The Mexican American Experience, a radio program produced by the Longhorn Radio Network, includes interviews, music, and informational programs related to the Mexican American community and their concerns. Program summary: Linda Fregoso discusses Caló, the language of the Chicano barrios, and explores its history, usage and significance with Leticia Galindo, an anthropologist, and Mary Jane Espinoza, who grew up speaking the language. Fregoso explains that many people associate Caló, which is a mixture of standard Spanish, antiquated Spanish, and English, with criminals and pachucos. But Galindo's research shows that the language is as varied as the people who speak it. She explains that researchers date the language back to the 1930s when it became part of barrio culture, where its use ascribed identity and membership. She explains that although the Chicano movement helped revive and redeem the language, its speakers are still stigmatized. Many researchers perpetuate the idea that it is inferior, and many people, including some middle class Chicanos, associate Caló with drug abuse and poverty. Nonetheless, Galindo's research among Chicanas show that many professional and middle class Chicanas speak Caló. She found that many of the women felt their education and status gave them the confidence to speak Caló. However, few speak it in the work place, reserving the language for use with in informal settings with friends and family. Fregoso then speaks with Espinoza who explains that growing up her family spoke Caló and she gives examples of Caló words. Although her husband disapproves of her speaking Caló, she explains that it is an important part of who she is and she is teaching it to her children. Galindo then discusses the different situations her interview subjects believed it was appropriate to speak Caló. Keywords: Barrio Linguistics, Barrios, Caló, Chicano Movement, Chicanos in Higher Education, Cholas, Cholos, Criminals, Culture, Dances, Discrimination, Drugs, El Paso, Gangs, Gypsies, Language, Language Discrimination, Laredo, Leticia Galindo, Linda Fregoso, Linguistics, Los Angeles, Lowriders, Mary Jane Espinoza, Mexico, Middle Class, Pachucos, Patriarchy, Professionals, Prostitution, Racial Discrimination, Respect, Roma, Sexism, Slang, Southwest, Spain, Spanglish, Spanish, Status-markers, Stereotypes, Stigma, Subculture, Tex-Mex, The Roma, Working Class, Zoot Suiters. Broadcast date: 1982-03-12.
Creator/Contributor:
Longhorn Radio Network (creator), Fregoso, Rosa Linda. (host), Galindo, Leticia (interviewee), and Espinoza, Mary Jane (interviewee)
Date Created/Date Issued:
1982-02
Owning Repository:
Benson Latin American Collection, LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections, The University of Texas at Austin
sound recordings, grabaciones sonoras, radio programs, programas de radio, and Audio
Extent:
25 minutes, 17 seconds
Rights - Use and Reproduction:
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Language:
English
Place of Publication:
Austin (Tex.)
Topic:
Mexican Americans--Social life and customs, Mexicano americanos--Vida social y costumbres, Language and languages--Variation, Language revival, Mexican American Neighborhoods, and Discrimination in language