Spanglish is a growing language for immigrants

“Martha Gutierrez needed a “cuara” to “parquear” her “troca” before going to the “marqueta” and the “mol.” Or rather, she needed a quarter to park her truck before going to the supermarket and the mall. Gutierrez, along with many others in the growing Latino communities in Salt Lake City, uses these words and others like them to communicate, creating a Spanish/English mix, informally known as Spanglish.

Millions of Hispanic-Americans across the country have combined American English with their native tongue. A Hispanic carpet-layer will call his product “carpeta” rather than the Spanish word “alfombra.” People might water their lawn with their “esprinkos,” calling them such instead of “irrigadores.” Local observers note that Hispanic-Americans embrace new Spanglish words every day.”

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