The term "Anglo"

[loborick]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

If it looks like a duck and talks like a duck...

An Anglo can be of Hispanic heritage. If their language and worldview (weltanschauung) are of the mainstream American variety (rather than the Spanish-Native culture of New Mexico) then why not.

Think of it this way, a person designated 'Hispanic' can be of African, Native American, or European descent.

So what makes them 'Hispanic' if they don't have an iota of Spanish blood? Their ancestors, whether from Bantu-speaking regions of West Africa, Mayan-speakers from Central America, or Italian-speakers from Italy at one point found themselves in a Spanish speaking society with a Spanish cultural heritage and customs. The West African in the Dominican Republic, the Mayan in Guatemala, the Italian in Argentina. These people adopted the Spanish language and customs and passed them on to their children. They may maintain African, Mayan, and Italian customs as well, but they are subsidiary to the dominant 'Hispanic' worldview.

I appreciate all the work you did here, however CAVA is right. You're making it way too complicated. Growing up here, if you're not hispanic, native american, asian, african american, you're anglo!

[ABQConvict]

OK, maybe, but where I work there was a Swedish girl who described herself as Anglo and was corrected by her Hispanic coworkers (who basically stated that only "white Americans" are Anglo). That was when I started giving serious consideration to to definition of the word both historically and contemporarily.

As a trained anthropologist and linguist, I admit I do tend to make these things complicated :-)

My last word on this is, if a New Mexican (regardless of heritage) wants to call a German-American an 'Anglo', that is one thing.

If that same New Mexican takes a trip to Germany and says, "This country is full of Anglos.", I will call them an idiot to their face.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

OK, maybe, but where I work there was a Swedish girl who described herself as Anglo and was corrected by her Hispanic coworkers (who basically stated that only "white Americans" are Anglo).

Assume she was an immigrant who spoke with an accent? I could see how a non-native English speaker could possibly be considered by some there a non-Anglo.

[catman]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

If that same New Mexican takes a trip to Germany and says, "This country is full of Anglos.", I will call them an idiot to their face.

I'd have to agree with you there! Saxons, perhaps, but not Anglos.