[Ads-l] Latinx

[Jonathan Lighter]

Except that {Latinx}looks like, and by every rule of orthography ought to
be pronounced, "latinks," which is self-defeating, no?  {Czech}, on
the other hand, had no equally confusing rival pronunciation, because the
"cz" spelling was a simple importation.  Approximations like "tsek" or
"sek" are hardly analogous to "latinks."

There's nothing insensitive about saying a spelling is absurd, especially
one created ad hoc by presumably lsensitive people. What rule says that
{Latinx} should not be pronounced "latinks"?  Of course, by purely
linguistic reasoning, "latinks" should be fine, but I doubt it would gin up
much enthusiasm.  Myself, I'd hesitate to use it, for fear of being called
obtuse.

I wonder too what proportion of Hispanic people have ever heard of (or,
more to the point, use or pronounce properly) {Latinx}, or object to the
existing terminology.  What's wrong with the thoroughly established
"Hispanic," "Latin" or, if thought necessary, the suggested / lae 'tin/ ?
If we're restricting ourselves to spelling, I vote for {Latinex}, like
{Latex}. (Much better than {Latin-Ex}. Which group of speakers, precisely,
insists on "Latinx"?

By the way, switching (or compelling people to switch) to "Latinx" (however
pronounced) will not create a single new job, raise anybody's pay, or do
thing one to eliminate racism or sexism or any other plague.

It will annoy people.  We have proof of that.

So if that's the purpose (aka "microaggression"), it's a great choice.  It
reminds me of those who say that the "correct" name for citizens of the
United States is "USers" or "USians," for too obvious reasons.  (There are
such people.)

PS: Consider my tone energetic but not sarcastic.

On Mon, Aug 17, 2020 at 9:43 AM Bethan Tovey-Walsh <accounts at bethan.wales>
wrote:

> Evidently, there’s a large enough group of people who find the term useful
> and acceptable as a representation of their identity. Telling them that the
> word they’ve settled on is absurd and unnecessary and has a far more
> grammatical alternative is insensitive as well as missing the point. It’s
> their word. It’s no more good or bad than any other word adapted to fill a
> need.
>
> No argument that a word’s spelling is unreasonable can hold much water in
> English, of all languages. The pronunciations “lateen-ex” or “latin-ex” are
> both perfectly reasonable. They’re not conventional according to English
> orthotactic/phonotactic rules; but we settled on ways to pronounce “Czech”
> and “gateaux” and “shih tzu”, so I think we can do the same with “Latinx”.
>
> Bethan
>
> ___________________________________________________
> Dr. Bethan Tovey-Walsh
>
> Myfyrwraig PhD | PhD Student CorCenCC
> Prifysgol Abertawe | Swansea University
>
> CV: LinkedIn
>
> Croeso i chi ysgrifennu ataf yn y Gymraeg.
> On 17 Aug 2020, 13:47 +0100, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>,
> wrote:
> > I heard it on MSNBC yesterday pronounced as "Latin X."
> >
> > "Latine" is obviously the superior choice, assuming one is even
> necessary.
> >
> > JL
> >
> > JL
> >
> > On Mon, Aug 17, 2020 at 8:27 AM Michael Everson <everson at evertype.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > It makes absolutely no sense. And is it [laˈtinɛks] or [laˈtiŋks]?
> Anyway
> > > the obvious third choice given “latino” and “latina” is “latine”
> [laˈtine].
> > >
> > > M
> > >
> > > > On 14 Aug 2020, at 15:45, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Huh?
> > > >
> https://news.yahoo.com/latinx-mostly-unknown-term-even-035021574.html
> > > >
> > > > (Ironic "huh?" Of course I'm familiar with it! But this spelling is
> > > > absurd.)
> > > >
> > > > JL
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
> > > truth."
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
> truth."
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>


-- 
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org