We explain what regionalisms are in language, literature and politics. Also, examples of linguistic regionalisms.
What are regionalisms?
In linguistics, Regionalisms are those words or syntactic constructions that are characteristic of a specific geographic place, and therefore form part of the linguistic identity of its inhabitants or settlers.
Generally, regionalisms consist of lexical variations, that is, in different names for the same things. Thus, they are evidence of the linguistic richness of a idiom determined, in which the same referent has numerous words.
Of course, regionalisms are considered as such because they differ from the standard norm of the language, determined by its tradition or by its common aspects to the other varieties. That is, a word or use is considered regionalism by those who do not use it, but for those who use it regularly it is just another ordinary word.
There is some room for debate as to what the "norm" of a language would be, given that it is spoken differently in each linguistic community. Everyone considers their use of the language “normal”, without this meaning that the way of using it by those who live in the next country is “incorrect” or “special”. It is best to understand that the ideal standard of a language does not exist at the level of realitybut only as a collective abstraction.
On the other hand, linguistic regionalisms may be part of the aspects defended by the nationalism political and by cultural identities. However, they are simply evidence of how languages allow their speakers an important margin of originality, creativity and system customization.
Examples of linguistic regionalisms
Here are some examples of regionalisms in the language:
Regionalisms of Mexico (or Mexicanisms):
- Truck, trolleybus or weigh for "bus".
- Kids, squincles, guys for "children" or "boys".
- Guys or compass for "friends" or "companions."
- Dad or cool for "good".
- Wool for "money".
- Chafa for "bad".
- Work for work".
- Strips, chotas or julia for "police".
- Crazy or guided for "crazy."
Regionalisms of Argentina (or Argentinisms).
- Collective for "bus".
- Kids for "children" or "boys".
- Silver or twine for "money".
- Laburo for work".
- Barbarian or piola for "good".
- Paw or bassoon for "bad".
- Gaucho for "favor".
- Embole for "annoyance" or "boredom."
- Birome for "pen."
- Canchero for "confident."
- Chamuyo for "deception" or "manipulation".
- Pronghorn for "poor quality."
- Tombos or jute for "police".
Regionalisms of Venezuela (or Venezuelanisms).
- Truck ethics, bus or bus for "bus".
- Sweetie, kid or chamito for "child" or "boy".
- Corduroy for "friend".
- Silver, biyuyo or force for "money".
- Crabs or caligüeva for "annoyance" or "boredom."
- Arrecho for "annoying."
- Chimbo for "bad" or "poor quality".
- Pichirre for "miser" or "petty".
- Fine or cool for "good".
- Pacos or tombos for "police".
Literary regionalism
In the literary field it is also possible to observe linguistic regionalisms, especially in the stories that aspire to portray the society, as classified within the literature realistic or costumbrista. However, the term "regionalism" or "regionalist" is also used in two very specific senses within Latin American literature:
- Regionalist literature in the sense that each nation Latin America represents a literary region with its own identity, and in which its locations have a great role.
- The "regionalist" or "regional" novel that tries to faithfully represent the reality of Latin American rural regions, especially the aboriginal ones (so that it encompasses the so-called "indigenous novel").
Political regionalism
On the other hand, it is known in politics as "regionalism" to an ideology and political movement, identified with autonomism, whose proposals pursue the political, economic and social independence of the ethnic, cultural or social homogeneous geographical units, that is, of the regions of a country, despite recognizing the superior political power of the government national.
The central power of a nation tends to coexist with its regional powers, according to different models of governance, but on occasions it is possible that the disagreements, inequalities and other cultural factors that feed regionalisms, lead to desires for independence.