MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT SOUTH TEXAS SPANISH Dr. Lino Garca,Jr.

Throughout the decades, this author has been subjected to a variety and multiple miss-interpretations of South Texas Spanish , a term I enjoy and accept to describe, to understand, and to value the splendid use of the Spanish language by valley residents . Terms which I deem demeaning and designed to ridicule, as well as to devalue South Texas Spanish are: Tex-Mex, Pocho, Border Spanish, and Spanglish, none of which truly explains the linguistic phenomena that is close to the reality of this language first brought here by a crew of Spanish soldiers who landed on Texas soil on November 6, 1528. Before I venture into a more detailed essay, kindly allow me to state a few facts related to any language spoken in this world we all inhabit. First of all no language presently in use is devoid of intrusion by other languages, all suffer from the same mixture caused by invasions, by the mingling of cultures, and of the genes between humans that have occurred since the beginning of time. Thus, take away all the Greek, Latin, French, German words out of the present English language, and what we have left is words from the AngloSaxon linguistic trail. Since time has cemented the use of these words loaned to the English language, no one bothers to call it anything else but: English.

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The Spanish language was first developed in Spain from the common use of ordinary Latin spoken by the multitude, as opposed to the Classical Latin, spoken by the learned. This emerging Spanish, which occurred during the 10th. century A.D. , was also invaded by the Greek, Visigoth, Celtic, Hebrew, Basque, and Arabic languages as these groups also made their way into Spain, and thus what we now have is really a mixture of various languages brought to Spain before and during the Middle Ages when different ethnic groups penetrated the Iberian Peninsula B.C. and A. D. , with Latin being the predominant source . The Spanish language spoken in Spain during the time of the conquest and colonization of America in the 16th. century is what was brought to South Texas and other areas where this language is spoken. In this area we can still hear remnants of certain words that formed part of 16th. century Spanish lexicon , words that did not suffered certain evolutionary steps. They are archaic words long since disappeared, however, some still creep into normal Spanish conversation: such as: vide> vi ; ansina>as; truje>traje; muncho>mucho; and others. In certain areas of South Texas where Hispanic individuals of long generational standing reside we also sometimes hear certain Spanish sounds similar to ones still used in Spain. The reason is that while certain linguistic evolution occurred in the Spanish language in other parts of the world, it took a long time arriving here. Myth: residents of South Texas speak a non- acceptable language that is not at all close to the real Spanish, especially one called Castilian

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Spanish that is spoken in Spain. They are not truly bi-lingual because many do not know the grammar or how to properly write the Spanish language. Fact: Random College Dictionary states ( page 135) : bilingual: .. able to speak two languages..; and nothing is said about writing the language nor knowledge of grammar. Furthermore, all Spanish spoken anywhere in the world is standard Spanish and should be accepted as such. Secondly there is no such linguistic activity known as Castilian Spanish. It is purely an invention by individuals who sometimes lacked real knowledge of the Spanish language, and are prone to consider it more elegant than the Spanish spoken in the Americas. Obviously and due to locations far from the mother language, and influence by other languages, regions have developed regional words spoken or use only in certain areas or parts of the world, and that via time have become part of ordinary standard Spanish. This linguistic phenomena is true of all languages, and can also be applied to the English spoken in England, in the south, in New York, and in South Texas , and all have a regional usage, a sort of variety peculiar to the area. In fact, via many years of living In this area, and being sensitive to the use of languages, I have noticed a certain Spanish rhythm sometimes applied to the English used here by non-Hispanics. Simply living in an environment where Spanish is all around impacts the English language also. Does that make English any different from other parts, and should we call it anything else but English ? Absolutely NOT ! Both the English and

