Society. Who needs more to assimilate into whom? People on you or you on the people?

We are America
The Social Classes:

Yes indeed... Aztecs exploited Chichimecas. Mexicans exploited Aztecs. Spainsh exploited Mexicans. other were also exploited like the Jews by the Egyptians, the Africans by the New Yorkers, etc...

At least not all countries practiced Slavery.
Cheap labor force is needed, but those cheap labor workers deserve more dignity... and that's all about. Equal Human and Civil Rights.
Your Culture is my Culture. It is Ours. We created opur Culture together. E Pluribus Unum.

We are America & United We Stand, unless if you have problem with that!
We are. But among US stand Out The Mexicans.... I know many other hispanic minorities like Cubans or Puerto ricans are jealous about that.
But don't worry U are also Latinos and Hispanos, and you are also Americans, like the Mexican Americans.
We Are.

We are America

Because some people ask me what part of mexico are you..just because i look latina and i speak spanish! i don't get mad at all...they could call me watever they want idc....but who thinks all latinos are mexicans??

Hello.
I am looking at learning Spanish for when i go to the USA in March 2008.
Now i am going to California and i am wanting to learn Spanish.
Now i have a few questions.

1 - Is Latin American Spanish the same as Latin Spanish and Mexican Spanish ?

2 - What is the best audio cd for me to learn american spanish (mexicans etc) i have over a year to learn so something what is going to get me extremly knowledgable.

3 - I heard the Rosetta Stone software for latin american spanish is good but i also heard that after it you wont be able to have a conversation with anyone.

Thanks
hey Cra added u to msn then

Now i got told that latin american spanish and mexican spanish is the same correct ?

That its just a form of spanish.

In that case i have got told theres a couple of good audio cd's.

Michel Thomas - Spanish
Pimsluer - Spanish

I dont mind paying the money as i realy wanto learn so yer

The reason I said Mexican Spanish specifically is because I know people usually use torta/tarta but I heard a Chilean refer to a pie just as "pie" and it makes me think Mexicans most likely do too.

I've noticed a lot of Mexican-Americans (either born and raised in the US or came to the US as a baby) are damn good at Spanish and can downright switch from an American accent in English to a Mexican accent in Spanish. But do they ever get so good they can fake out real Mexicans?

Im chilean, And im really sick of being called mexican, There's nothing wrong about being mexican, but im just not from that country, I dont look mexican, but people think that just because I speak spanish Im Mexican, I hate that.
when they ask me where are u from I say chile and they always say something stupid like is that northern or southern mexico?
Why do they classify everyone who speaks spanish as HISPANIC??? an hispanic person can be White,black, mestizo, and even asian! .. I don't get why americans call themselves europeans, if they are americans... I know that they are of european descent.. but isnt everyone in this continent of european descent?? If a south american or central american calls itself white or european, americans say no you are mexican,,, why are they so stupid? I dont mean to offend anyone but why do americans think the way they do about spanish speaking people?
yeah I agree mexicans are indians IM NOT thats what bother me the most!

A lot of us mexicans are descendants of spanish creoles that were born in Mexico since the 1600's and 1700's. Father Hidalgo is a Spanish Creole who united the mexicans indians, spanish born mexicans and mulattos(mestizos) to form our country of Mexico and all are categorized as Mexican (Spanish Creole, Mestizos, Indians, and recent europeans, blacks or asian immigrants).

People in these yahoo posts argue as to what were suppose to look like. They watch the telenovelas and ask why are there only white mexicans?? There are dark mexican actors like Paty Monterola, Angelica Rivera, Fernando Calunga and more. But they are good looking and they overlook them.

I don't like it when people argue as to what are we suppose to look like and make stereotypes. I find myself having to explain what we are suppose to look like.

I went to a Mexican restaurant the other day and the guy was asking me all these questions, but I couldn't exactly understand him. He mixed it all up in English and Spanish, so I couldn't figure it out. I had to keep asking him, "what?". It was so embarrassing.

Nothing against Mexicans, I was just so confused and didn't understand why he assumed I knew Spanish.

