Why do some americans think that everyone who speaks spanish is MEXICAN???

Question

Can you be so st*up*d and not notice the difference between the mexican's, puerto ricans, brasilian's, etc,etc. Why do they think there all mexicans?? Is it the lack of education??

By the way mexicans dont speak mexican they speak Spanishs idi**ts

i know Brasilians speak Portuges. But If they look Hispanic you think they speak spanish.

Answer 1

Brasilians don't speak Spanish, they speak Portugese.
And frankly, I don't know. Its majority of the nation lives out West and out there most of the Hispanics they see are Mexican, so its hard to get out of that mindframe. Same thing if you live in Miami...Cubanas.

Answer 2

It's just the ones who are ignorant to the fact that there are actually other cultures out there that speak Latin. They are also ignorant to the differences in the Latin language, that each culture has, like accents and even different words.

Believe me, I know exactly what you're talking about. My boyfriend is Black (no racial slander intended) and when I first met him, he thought I was Mexican because I spoke Spanish. His exact words were "What nationality are you?" I stated that I was Puerto Rican and his response was "Oh, I thought you were Mexican because I heard you speaking Spanish." I had to give him a little Latin 101. Ha! Ha!

For all those who are unaware, Spanish comes from Latin. There are five major Latin languages:

Italian
Portuguese
Spanish
French
Romanian

I was also ignorant to something. I didn't know that Brazilians spoke Portuguese. Now I know and there you go, some form of Latin.

Answer 3

Mexico is a country that is very close to the US that speaks Spanish, and so it is very natural for us to associate Spanish with Mexico. Just like if you are in Europe and someone thinks of a country that speaks English it might be more natural to think of England because it is closer than the US, Canada, Australia and other English speaking countries. The US has a kind of kinship with Mexicans because they are our neighbors. I know many countries speak Spanish but I always think Mexico when I think of Spanish too, but I live in San Antonio, Texas so most people I know that speak Spanish are Mexican or Mexican-American, even though I know and will readily acknowledge that there are other Spanish speaking countries.

Answer 4

I new a girl that spoke Spanish, it sounded just like the Spanish the Mexicans speak, but she was from Peru, I don't speak Spanish, so how in the hell would I no the difference, I am not a linguist, or can recognize different dialects in languages, unless their in English. any dumbass would no that. If someone form Spain was speaking Spanish and a Mexican was doing the same, how would I no the difference unless I spoke the language. or the same with Brazilian, if you don't no the language you can't tell the difference, and who gives a sh*t anyway.

Answer 5

Maybe the same reason people keep speaking to me in Spanish because I have dark eyes and dark hair. I'm Italian.

Depending on the area you are located, most Spanish-speaking people may be Mexicans. For example, I'm in California. Another factor is that most people don't pick up on accent differences -- they only hear the language spoken.

Because of my own background with various languages, I do notice accents and feel there is a vast difference, but that's not something you will find very often. Sorry - it's just reality.

Answer 6

Don't be so harsh. You, for instance , obviously do not know that Brazilians do not speak Spanish. Brazilians speak Portuguese. So, should I call you stupid for not knowing that? No, I won't.
Not everyone is educated about different cultures. Many people are caught up in their daily lives and probably will not travel out of the U.S. Travel is expensive, most people are just caught up in their day to day living and trying to make ends meet. Our school system, for many years did not offer classes on world events. There are a number of reasons people are not aware of different cultures and languages, but , try not to be so harsh and judgmental, after all, you made a mistake in thinking Brazilians speak Spanish.

Answer 7

I agree. I almost always know the difference between Mexicans and Puerto Ricans (those are the only Hispanic races we have here, mostly). Just ignore the the ignorant.

Answer 8

How would anyone know the differences? By their accents? If I don't know what they're saying I certainly don't know them by accents. Skin color, clothes, facial features? What are you saying? How can you tell where anyone is from except very generally, unless you just open your mouth and ask? Where am I from? America, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Germany? I have all those running through me. And all those people came from somewhere else too. Let's narrow it down: Are you part Native American from South or Central America which isn't really know as Native American or 100% Spanish decedent? Or Portuguese too I guess? Or a mix? So if you're a mix and you speak the same language, or nearly the same, then my question for you is WTF?

Answer 9

Ignorance, not a lack of education. The languages you mentioned above are all from the same family of languages.
The language tree, which is Italic Latin. They include:
Italian, french,Provencal, Spanish, Portuguese,Catalan, Romanian. And most of the people, in the Latin branch share the same coloring traits as well: Dark hair, skin, eyes, etc. etc. So I guess other people are just stereotyping again. I'm Italian, but people have mistaken me for being: Greek, Spanish, French, and of cause Italian, based on my looks.
But it doesn't brother me one bit....Fifty people can look at a picture of the same thing, and each will see it differently than the other. That's Life.
.

Answer 10

Pretty much. It's an undercurrent of racism, and it's easier to condemn those "d***ed Mexicans," since all Mexicans are obviously here illegally. They don't care if the people they're talking about are actually legal Puerto Rican immigrants.