https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/06/hispanic-voters-latinx-term-523776

As left wing governments and corporations seek to reach out to Latin Americans in a more gender-neutral way, they’ve increasingly begun using the word Latinx, a term that first began to get serious use among United States academics and activists following the 2016 election of Donald Trump, but according to a new multinational poll of Latin American people, Latinx has unintentionally became one of the most homophobic slurs in Spanish and Portuguese. The incessant use of Latinx in advertising and government documents has only made the word more popular as a slur in only a few years. No Latin Americans polled referred to themselves as Latinx, the vast majority called themselves Hispanic or Latino even among the LGBT. What's most shocking is Latinx ranked first on the list of most offensive words according to Latin American people, most respondents said they wouldn't support a politician or organization that uses the term however there's monetary incentives for businesses and politicians to use Latinx, many Latin American governments are trying to phase out the use of gendered language and are offering tax deductions for the use of Latinx.

  • eduardog3000 [he/him]
    ·
    3 years ago

    Language works however humans agree to use it. All of grammar is essentially guidelines and it develops over time. Language is literally never perfect and that’s why it’s cool.

    Yes, but it also falls into patterns that help keep things consistent and understandable. And again, pronounceable. "Latinx" is not really possible in Spanish pronunciation. At best it would be "latin-equis" which is awkward. And the pronunciation "latin-eks" is just not Spanish at all, it's English through and through.

    Both can coexist.

    They don't need to. There's no good reason for "latinx" to exist.

    It’s an innocuous way to signal purposeful inclusion of trans and non-binary genders. It’s a flourish on top of the word.

    That implies "folks" excludes them, which it doesn't. It seems weird to say their inclusion necessitates a new word as if they're too different to be included in the existing word, which they aren't. At least it's pronounced the same, but still.

    • Horsepaste [they/them]
      ·
      3 years ago

      And again, pronounceable. “Latinx” is not really possible in Spanish pronunciation

      Sure it is. X can sometimes make the same sound as it does in english although it's uncommon. Regardless, it's most common in North America and I can understand why latine might be easier in other regions.

      the pronunciation “latin-eks” is just not Spanish at all, it’s English through and through.

      That is not something anyone who is not a spanish speaker really gets to decide. It's used primarily in north america and that's fine. Puerto Rico also has hermanx and niñx in use, particularly within the queer community.

      They don’t need to. There’s no good reason for “latinx” to exist.

      LGBTQ+ people utilize it and also it literally hurts no one to use it.

      That implies “folks” excludes them, which it doesn’t

      No it does not imply that. I literally said in my comment that it doesn't.