Spanglish in the States
 

I've been learning Spanish for a while and spent almost all my life in Asia, so I really don't know much about this. I work part time in the fashion industry. So far I've travelled to the states twice (once to NYC, once to Los Angeles) for my biz trips. Most of people I socialise with during my staying are not local. I can't really say I've yet got the chance to get to know the real NYC or LA life.
Nevertheless when I went out dinning or shopping with friends, I picked up some interesting specimens of Spanglish here and there. People say "vamos!", "queso" for cheese, "con carne", also eat tacos and quesadillas. And words like hola, amigo, nada or que pasa? odds are they would understand(maybe unless they are more sheltered and void of social experiences?). And once or twice I even overheard someone doing the code-switching thing fluently between the two languages, on phone or conversing with their friends. Quite amazing!
Anyways I just wonder it is a common phenomenon around the whole country that people use Mexican expressions in their everyday English, or just in certain cities or counties bordering Mexico? Gracias!
:D:D

Jess

This is much more common in the larger cities, where the Hispanic population is large, and near the border of Mexico. Many Americans eat "Tex-Mex" food (tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, burritos, etc.), so that is why we know those words. A lot of people have been exposed to some of the greetings.
Good familiarity with Spanish words is quite regional, I would say.

That's phenomenon given mainly in borderline cities between two countries of different languages or in very cosmopolitan cities, where different languages are spoken because of high migration. I am sure it even happens in your country where a cities that lies on the border with Russia might speak "weirder" Chinese... for example, beause people often travel between for trading. Unless there are political reasons of why not crossing the limits is not allowed, most likely there is a mix of the languages.

Spanglish is more than commonly used food terms. It's really Spanish with
a lot (a mean a lot) of English incorporated into it. I think I may have
used this example before when the subject of Spanglish came up in previous threads, but el rufo tiene un liqueo (el techo tiene una gotera) is a typical example of second-generation Spanish in New York. No estoy bulshiteándote (en serio).

I agree with Poli and Rusty - Spanish is common in culinary terms across the world. It is common to say here "čili con carne sriuba", "flanas" or "romesko padažas". Generally all supermarkets have one shelf dedicated for Tex-Mex foodstuffs, too.
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Estoy de acuerdo con Poli y Rusty - uso de español es común en culinaria en todos partes del mundo. Decimos aquí "čili con carne sriuba", "flanas" o "romesko padažas". Por regla general, mayoría de gran almacenes tiene una estantería dedicado para alimentos de "Tex-Mex" también.

I never thought it was Spanglish but a lot of people around here know some basic words and phrases. Even in other languages. I think it has a lot to do with the "Melting Pot" and television.

Knowing words and phrases is definitely not Spanglish. Spanglish uses Spanish grammar but incorporates lots of English vocabulary. So in Spanish you may say el abrigo está en el armario, in Spanglish you may say el co está en el clóset, and in English you may say the coat is in the closet.

Ah, the infamous term around here, WÁTCHATE!

You'll here that a lot on the highway and in fender benders. :p

Nevertheless when I went out dinning or shopping with friends, I picked up some interesting specimens of Spanglish here and there.

And words like hola, amigo, nada or que pasa? odds are they would understand(maybe unless they are more sheltered and void of social experiences?).

Anyways I just wonder it is a common phenomenon around the whole country that people use Mexican expressions in their everyday English, or just in certain cities or counties bordering Mexico? Gracias!

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Are you saying you picked up some expressions in Spanish? It is interesting how you refer to them... interesting specimens :thinking:

I honestly don't know what you mean by this expression especially the "void of social experiences". Could you elaborate somewhat please.

I think it has already been explained that not all words are considered "Spanglish" unless the root of the word is English like Poli pointed out. And then there is a difference between Mexican Spanglish and Puerto Rican Spanglish. You might hear more Puerto Rican Spanglish in New York because there is a great number of Puerto Ricans that live there. Contrary to Los Angeles where a great number of Mexicans live there and they of course would be using Mexican Spanglish.

Also, it takes great talent to carry on a conversation in two languages at the same time. I am not saying it is proper but it is challenging when you try to do it.

BTW, welcome to the forums.

:)

Because I'm an American, I know that we include a variety of words from different languages in our everyday life. Why? Probably because saying the same English equivalents gets boring. All over the US we say "Hola" as an informal word for "Hello.". Americans pretty much use basic words of other languages if they feel like it.. People use Spanish basic words pretty much all over the US, probably French in Louisiana, oh and in New York, you HAVE to know how to curse in Italian. These words are not actually in the English language, and I'd consider all of them to be informal if spoken in an English conversation.