jerezano
Aug 22, 2009, 4:55 PM
Post #22 of 52
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Hello all,
This discussion seems to be what to call us Americans. Not about what to call Mexicans.
The proper term for Méxican citizens is Mexicano or Mexicana. And that is what they call themselves unless they prefer to name their State or their municipio (county). Or perhaps their ancestral people. For example I am a Jerezano de Corazón.
Now as to us from North of the border we are either Americanos, Americanas, or Canadiense. If we wish to confuse the Mexicanos/as we can say Gringo, Bolillo, or Gabacho, or Caucasian or what have you. But then they don't know where we are from. They assume automatically that most of us are from the United States, but they can't be sure.
On Méxican government paper work the Méxican Government prefers Estadounidense. Or at least they prefer that here in Zacatecas. Although from time to time I have seen Americano/a.
Now as to whether Gringo, Gabacho, Bollilo, or some other word is "despectivo" or pejorative or just bad taste to use, it all depends upon the context and the tone of voice. If any of those words has "pinche" in front of it you can either consider it an insult or a complement depending upon how well you know the speaker and the tone of voice. If written the context. The same can be said of the word bastard--which means illegitimate. The word bastard appears quite often in historical tomes about English royalty.
In Northern México particularly around the Texas border where I am from, the word Mexicanos/as use among themselves and when talking to me about Gringos or to me is Gringo--which means foreigner, nothing more.
I am told that in California, particularly in Orange County, those Mexicanos/as prefer Gabacho--which means awkward or ungraceful, nothing more.
Bolillo is used occasionally here by some Mexicanos/as and I have no idea where that is used most often. Of the three names Gringo, Gabacho, Bollilo I prefer Gringo, Bollilo, Gabacho in that order. But that is personal preference. Bolillo of course means the white flour bun, nothing more.
Now as to Estados Unidos Mexicanos, this country, our host country, has been known as México since first colonized by the Spaniards way back in the 1530's. So México has preempted the Nueva Espána which was used for a short time. It is indelibly tied to the country and if you ask any Mexicano/a their nationality, that is what they will say. The Estados Unidos Mexicanos were not created until sometime in the early l800's, probably with the constitution of 1817. I would have to look that up. So the United States of America preempted the term Estados Unidos in the 1770's. In fact the Mexican constitution was based largely on our own constitution as well as being stimulated by the French Revolution which led to the War of Independence in the early 1800's.
Now when nitpickers of North American or South American nativity complain about the term Americano/a the answer is simply: Of course you are right, but you do know now what country I am from don't you? And wasn't that what you wanted to know?
But getting back to personal preferences. Do what you think best in the ambient you are in.
jerezano.
(This post was edited by jerezano on Aug 22, 2009, 5:49 PM)
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