There are so many countries that are spanish speaking why do most think it's only Mexico?
there's Spain, Honduras, El salvador, panama, guatemala, argentina, colombia, venezuela, peru, domincan republic, puerto rico(part of US) ecuador, chile, and many more.
p.s. many from these countries come to the US illegally too not only Mexicans.

I have a real problem and im pretty sure alot of other people might have it to. I agree with having rights here that is why we live in this country. But how can people come to this country and not even try to learn english. Im not just tlaking about latinos im talking about all immigrants. Whether it be polish or mexican or russian. I walked into a store in Chicago recently and couldnt find an address. I asked for help and nobody spoke english everybody just spole polish and it drove me crazy. They all looked at me like I was crazy and didnt belong there.
You can live a decent life functioning here in the States unless you learn the language.
My mother come from Mexico legally and struggled to learn english because she knew she had to in order to be successful.
Like Governer Schwarenegger said, and i totally agree. If you want to learn english you have to turn off the spanish language channels.
Input please?
For you viva la raza people, i am not segregating just the latinos so shove that La Raza Cochinada where the sun dont shine. Of course im not tlaking about people that just got here either. Dont be stupid im not expecting them to learn over night. DUH. Im talking about people who come here and live here and dont even try to learn and belevie they dont have to. My grandmother was like this.
If you love La Raza so much help our own people to get better and become more successful. And not live in ignorance and poverty. You cannot be a success in this country without learning english.
and the chick with the name
Mexicans are the best
is a troll.

SHOULD THE MEXICANS LAURN TO SPEAK ENGLISH BEFORE THEY ARE ALLOWED IN THE USA?

I hear people say that Puerto Ricans and many other Island Countries in the Caribbean speak the Spanish language in a "Ghetto" way as opposed to Mexicans who speak Spanish in a Clear and understandable way.

Can someone explain why people say this?

I know that they are differnt dialects and I noticed some of the mexicans at my old job had some difficulty conversing with the south american spanish speaking people. I speak Moderate Mexican-Spanish not fluent and was wondering if that would get me by in spain, Travelling mind you not trying to work or anything

i find this very racist.
people think anyone who speaks spanish is mexican! what the flu ck? whats the deal with mexicans? why dont you think about salvadorian? columbian? guatemalan? etc..
people think if your hispanic you are "MEXICAN" JUST EXPLAIN TO ME WHY PEOPLE THINK HISPANIC PEOPLE ARE "MEXICAN"

Funny but it's true.

I excempt Mexicans to this question, because majority of them thats are illegal can't really speak proper English. And I know the prejudice of Mexicans would react harshly.
JOEANDHISGUITAR - Good point! We don't really know who are the illegals...they could be our bosses, our neighbor (might actually own a bigger house than ours), co-workers, employees (that might actually be more competent than the your legal employee)
LADIB812 - I think you have a reading comprehension problem. You do not have an arguement, so please stop your nonsensical answer. I wouldn't differ you from those people that has shallow minds. You obviously did not understand the question correctly.

There are mostly Mexicans in my town, and I do love Latina women as well as Asian and White Women, I'm Mainly Irish, quarter Japanese, but look White like Italian, and I only speak and understand English, and lately the girls I've been hanging out with are Mexican and speak both Spanish and English

A Mexican restaurant without mexican culture is not really mexican. So let's say, as many Americans want, that all mexicans assimillated into English and american culture. Then there's no mexican food anymore. It's just copy cat plastic tacos.. No mexican music, no mexican people speaking spanish .. Kind of like TACOBELL.

Tacobell is not mexican at all. although tacos are a mexican thing. But taco bell doesn't have any of that mexican flavor.

Seem here in Green Bay,Wis the Mexicans are doing nothing but causing trouble.Driving around in there brand new suvs.Plus they should make all these people speak english.

Do people who live along the coast in Mexico have a lot of the same mannerisms of Californians above them? It would be so hot to meet a Spanish speaking Mexican guy who surfs. None of the Mexicans I know right now in Cali do that. I want to meet a guy who surfs for some reason because it reminds me of my dad and I always grew up at the beach watching my dad surfing.

im spanish so does that mean im the same as mexicans??
people i meant, are they the same type of ethnic backgroung, same race?