4.) Spanish languages are traveling via a normal linguistic patterns strictly established by users everywhere in the world since the beginning of time Myth: all Hispanics in the Southwest USA speak what some individuals call Tex-Mex or Spanglish. Some people, especially those who have little knowledge of Spanish make this illogical, missInformed , and totally negative assumption and nothing is farther from the truth. Fact: in South Texas there are various levels of Spanish linguistic abilities, similar to any other language spoken in the world. The Spanish spoken in South Texas is mostly a speaking/comprehension ability, since there are few occasions to write anything in Spanish; and the speaking /comprehension component is done at various levels of performance reflecting the persons level of education, awareness, and immersion. Thus, one can meet someone with a high level, a middle or a low level of speaking Spanish. Other levels include individuals who possess all abilities , again at different levels of performance such as : comprehension, reading, and writing abilities. Throughout the years I have taught countless classes in Spanish Composition and Grammar at UTPA to a great number of South Texas students, the great percentage of whom have succeeded, and have shown excellent ability to write decent paragraphs, and long essays in the standard Spanish. In fact I have compared some of our M.A. thesis

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to several written in Spains universities, and I have found that our UTPA students do well or above expectations using the Spanish language. Having been born and raised in South Texas, I also count myself as having written both my M.A. thesis at the University of North Texas, and my Ph.D dissertation at Tulane University, both works entirely in Spanish, and accepted by eminent professors at these highly respected institutions of higher learning. Myth: some South Texas parents of Hispanic origin want their children to learn Spanish first and then English as a second language. Fact: not so! The majority of people who have school age children are demanding that their children be taught the language of the USA as the primary language. Reason ? Gone are the days when Hispanic parents merely dreamed of having their sons and daughters finish high school. 21st. century Hispanic parents are demanding that their children be well prepared for professions as teachers, medical doctors, specialists, attorneys, engineers, pharmacists, and other high paying professions, and these same parents know and understand fully that a perfect knowledge of the English language is essential for a successful professional life in the USA. One would demand the same were we living in France, as knowledge of the French language is then essential for success in that country. However, knowledge of the Spanish language, especially in South Texas, is of the upmost importance and highly necessary. One can achieve both, if schools impart them at an early age in the students academic life.

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Myth: we should teach only an acceptable Spanish that reflects what is spoken in Spain and other countries where the real Spanish is used. Fact: there is no real or acceptable good Spanish. We can only hope to approach a certain level of excellence, due to the fact that the everyday struggles of language usage insists that we attain a certain level of acceptability depending always on the situation at hand , on how we deal with the give and take of language, and of being true to certain models offered to us as linguistic guides. All is standard Spanish with various tinges of regional words, phrases, and intonations developed via many years of contact with other cultures. Every language known has traveled via this historical road for centuries. Lets accept what the student brings to the classroom, built on that linguistic ability, develop it, and teach various levels of language abilities, depending on the situation that the student will meet along his/her path. Prepare the student for all eventualities in his/her encounters with life, but never diminishing any aspect or level of any language that is already built into the students repertoire. Myth: only Hispanic individuals speak openly the Spanish language. Fact: not so ! Many non-Hispanics of long generational status , especially in South Texas, openly and proudly speak Spanish at all levels. This was particularly true around 1825 and after when the authorities in Mexican controlled Texas invited northerners to settle in this state by offering them four thousand acres of land to bring their families, with the provision that all learn and speak the Spanish

7.) language. The empresario Esteban F. Austin himself not only spoke Spanish fluently, and signed his name as Esteban, but insisted that all of his colonists that he brought into this state in 1824 learn the Spanish language as essential for living in Texas. Thus, the historical circle has met its point of origin, since Hispanics are poised to become an eminent force in the social, cultural, and political arenas during the 21st. century, they will bring to its fruition a true , an essential, and proud bilingual society, where both the English and Spanish languages are equally given the status they both deserve. Proceed ! Brownsville native Dr. Lino Garca,Jr., is an 8th. generation Tejano. He holds the chair of Professor Emeritus of Spanish Literature at UTPA and can be reached at : LGarcia@UTPA.Edu