Dictionary of Spanish American Racial Terms.

Abstract

Dictionaries of New World Spanish dialects abound. Lexicographers have interested themselves with every aspect of life including flora, fauna, family relations, etc., in the various regions and countries. There exists, however, no dictionary which identifies and defines only Spanish American racial categories. The present dissertation is such a dictionary. In this dictionary, 'race' and 'racial' are used in the broad sense to refer to a person's physical type, skin color, region or country of origin, ethnic group, or religious affiliation. Racial terms often create or reinforce non-racial social distinctions, imposing social values and defining a person's position in the society. In order to find Spanish American racial categories, it was necessary to peruse anthropological, sociological, ethnological, and historical texts, regional dictionaries, and any other pertinent sources. Terms, often consisting of more than one lexical item, are cited for all of Spanish America from the colonial period through the twentieth century. Entries are arranged alphabetically and contain definitions regarding the racial connotations and the concomitant social consequences of the terms. Following each entry is a brief commentary on derivation and date of attestation as a racial term, a cross-reference to words similar in form or meaning, a listing of synonyms and antonyms, or a combination of these.