Today, a large pickup truck pulls up in my backyard and five Mexicans jump out of the truck with machetes and tank sprayers. I go outside and ask, “What’s up”. They just look at me, and one of them says something in Spanish.

Well there’s a Wisteria vine on my power pole, which I had planted a few years ago and an Elm tree nearby. This guy starts to whack on the vine with a machete, and another heads for my Elm tree and I yell at them. Then a sixth guy comes out of the drivers seat, says something and the whacking stops.

The driver walks over to me and he could barely speak any English. But he said he was working for the power company and he’s supposed to cut everything you know?

I said “ No, I don’t know, where’s your papers?” He says he doesn’t know. So’ I told him to get the hell off my property.

Later on, different truck pulls up and at least this Mexican can speak some decent English. He say’s, their supposed to trim the trees and brush along the power line. There are no markings on any of these vehicles and he doesn’t have any work orders either.

So, I tell him to shove off, he says I got to let him do it. I tell him call the cops, as he doesn’t have any work orders. Well, he left and it’s been 4 hours, no cops and no paper work.

Would you have done the same thing?
To those emailing me that I’m a racist. My current wife is part Algonquin Indian, the first wife was one quarter black (she died), and my son in law is Mexican. I have a foster brother that came from South Korea and my various in-laws are Mexican, African, and Iranian. So, you don’t know me, please, don’t make jackass assumptions, that I’m racist.

These guys had no ID’s and they were hacking plants that didn’t require trimming.

Guess what, we are here for opportunity. My people will learn eventually. My parents learned in time when they came to the U.S and they are now succesfull.

There are other spanish speaking Latinos to worry about. Also, check out the Spaniards. They're white and they speak Spanish. In fact, because of their conquests years ago in Latin America, Mexicans speak spanish because their ancestors were forced to learn by the Spaniards. The Spaniards were the first Spanish speakers just like the British were the first English speakers.

By the way, I'm not racist. In fact, I hope to visit Spain someday as well as Japan.

Also, not all Mexicans are brown. I'm white skinned. A lot of people have thought that I'm not Mexican until I start talking like one.

By the way, I learned in James Clavell's Shogun that language is the key to survival in any country.

VIVA LA RAZA!
By the way, I was born an American citizen thus making me Mexican-American. I'm not an immigrant. My parents have been American citizens for 4 or 5 years now. I helped them study for their exams.

Guess what, we are here for opportunity. My people will learn eventually. My parents learned in time when they came to the U.S and they are now succesfull.

There are other spanish speaking Latinos to worry about. Also, check out the Spaniards. They're white and they speak Spanish. In fact, because of their conquests years ago in Latin America, Mexicans speak spanish because their ancestors were forced to learn by the Spaniards. The Spaniards were the first Spanish speakers just like the British are the first English speakers.

By the way, I'm not racist. In fact, I hope to visit Spain someday as well as Japan.

Also, not all Mexicans are brown. I'm white skinned. A lot of people have thought that I'm not Mexican until I start talking like one.

By the way, I learned in James Clavell's Shogun that language is the key to survival in any country.

VIVA LA RAZA!

Teddy Roosevelt defeated the evil empire of Nicuragua and some mexicans. he also killed a mexican with his bare hands. was he not a better president than Reagan? Reagan never killed a mexican with his bare hands. Reagan cheated When he tried to stop the awesome power of the Nicuraguan empire that, in addition to being 'ten days marching distance from Texas', was also evil. Compared to T. Roosevelt Reagan was a complete douchebag.

For some reason Americans only tell mexicans to speak english but its ok for muslims, chinese, portuguese and even spaniards to speak their language. WHY????

La Jornada
April 19, 1998
by Jose Agustin Ortiz Pinchetti

During the last 100 years, the racism in Mexico has shown 3 characteristics: 1) it has slowed the process of modernization; 2) it has contributed to the dissolution of public consciousness 3) it has damaged the moral assets of the nation.

