Re: [Marxism] Flaco?

[Juan Fajardo <fajardos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>  [...] In Spanish speaking coutnries I have lived in (Mexico,
> Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile), calling someone
> "flaco" or "gordo" or any other nickname based on physical characteristics
> doesn't have the quality of derision that such a nickname would have in
> English speaking countries, esp. the U.S.
>
> [...]
>  Paul


When I was studying and later working as a TA in Latin American Studies
at the University of California at Santa Cruz one of the readings that
was used in the introductory courses was Domitila Barrios de Chungara's
book, "Let Me Speak!".  In it, Barrios de Chungara narrates an episode
when she was trying to organize miners at Siglo XX, then one of
Bolivia's largest mining operations, and make them aware of the
situation of the women at Siglo XX.  Some responded by making
flirtatious comments and calling her "gordita".

In Spanish the word for fat (the physical shape, not the substance) is
"gordo" (masculine) and "gorda" (femenine), and the "-ito"/"-ita" suffix
is a diminutive.  "Gordo" and "Gorda" are used as nicknames, and
"Gordito" and "Gordita" are terms of endearment.

Unfortunately, the term "gordita" was translated as "Fatty", and when
that was read out one could hear the sudden intake of breath amongst the
non-Latin American students, especially the women.

I could never convince anyone that what Barrios de Chungara was
objecting to was not physical ridicule in the term "Gordita", for there
was none, but the unwarranted, unwelcome familiarity of it.   North
Americans, lacking distinctions of formal and informal language in
modern English and raised with North American notions of body image,
could simly not get past the the almost physical blow of "Fatty".

- Juan



_______________________________________________
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism