As the 2020 election season grows closer, the use of Spanglish in campaigns has become increasingly popular among those who are targeting younger Hispanic voters. Spanglish merges English and Spanish, creating a linguistic hybrid that is often heavily influenced by the regional Hispanic heritage.
This hybrid language is often praised for its power to connect with potential voters, especially among young Hispanic people who form a more diverse voting demographic than in past elections. Spanglish can capture the attention of these younger voters as well as reflect the widespread cultural influence on the Hispanic community.
“No one else is speaking to me in Spanglish and I feel like I’m finally being seen and heard,” says Alejandra Martinez, a young, Hispanic voter in Miami. “It’s something that I can relate to and it makes me feel connected to politicians.”
However, not everyone believes that Spanglish is an effective tool for connecting with voters. Some argue that a diverse audience requires nuanced and culturally appropriate messages in order to truly resonate with potential voters.
“We need to be mindful that the language of political discourse is rarely Spanglish and it can be a difficult language to follow,” says Javier Uscal, a political strategist in Miami. “It’s important that campaigns speak to voters in a way that is respectful and engaging, instead of using Spanglish as a superficial tool.”
As campaigns continue to use Spanglish to reach Hispanic voters, it should be done so with caution. Spanglish can be an effective way to attract the attention of certain groups of voters, but it can also be easily misused, misrepresenting individuals and populations.
While Spanglish may be the language of the future for campaigns, it is important for campaigns to use it responsibly and thoughtfully, so that it does not become a tool used to perpetuate certain stereotypes.
“Spanglish Speaks: Campaigns Reach Out for Young Hispanic Vote