1. During the Porfiato nobody hindered the subsistence of the racial social structure, or the heritage of colonization, and Mexico was pledging to overcome these things by "whitening" itself. From here the government was trying to directly structure itself around the descendants of the European colonists.

Today racism still subsists in Mexico as it did during the beginning of the 20th century and before during the period of colonization, all the while hindering the modern growth of its populace. There are indications of growth such as the increase in literacy, the expansion of elemental education, electrification, the introduction of telephone services and the Internet, laser computers, radios, televisions, etc... Mexicans, however, not only live with discrepancies of incomes directly correlating with race, but also live with the rest of the inequalities that are linked to the caste system present here. The original criollo (direct Spanish descendants) structure still has a hegemonic position within Mexico.

Some have defended the status quo, talking of how the racial mobility of Mexico has dramatically increased during this century. But as soon as they have the opportunity to proclaim the implicit supremacy of the "white race" in the process of promoting the sales of products and services, they never hesitate to do so.

2. Our racism is not up for debate. There is no political official to denounce it, confront it, or overcome it, and of course, this in no way worries the elite. The classical studies of Vasconcelos, Ramos, and Molina Enriquez aren't circulating. Santiago Ramirez makes a freudian interpretation and speaks of our inferiority complex in the face of Europe, without realizing that this inferiority complex exists independently amongst Mexicans as a result of the racism present here. The study about the correlation between income and race done by Jose Iturriaga was an important study that was never followed or expanded upon. Bonfil Batalla has a book, "Mexico Profundo" that takes a look at some of the race issues in Mexico, but it has only stimulated a little interest. The official position is not so much one based on support of the Mestizo, but one based on the continuation of criollo dominance. The presence of an increasingly angry indigenous consciousness has unfortunately not led to a greater level of consciousness for the dominant class.

3. The worst damage as a result of the racism present in Mexico is the psychological and cultural damage. Agustin Basave in Mexico Mestizo, describes the results of the imposition of culture on the identity and improvement of Mexico . He points to the contempt of the achievements of the national culture, and the embrace of western culture, particularly that of North America. He continues by indicating that this attitude is impeding Mexico from making the necessary synthesis away from our racism, and creating internal security for ourselves. This embrace of western culture, according to Basave, is also breaking our internal images, and generating unequal dualities, making it nearly impossible to create a true national project. In total the racism present in Mexico, along with the embrace of western culture is dividing and debilitating our nation.

It is very difficult to attack the racism inherent in Mexican culture when those that suffer from it, mainly mestizos, seen to be accomplices in the process of discrimination. But it is possible to go at the dissolution of racism from a different angle. Of great importance is to accept that we suffer from racism in this country as a result of the caste system. It is absolutely necessary that the government and intellectual side of Mexico promote the expansion of this consciousness. They should prohibit the use of commercials in Mexico that promote racial dominance, or at the very least modify what already exists. Also of importance is to change the informal education system, particularly that which offers access to different types of media, such as books, newspapers, radio and television. They should all be attempting to create a type of race consciousness that directly goes at the problem of racism in Mexico.

The decadence of the public education system is currently greatly contributing to the augmentation of racism throughout Mexico. In private universities, the criollo population is being educated and taught to control the media for the particular reason of maintaining their dominance. Vicente Fox recently declared that the slowly increasing access to education for all, is at the root of the continuation and spread of racist ideology. This t

Why is it that Mexicans in Tijuana speak English but in San Diego they cant? As soon as I came back into the United States, none of them could speak English. Do they only send the dumb ones to the US????

Im 16 and and my friend mike always corrects me when i say im not bilingual and i speak American... Is he stupid or something? Of course I speak American! just like Mexicans speak Mexican, or English people speak English or how Indians speak Indians!!! How should I tell him that he isnt a bright boy? only serious answers please.

Whenever I hear that accent (Castillian I think it's called), I can't help but think that the Spanish are fruitbags. They sound queer, don't they? Whereas, Mexican Spanish sounds masculine and it's often evenly paced. Do Mexicans think lowly of the Spanish because of their gay accent? And do you think it's justifiable to say that Spanish no longer belongs to the Spanish if it sounds so corrupt and wacky like how they pronounce it?