Category Archives: Language

Does this Building in Spain Discriminate Against Peruvians?

Posted on June 12, 2013 by

Please bear with me. I’m in Spain and taking it real easy. More complex posts coming soon. Or not. Photo: Laura Martínez, Sabadell, Barcelona.  

Posted in Language, Latin America, Personal | Leave a comment

In the Name of Hispanic Marketing, Vonage Trashes the Spanish Language

Posted on June 10, 2013 by

Call me a mamona purist, but every time I see a Spanish-language commercial for Vonage, I cannot help but cringe, and wonder why the marketing forces behind this campaign didn’t come up with something more creative without trashing the Spanish … Continue reading →

Posted in Hispanic ad agencies, Language, Marketing & Advertising, Television | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

This Dominican Salon in NYC Offers Clients a True Full Service

Posted on May 27, 2013 by

The mostly Latino staff at this Dominican salon on Amsterdam and 107th St. will not only wash, style, blow dry and fix your hair. They will also wash your hands, because, you know, they have to. Photo: Pierre Lacour

Posted in Language, Marketing & Advertising, New York City | 1 Comment

Three Years Later, Hispanic TV Still Reluctant to Say ‘Tetas’

Posted on May 10, 2013 by

A few years ago, I wrote a story about how Telemundo decided to do away with the word ‘tetas’ in the promos around Sin tetas no hay paraíso, a popular Colombian telenovela about young girls and their obsession with getting breast implants. Instead … Continue reading →

Posted in Language, Telemundo, Television, Univision | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

This Dominican Salon Offers ‘Acondicionadol’ and a Chance to Look Like Shirley Temple

Posted on April 26, 2013 by

Photo: Laura Martínez (Harlem, 2013)

Posted in Beauty Queens, Language | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

This Tide Commercial Shows Why it’s so Hard to be a Hispanic Millennial

Posted on April 21, 2013 by

If you thought Hispanic millennials were just like regular millennials, think again. Hispanic millennials, according to a new series of Tide commercials, not only sit around doing nothing and play with their phones. They have the added burden of having to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cuba, Cuban-Americans in Miami, Language, Marketing & Advertising, You Tube | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

This ‘Abuela’ Is Very Clean, but She Could Brush up on her Spanish

In case you were womdering, it should say “aprobado,” and not “aprovado.” Continue reading →

Image | Posted on April 10, 2013 by | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

In Texas, ‘Prosecuteded’ is Spanish for ‘Prosecuted’

Posted on March 31, 2013 by

Photo: Sergio Romero

Posted in Language, Texas | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

How do you Say ‘Tamales’ in Japanese? Pues Así

Posted on February 25, 2013 by

I have no idea what these people are saying, but this spot makes me want to go grab a tamal (tamal, NOT tamale) right now.

Posted in Food, Language, Marketing & Advertising | Leave a comment

How do you Say ‘Appetizers’ in Cuban Spanish?

Posted on January 21, 2013 by

Based on my most recent trip to the island  -where I spent a couple of weeks doing absolutely nothing language research-  I realized Cubans are increasingly translating their restaurant menus, street signs and monument guides to cater to an ever-growing … Continue reading →

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Rubén Darío Inspires Best Smoking Warning. Ever.

Posted on January 11, 2013 by

Who said Latin American poetry and health warnings don’t go hand in hand? Photo: Laura Martínez. 2013

Posted in Health care, Language, Latin America, Marketing & Advertising | Tagged , | 1 Comment

¡Chingao! The Chinese Steal Our Most Precious Curse Word

Posted on December 20, 2012 by

Todo se copian… ¡chingao!

Posted in Language, Pop culture | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Here’s a Property I Won’t be Allowed in. For Sure.

Posted on December 18, 2012 by

The owners of this private condo in Ixtapa, Mexico surely don’t want people like me hanging around their property. Oh, well. Hat tip: Bego Lozano

Posted in Language, Latin America, Why I Love Mexico | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Chinese Press Coins Awesome Spanish Translation for ‘Joint’

Posted on December 8, 2012 by

Speaking of Cannabis and Cannabis-infused tortilla chips, the folks over at People’s Daily are doing a hell of a job updating their Spanish-language page, which is awesome because they have come up with the most hilarious -and accurate- Spanish translation for “joint.” ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ … Continue reading →

Posted in Health care, Language, Politics, Pot | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Florida Pharmacy Now Proudly Selling Hispanic Drugs, Because…. Why Not?

Posted on December 2, 2012 by

This image has been doing the rounds in the Internet, and quite frankly I couldn’t find a better home for it than on this blog, which has dutifully documented the birth of Hispanic cheese; the deliciously weird tortilla-flavored chocolates; the Mexican Coca-Cola and even … Continue reading →

Posted in Language, Marketing & Advertising | Tagged , | 1 Comment