Puerto Ricans hostile and insular to non-latinos??? (home, find a job)

[NooYowkur81]

OP, interesting thread, and I do believe there is something to what you are saying. A lot of people in PR have a bit of a chip on their shoulder because of their commonwealth status. I wouldn't go as far as saying they are hostile. What you described is more like a quirk. Something to get used to when your there. You know when in Rome....

[cubiche]

Originally Posted by tropical87

Hi,
I've just got back from 7 months in Cuba as part of my Spanish language studies. I was going to complete the year there but due to family obligations was forced to postpone the time left. I would like to return to the Caribbean, but was thinking of PR instead of Cuba. However, I have been put off by various comments from people saying that the PRs are insular and will refuse to speak any Spanish to a non-native speaker as they are very proud of their bilingualism and English skills. A lonely-planet book also confirmed this, saying it is a complex that exists in PR "to make people feel foreign and excluded". I haven't known any PRs, but would be interested in your comments.

I'm Cuban and have been to PR and found no probems with speaking English or Spanish with Ricans. Culturally they're very similar to Cubans and in fact a lot of Cubans settled there after the revolution.

[Marieluna]

It all depends as how u are with us. If u say you wanna learn more spanish you just have to ask. If the person does know english and he answers in english is because is easier for communications. If u find a person that doesnt answer in english is because he is afraid to say it wrongly that's all. Also we mix both languages a lot so its kind of hard not been able to speak in english.

We are very proud, but that doesnt make us hostile. Like everything it depends who you get to have a chat with and in which city you are. In San Juan is mandatory to know both languages to perfection basically since the tourist land their. If you do visit just go to other parts of the island and dont stay in the metro area.

[nycricanpapi]

Originally Posted by cubiche

I'm Cuban and have been to PR and found no probems with speaking English or Spanish with Ricans. Culturally they're very similar to Cubans and in fact a lot of Cubans settled there after the revolution.

Yes very true. That is why, Puerto Rico's flag is very similar to the Cuban's flag.

Puerto Rican Flag

Puerto Rico Flags geographic.org; perto rican flag; Flag of Puerto Rico

[Migue]

Originally Posted by hindsight2020

Puerto Ricans in the island have been conditioned to consider bilingualism a trait of cultural surrendering, a negative trait, something to reject. Therefore a Puerto Rican that embraces his bilingual education and grows up to be fluent in both languages is treated as a traitor. Also, because bilingualism is generally considered an outcome of private education in the island (even though public schools are bilingual-syllabus mandated), being a native and speaking english in the island is considered a purposeful front to other puerto ricans and a sign of elitism, and as such is ridiculed, rebuked and challenged.

Now, when it comes to foreigners (american citizens who are not hispanic are included mind you) the reasoning is the total opposite. Being addressed by one of these aforementioned "foreigners" in English, upon the expectation that an english response SHOULD be normal in a bilingual-in-paper island, is a source of embarrassment for the non-bilingualism-embracing native. Likewise, having a foreigner speak better Spanish than the native can speak English is also a source of embarrassment for the native. This is the passive-aggressive anatomy of the Puerto Rican language dilemma. And it is all self-imposed. If you're Puerto Rican in the island and your English sucks, it does because you were either bullied into rejecting bilingualism, or are otherwise subscribing to the "bilingualism is cultural suicide and non-genuine" propaganda of the PR bourgeoisie. To suggest lack of practice due to lack of need for English among natives is another cop-out. The reality is that if a native makes a point to practice English and conduct themselves in English with another peer, said group is ridiculed by the majority. And so the cycle repeats. It's quite retarded really. Thence yet another reason I escaped to brighter horizons....

You don't make any sense and are talking like the people in PR have a huge complex and what's this about being ridiculed by the majority of the group for knowing English???? i was born and raised down there and i was always one of the best students in my english class and i NEVER had this problem,those people that "don't want to speak english because they have a complex" are just people that come from the "country" areas who have a bit lower education and just feel like they don't need to speak english because they plan on staying there or are just lazy or very shy about practicing the language. All the kids in my school that didn't know english would ask me for help instead of making fun of me or ruling me out of the group and like somebody already said,if they speak to you in english even tho you're speaking in spanish is because they want to get their practice going on and they figured that since you're a foreigner they just want to be polite and save you the trouble of trying to figure out words and struggling with it or once again,they just wanna get their practice on. Asi que do me a favor and don't be jumping into conclussions about PRs. Thoes people that don't like "gringos" or the language would be the equivalent of a typical "Redneck" from the USA that doesn't like that "mexican language",except the ones in PR are a bit smarter.

[joelaldo]

The topic on this thread is interesting and one that has perplexed me the time that I've lived in the island. There are a lot of kids here who went to HS in the states and returned, or went to college, etc. and speak English very well. I am Mexican(lived in Texas for 10 yrs though so I have an American accent in English) and when I speak to them in my Mexican Spanish, they have no issues speaking back to me. HOWEVER, if they hear me talking on my cell or with friends in English, many (not all) do indeed switch over to English.

I don't know why. Maybe it's an insecurity thing, and they want to show me they're just as educated as I am. Maybe they just want to practice their English with me. Maybe it IS a showdown... I don't know why it happens, but the point is that it DOES happen.

I try to steer the conversation back in Spanish, but once they discover that I speak fluent English, it's all over. This of course doesn't apply to the older generation.

[Migue]

HAHA it's funny how people think that just because PRs talk english as soon as they hear you they want to have a "showdown". Latino people do that in the states all the time,i talk to my latino friends in english AND spanish at the same time,is just nature. They're just taking the advantage of speaking with a native english speaker to practice.

[RUBIES77]

What I have observed by native Puerto Ricans is that they resent New York- born Puerto Ricans, specifically, because many of the ones born in NY from PR descent, do not learn the Spanish language.

[joelaldo]

Originally Posted by Migue

HAHA it's funny how people think that just because PRs talk english as soon as they hear you they want to have a "showdown". Latino people do that in the states all the time,i talk to my latino friends in english AND spanish at the same time,is just nature. They're just taking the advantage of speaking with a native english speaker to practice.

True, I've always thought that but never bothered to ask. I think some do want to show off their English skills, because they are so good (especially the ones who studied in the states), but I agree some just want to practice.

The main thread asks if pricans r insular.... nah.

The weird thing is code switching is different for cubans, puerto ricans and mexicans.

[tropical87]

Originally Posted by joelaldo

True, I've always thought that but never bothered to ask. I think some do want to show off their English skills, because they are so good (especially the ones who studied in the states), but I agree some just want to practice.

The main thread asks if pricans r insular.... nah.

The weird thing is code switching is different for cubans, puerto ricans and mexicans.

I learned Spanish in cuba, so speak with a Cuban accent and can get away with being taken as a Cuban even by them themselves by about 60-70% of cubans I meet in Cuba. If Im speaking to any other latino they just think Im from the caribbean or some "costeño" region.

What I like about Cubans is that, even if they speak English, they are proud to speak Spanish FIRST and often dont want to communicate in English - I think that has alot to do with Spanish being an official co-language in Miami. In fact, they are proud of their own form of Spanish and happy to share it with you. It is great for someone who wants to learn Spanish.

I am often asked where people should learn Spanish; I always say Cuba and stay away from PR.