The voseo in El Salvador

Abstract

This article describes and explores the usage of the voseo (the use of the pronoun vos rather than tú) in El Salvador, with emphasis on its sociocultural aspect. The use of personal pronouns in the second person singular “you” (vos, tú and usted) generates insecurities and confusion among Salvadorans. Although this discussion whirls around semantic functions and theories of power (as social hierarchy, not absolute power), clearly, people speak without theorizing. The use of usted presupposes a certain respect, distance, affection and even distinction of social class; meanwhile, the use of tú is kept for the elite (or elite-wannabe),or for those who, like Andrés Bello, consider the voseo inadequate, relegating the vos form to the masses in a derogatory way.

TEORÍA Y PRAXIS Year 10, No.21, June-December 2012, pp.71-83