There are various terms in the English language that are used to refer and distinguish between ethnicity, identity, cultural differences, and diversities. Two such related words are Latino and Hispanic. Both the terms often seem confusing but refer to distinct cultures and parts of the world.
Latino vs Hispanic
The main difference between Latino and Hispanic is that Latino is used for people who belong or have a background of Latin America while Hispanic is used for people who belong or have a background of Spain or Spain speaking countries.
In the USA, adoption of the word by the government was done because they did not have any specific dumb to include, identify and segregate the mass of central and South America. The official adoption of the term Latino was in the year 1997 by the United States government. It is a wider term and includes various races in it.
On the other hand adoption of the word by the United States government was done during the administration of Richard Nixon. The term Hispanic is primarily used in the states like Texas and Florida. It is a narrower term and includes only Spanish and other Spain related people and cultures. The term Hispanicus was associated with a person who belong to Hispania during Roman rule.
Comparison Table Between Latino and Hispanic
What is Latino?
Latino is the term that refers to inhabitants of the United States who have a cultural background of Latin America. Latino is a masculine term while the feminine term of Latino is Latina. The word can be used as a form of an adjective as well as a noun. The limitation of the term is in the United States. Other American countries’ residents refer to themselves by national origin.
Latino acts as a loan word in the English language from American Spanish. Hence the derivation of the word is Latin-American Spanish. It also has an origin linked to the shortened version of latinoamericano. It was first used in the mid-19th century. The origin of Latino is also debated as of French origin from the term Amérique latine by Juan Francisco Martinez.
After the Mexican-American war, Latino was extensively used in the local California newspapers. Ape stylebook recommends using Latino for people with the ancestry of Spanish speaking and for people with Latin American ancestry which also includes Brazilians. Latino can also refer to Caribbean region people, however excluding people from Dutch, former French, and British colonies.
The official adoption of the term Latino was in the year 1997 by the United States government. There have been various attempts that have been made to bring changes in the general neutral forms of the term Latino. The U.S Census Bureau has had Haitians, Spaniards, and even other European romanophones like Portuguese included in the Latino community.
What is Hispanic?
Hispanic is the term that refers to culture people and countries which are related to Spain. The association with the Spain language is known as Hispanidad. The main cultural element of Hispanic people is the Spanish language. The spread of Hispanics is the Spain empire, Asia Pacific region, and even Africa.
The derivation of the word Hispanic is from the Latin word Hispanicus. The term has been attested in the English language since the 16th century. Words like Spaniard, Spain, and Spanish belong to the same terminology of Hispanicus. The term Hispanicus was associated with a person who belong to Hispania during Roman rule.
The people and culture of Hispania are also referred to by Hispano-Roman. The division of Hispania is mainly into provinces that are Hispania Ulterior and Hispania Citerior. Hispania ulterior was further divided into Hispania Baetica and Hispania Lusitania in 27 BC, and Hispania Citerior was just renamed as Hispania Tarraconesis without any subdivision into the province.
The flag of Hispanic people is a white banner that contains three purple crosses pattée and a Sun of the may which is in the motion of rising from behind the center one. The flag has been designed by Angel Camblor. Famous traditions of Hispanic people are Día de Muertos, Fiesta Quinceañera, Los Mariachis, Las Piñatas, Las Mañanitas and various other.
Main Differences Between Latino and Hispanic
- The usage of Latino is in the western portion of the United States while the usage of Hispanics is in the eastern portion of the United States.
- Latino is used for people who belong or have a background of Latin America while Hispanic is used for people who belong or have a background of Spain or Spain speaking countries.
- Latino does not include Spaniards and Filipinos while Hispanic includes Spaniards and Filipinos.
- Latino includes Brazil while Hispanic does not include Brazil.
- Latino has no inclusion of speakers of Romance languages while Hispanics have the inclusion of speakers of Romance languages.
Conclusion
Both the words Latino and Hispanic were introduced to distinguish people in terms of race, culture, ethnicity, and others. This identification has been adopted by governments of various parts of the world. However, various people find the terms Latino and Hispanic to be offensive. They prefer references of their true ethnic group like Colombian, Mexican, Bolivian, and others.
Both Latino and Hispanics have distinct differences and features. Both refer to different parts and include diverse and distinct cultures. Both have various traditions that are celebrated by the people of the culture. Knowledge about both the terms help in distinction and usage in proper context.
References
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0191453705052972