The regionalisms are terms or words that referred to an object or situation in a given area. They are generally synonymous with other words that are commonly used in other areas. For example, in Spain the public means of road transport is called a bus, while in some Latin American countries it is called a guagua or colectivo.
Regionalisms are a sign of the linguistic diversity of the Spanish-speaking community and exist thanks to the fact that there is a norm determined by the Royal Academy of Language (RAE). Without a norm they would not be classified as regionalisms, but as general and common words.
The word "work" may have its equivalent in each Latin American country or group of countries. For example, in Mexico you can say “chamba” and in Argentina or Uruguay “laburo”. And so it takes different forms in other countries.
Regionalisms tend to use the closest and most local that the inhabitants of a geographical area have forged. Some understand them as an exaltation of the land and the expressions of history and sociolinguistic processes that frame a territory.
The cultural industry - especially television - has led to words characteristic of a region to become popular for the entire linguistic community. On occasion they have even been adopted by the dictionary as official words of the language in view of their overcrowding.
Psychologists explain this phenomenon from the perspective of "social learning", under which the constant reinforcement of behaviors, personalities and language slowly and unconsciously shapes behavior and language itself, leading to the introduction of words from one country to another.
The word "tortilla" illustrates a perfect example for the Latin American and Spanish community; In Central America, it is a corn-based food that has a flat and circular shape with which other foods are wrapped, while in Spain the word “tortilla” refers to a base of scrambled eggs and potatoes.
Examples of regionalisms
- Ballpoint-Pen-Pen-pen
- Children-Chamos-Críos-Kids-Little-Boys-Kids-kids
- Pig-Pig-Pig-Pig-Marrano
- Work-Chamba-Laburo-Jornal-Rebusque-Changa-Pololo
- Pool-Pool-Pool
- House-Home-Dwelling-Ranch
- Store-Business-Commerce-Establishment-Warehouse-Warehouse-Stand
- Truck-Bus-Dump-Collective-Guagua
- Nice-Beautiful-Good-Cool-Cool
- Skillful-Right-Handy-Handy
- Money-Silver-Wool-Pasta-Cobres-Marmaja
- Comet-Parrots-Flying-Chichigua-Papalote-Pandorga
- Spicy-Chili-Pepper-Chile
- Depressed-sad-crestfallen-lowered-agüitated
- Composite-Annoyed-Grinded-Thunder
- Conflict-anger-Problem-Lio-Royo
- Homeless-Ragged-Dirty-Chamagoso-Puerco-Lumpen
- Pistol-Poplar-Guacharaca-Revolver
- Computer-Computer
- Badly dressed-Unkempt-Fachoso-Mamarracho
- Crazy-Crazy-Insane-Outcast-Psychotic
- Party-Jolgorio-Brawl-Rumba-Foforro
- Hyperactive-Restless-Impatient-Sahorí
- Bad-Unusable-Irreparable-Damaged-Chafa-Shabby
- Avocado-Avocado-Cura-Avocado-Abacate
- American-Gringo-Yankee-Gabacho
- Spoken-Speaker-Chorero-Hocicón
- Park-Park-Accommodate
- Empanada-Empanadilla-Pastelito
- Drunk-Jumo-Fiero-Note
- Tonto-Boludo-Huevón-Gil-Pendejo-Gafo
- Flirt-Win-Hit-Square
- Cotufas-Pochoclo-Popcorn-Goats
- Super-regal-barbarian-father-cool-cool-cool
- Panties-Panties-Panties-Chones-Pantaletas
- Pijo-Concheto-Cuico-Fresa-Sifrino
- Hot Dog-Hot Dog-Pancho
- Sink-Lavatory-Washbasin-
- Colleague-Buddy-Brother-Compadre-Cuate
- Tapa-Picadita-Snack-Snack-Pass stick
- Skirt-skirt-petticoat-sayal-downpipe
- Pants-jeans-blue jeans-jeans-pitusa-mahones
- Casserole-pot-saucepan-kettle
- T-shirt-flannel-shirt-shirt-shirt-jacket-sport
- Peas-chickpeas-peas-chicharitos
- Waiter-garçon-innkeeper-waiter-waiter
- Corn-corn-cob-corn
- Mesh-swimsuit-briefs-swimsuit-trusa
- Banana-banana-cambur-guineo-topocho-chocheco
- Pin-clip-gacilla-safety-pin-brooch-hook-harpita
More than 500 years after the arrival of Columbus to American lands, the expansion of Spanish was almost total. However, the ancient inhabitants of the continent already had words and linguistic systems (or dialects) with which they designated the things around them.
In some areas, old words from indigenous dialects and those of the Spanish language have merged, giving rise to regionalisms and localisms. Some manage to cross local and regional borders, however, most remain in their geographic area.
Regionalisms vs neologisms
Regionalisms should not be confused with “neologisms”. Neologisms are new words that appear at a certain moment in a language or a fixation of a new meaning for a term.
In general, the neologism must pass more than 10 years of validity to be considered regionalism and be admitted by the Royal Academy of the Language.
Regionalisms vs localisms
It is important to delimit the regionalisms of the "localisms"; the former cover larger geographical areas such as countries and subcontinents, while the “localisms” are expressions of a specific region. In Latin America they are called states, departments or constituencies.
References
- Americanisms (2017) Examples of regionalisms. Recovered from: americanismos.com.
- Barriga, R; Martín, P. (2010) Sociolinguistic History of Mexico. Editorial El Colegio de México.
- Bonet, L. (1983) Literature, regionalism and class struggle. Editorial Castalia. Madrid.
- Encyclopedia of Examples (2017) 20 Examples of Regionalisms. Recovered from: examples.co.
- The Great Illustrated Encyclopedia (2016) Vocabulary. Recovered from: salonhogar.net.
- Geek´s Room (2016) Different Words and Phrases to Name the same thing. Recovered from: geeksroom.com.
- 10 Examples (2017) Examples of Regionalisms. Recovered from: 10examples.com.