A Latino or Latina is a person considered part of an ethnic background that is traditionally Spanish-speaking, especially a citizen of, or an immigrant from, a Spanish-speaking country. The term ''latino'' is used to refer to males only or a combination of males and females in a group, whereas the term ''latina'' is used to refer to females only.

In the United States, the term is in official use in the ethnonym ''Hispanic or Latino'', defined as "a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other race." The term is also used in Spain as a term of self-identification for immigrants from Hispanoamerica.

Etymology

The terms ''latino'' and ''latina'' originate from American Spanish, and ultimately from the Latin terms ''latinus'' and ''latina'', which literally mean ''Latin''. The terms may be an abbreviated form of the Spanish word ''latinoamericano'' (Latin American). This use of the expression ''Latin'' derives from the traditional split in Europe between the Protestant and the Roman Catholic (i.e. ''Latin'') kingdoms. In the Americas the competition from these colonial powers and their descendants was seen as dividing the Western Hemisphere between Protestants and Latins in much the same way Western Europe was divided. Somewhat coincidentally (although not entirely independently) the Roman Catholic colonies in the Americas predominantly spoke Romance languages (derived from Latin) thus giving a second meaning to the term. The use of the Spanish word for ''Latin'' in English gradually has become an ethnic identifier, independent of religion.

Use in the United States

The term "Latino" was officially adopted in 1997 by the United States Government in the ethnonym "Hispanic or Latino", which replaced the single term "Hispanic": "Because regional usage of the terms differs – Hispanic is commonly used in the eastern portion of the United States, whereas Latino is commonly used in the western portion."

U.S. official use of the term "Hispanic" has its origins in the 1970 census. The Census Bureau attempted to identify all Hispanics by use of the following criteria in sampled sets: :* Spanish speakers and persons belonging to a household where Spanish was spoken :* Persons with Spanish heritage by birth location :* Persons who self-identify with Latin America, excluding Brazil

Neither "Hispanic" nor "Latino" refers to a race, as a person of Latino/Hispanic ethnicity can be of any race. Like non-Latinos, a Latino can be of any race or combination of races: White/Caucasian, Black/African American, Asian, Native American, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander American, or two or more races.

Although as officially defined in the United States, "Latino" does not include Brazilian Americans, and ''specifically'' refers to "Spanish culture or origin", some of the dictionary definitions may include Brazilian Americans and/or Brazilian people in general. Also, since Hispanic or Latino origin is, like race, a matter of self-identification, any Brazilian American wishing to do can presumably report as being Hispanic or Latino. However, the Brazilian American group is not included with Hispanics and Latinos in the government's population reports.

Some authorities of American English maintain a distinction between the terms "Hispanic" and "Latino":

"Though often used interchangeably in American English, ''Hispanic'' and ''Latino'' are not identical terms, and in certain contexts the choice between them can be significant. ''Hispanic'', from the Latin word for "Spain," has the broader reference, potentially encompassing all Spanish-speaking peoples in both hemispheres and emphasizing the common denominator of language among communities that sometimes have little else in common. ''Latino''—which in Spanish means "Latin" but which as an English word is probably a shortening of the Spanish word ''latinoamericano''—refers more exclusively to persons or communities of Latin American origin. Of the two, only ''Hispanic'' can be used in referring to Spain and its history and culture; a native of Spain residing in the United States is a ''Hispanic'', not a ''Latino'', and one cannot substitute ''Latino'' in the phrase ''the Hispanic influence on native Mexican cultures'' without garbling the meaning. In practice, however, this distinction is of little significance when referring to residents of the United States, most of whom are of Latin American origin and can theoretically be called by either word."

The AP Stylebook also distinguishes between the terms Hispanic and Latino. The Stylebook limits the term "Hispanic" to persons "from - or whose ancestors were from - a Spanish-speaking land or culture." It provides a more expansive definition, however, of the term "Latino." The Stylebook definition of Latino includes not only persons of Spanish-speaking ancestry, but also more generally includes persons "from -- or whose ancestors were from -- . . . Latin America." The Stylebook specifically lists "Brazilian" as an example of a group which can be considered Latino.

Listed below are the 28 categories tabulated in the 2000 United States Census: Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican Republic; Central American: Costa Rican, Guatemalan, Honduran, Nicaraguan, Panamanian, Salvadoran, Other Central American; South American: Argentinian, Bolivian, Chilean, Colombian, Ecuadorian, Paraguayan, Peruvian, Uruguayan, Venezuelan, Other South American; Other Hispanic or Latino: Spaniard, Spanish, Spanish American, All other Hispanic or Latino.

Similar and related terms

Sometimes "Latino" is used interchangeably with "Latin", as Latino is also defined as a "Latin inhabitant of the United States"; and sometimes it is used interchangeably with "Latin American". As a demonym, though, "Latin" can have other meanings:

"a native or inhabitant of Latium; an ancient Roman."

"a member of any of the Latin peoples, or those speaking chiefly Romance languages, esp. a native of or émigré from Latin America."

"a member of the Latin Church; a Roman Catholic, as distinguished from a member of the Greek Church."

"A Latino or Latina."

"Latin American" may also mean the same as "Latino," depending on which definition of the latter is used. The term "Latino", was implemented in the US to refer to what is a group of people composed of immigrants and residents, Also, a Spaniard, for example, though a "Latino" by some definitions, is not a Latin American. The term "Latin American", in turn, though normally applied to inhabitants of Latin America, is nevertheless preferred by some individuals and organizations in the United States. "Latin American" is defined as: "A native or inhabitant of Latin America." "A person of Latin-American descent."

