Charnego
Encyclopedia
Xarnego is a pejorative
or descriptive term used primarily in the 1950s-70s in the Catalonia
region of Spain
to denote a person who had immigrated to Catalonia (typically due to a depressed economy in their place of origin) from other parts of Spain, often Andalusia
, but who did not speak or learn Catalan
, the primary language spoken in the region and one of Spain's five official languages
. A xarnego can also be someone born in Catalonia with immigrant or mixed heritage. The word is never used to refer to the latest wave of immigrants from outside of Spain - it has a historical nature.
The original meaning of the word in Spanish was a type of 'greyhound
', although this has changed a great deal over the course of several centuries of use. The latest meaning of the word came about in the 1950s and 1960s due to massive immigration from other Castilian
speaking regions of Spain to Catalonia.
The majority of immigrants did not take up speaking Catalan or learning Catalan traditions based upon the premise that while they had moved, they were still within Spain, which at the time, due to fascist policies of Franco
, considered Castilian the only official language of the country. Catalan was banned from being taught in schools and even being spoken in public, although it was spoken in private and returned to the public sphere upon the death of Franco and democratization
of Spain in 1978
.
Today xarnego is rarely used as an insult, and many people proudly call themselves xarnegos. Xarnego is often used in much the same way as the word chicano
is used in the United States
, to designate someone who is of Mexican
origin.
The Spanish counterpart to xarnego in the despective sense is polaco to designate the Catalans, or even perro Catalan during the Franco regime.
A related word is guiri, used throughout Spain
to designate a foreigner, usually a tourist from the Anglo-Saxon
or Northern European
sphere. In the Land of Valencia, the term xurro (from Spanish churro
) is used for the speakers of inland Valencia who do not speak Valencian/Catalan
, but speak a Castilian dialect with Aragonese and Valencian features (Churro Castilian).
Pejorative
Pejoratives , including name slurs, are words or grammatical forms that connote negativity and express contempt or distaste. A term can be regarded as pejorative in some social groups but not in others, e.g., hacker is a term used for computer criminals as well as quick and clever computer experts...
or descriptive term used primarily in the 1950s-70s in the Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
region of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to denote a person who had immigrated to Catalonia (typically due to a depressed economy in their place of origin) from other parts of Spain, often Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
, but who did not speak or learn Catalan
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
, the primary language spoken in the region and one of Spain's five official languages
Languages of Spain
The languages of Spain are the languages spoken or once spoken in Spain. Romance languages are the most widely spoken in Spain, of which Spanish is the country's official language...
. A xarnego can also be someone born in Catalonia with immigrant or mixed heritage. The word is never used to refer to the latest wave of immigrants from outside of Spain - it has a historical nature.
The original meaning of the word in Spanish was a type of 'greyhound
Greyhound
The Greyhound is a breed of sighthound that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, and the breed has also recently seen a resurgence in its popularity as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed...
', although this has changed a great deal over the course of several centuries of use. The latest meaning of the word came about in the 1950s and 1960s due to massive immigration from other Castilian
Castilian Spanish
Castilian Spanish is a term related to the Spanish language, but its exact meaning can vary even in that language. In English Castilian Spanish usually refers to the variety of European Spanish spoken in north and central Spain or as the language standard for radio and TV speakers...
speaking regions of Spain to Catalonia.
The majority of immigrants did not take up speaking Catalan or learning Catalan traditions based upon the premise that while they had moved, they were still within Spain, which at the time, due to fascist policies of Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
, considered Castilian the only official language of the country. Catalan was banned from being taught in schools and even being spoken in public, although it was spoken in private and returned to the public sphere upon the death of Franco and democratization
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
of Spain in 1978
Spanish Constitution of 1978
-Structure of the State:The Constitution recognizes the existence of nationalities and regions . Preliminary Title As a result, Spain is now composed entirely of 17 Autonomous Communities and two autonomous cities with varying degrees of autonomy, to the extent that, even though the Constitution...
.
Today xarnego is rarely used as an insult, and many people proudly call themselves xarnegos. Xarnego is often used in much the same way as the word chicano
Chicano
The terms "Chicano" and "Chicana" are used in reference to U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. However, those terms have a wide range of meanings in various parts of the world. The term began to be widely used during the Chicano Movement, mainly among Mexican Americans, especially in the movement's...
is used in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, to designate someone who is of Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
origin.
The Spanish counterpart to xarnego in the despective sense is polaco to designate the Catalans, or even perro Catalan during the Franco regime.
A related word is guiri, used throughout Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to designate a foreigner, usually a tourist from the Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
or Northern European
Northern Europe
Northern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. Northern Europe typically refers to the seven countries in the northern part of the European subcontinent which includes Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland and Sweden...
sphere. In the Land of Valencia, the term xurro (from Spanish churro
Churro
A churro, sometimes referred to as a Spanish doughnut, is a fried-dough pastry-based snack that has disputed origins. Churros are also popular in Latin America, France, Portugal, Morocco, the United States, Australia, and Spanish-speaking Caribbean islands. There are two types of churros in Spain....
) is used for the speakers of inland Valencia who do not speak Valencian/Catalan
Valencian
Valencian is the traditional and official name of the Catalan language in the Valencian Community. There are dialectical differences from standard Catalan, and under the Valencian Statute of Autonomy, the Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua has been established as its regulator...
, but speak a Castilian dialect with Aragonese and Valencian features (Churro Castilian).