Criticism

The term Latino, despite its increasing popularity, is still highly debated among those who are called by the name. Since the adoption of the term by the US Census Bureau and its subsequent widespread use, there have been several controversies and disagreements, specially in the United States and, to a lesser extent, in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries. Regarding it as an arbitrary generic term, many Latin American scholars, journalists and indigenous rights organisations have objected against the mass media use of the word "Latino", pointing out that such ethnonyms are optional and should be used only to describe people involved in the practices, ideologies and identity politics of their supporters. Journalist Rodolfo Acuña writes:

"When and why the Latino identity came about is a more involved story. Essentially, politicians, the media, and marketers find it convenient to deal with the different U.S. Spanish-speaking people under one umbrella. However, many people with Spanish surnames contest the term ''Latino''. They claim it is misleading because no Latino or Hispanic nationality exists since no Latino state exists, so generalizing the term ''Latino'' slights the various national identities included under the umbrella.

Popular personalities like Andy García have also expressed concern. He has stated that, in spite of his love of his native Cuba, he dislikes being labeled as a 'Latino actor', preferring instead to be addressed as an actor without a tag attached to him.

Definitions in other languages

The term ''latino'' (feminine ''latina'') in the Romance languages, such as Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, literally translates as "Latin". The cognate French term is ''Latin'', not ''Latino''. Portuguese dictionaries define the demonym ''latino'' to refer to natives of Romance-speaking nations influenced by Roman civilization, and to the natives or inhabitants of ancient Latium (modern Lazio). Italian dictionaries define the demonym ''latino'' as: the ancient Latins and Romans, and their language, Latin, as well as the neo-Latin nations. The dictionary of the Real Academia Española defines ten meanings for ''latino'', including the ancient peoples of Latium and the modern Romance-speaking European and American nations. In these languages, ''latino'', just like any other demonym, is by convention not capitalized.

See also

Latin American Australian

Latin American Canadian

Latino Studies

Hispanic/Latino naming dispute

Latin Union

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census

Racial and ethnic demographics of the United States

References

Further reading

''The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States'', 4 vls, Oxford University Press 2006, ISBN 0-19-515600-5

Miguel A. De La Torre, "Encyclopedia on Hispanic American Religious Culture," Volume 1 & 2, ABC-CLIO Publishers, 2009.

External links

Latino Cultural Heritage Digital Archives

PBS 'A Cultural Identity' Examines the creation of the Hispanic label by Richard Nixon.

What's in a name?

Yale University – Understanding Ethnic Labels and Puerto Rican Identity

Chicano/Latino Studies University of California, Irvine

Category:Ethnic groups in the United States Category:Demonyms

da:Latino de:Latino fr:Latino lt:Latino pl:Latynos pt:Latino-americanos sq:Latinos fi:Latinot sv:Latino

Name	William Edward "Bill" Sparks
Birth date	5 September 1922
Death date	30 November 2002
Placeofburial label	Place of burial
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Rank	Marine
Branch	Royal Marines
Battles	World War II
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal
Laterwork	}}

William Edward "Bill" Sparks DSM (5 September 1922 – 1 December 2002) was a British Royal Marine Commando in World War II. He was the last survivor of the "Cockleshell Heroes"; a team of commandos who paddled 85 miles from the Bay of Biscay up the Gironde River to Bordeaux German-occupied France, to plant limpet mines on merchant ships supplying the Nazi war machine.

He was born in East Ham in the East End of London and joined the Royal Marines upon the outbreak of World War II. He volunteered for hazardous service as a way of avenging his brother Benny who had died on the cruiser HMS ''Naiad''.

During the night of 7 December 1942, ten Royal Marines set out in five canoes on Operation Frankton. They caused considerable damage to five ships, but eight of the men were shot or drowned. Sparks and Major Herbert "Blondie" Hasler were pursued through France and Spain by the Germans for three months before they reached safety in Gibraltar.

When Hasler flew home, Sparks was sent back to England under arrest, as no one in Gibraltar could corroborate his story. On arrival, he escaped from the MPs and went to see his father, who had been told that he was missing in action. Two days later, he reported to the Admiralty and was about to be arrested again, when he slipped out to Combined Operations Headquarters, where he was greeted with astonishment.

During the rest of the war, he served in Burma, North Africa and Italy. Afterwards, he worked as a bus driver, during the Malayan Emergency as a police lieutenant, and then as a bus inspector.

Bill lived for many years in Loughton, Essex before moving in the early seventies to Canvey Island. After the death of Violet in 1982, Bill and his second wife Irene relocated to West Sussex.

After his first wife, Violet, died in 1982, he married again. Sparks is survived by a daughter and three sons, one of whom,Terry Sparks, became a captain in the Royal Marines. He also has a grandson, Paul Sparks, who served in the Royal Air Force Regiment.

He is survived by his second wife, Irene.

Honours and awards

29 June 1943 - Distinguished Service Medal ''For courage and enterprise: Marine William Edward Sparks, Ply.X.3664.''.

There is a blue plaque to Sparks on the council house he occupied after the war in Poundfield Road, Loughton, Essex.

Further reading

Munn, Michael; Sparks, William (1992), ''The Last of the Cockleshell Heroes: a World War Two memoir'' — ISIS Large Print ISBN 9781856951258 Bill Sparks (2008), ''Cockleshell Commando'', Pen & Sword — ISBN 978-1844158942

References

External links

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1415009/Marine-Bill-Sparks.html Daily Telegraph Obituary "Marine Bill Sparks"

Category:1922 births Category:2002 deaths Category:Royal Marines ranks Category:Royal Marines personnel of World War II Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United Kingdom)