Mira para allá/Mira pa ya

Do you use ""Mira para allá in context of general Spanish"?

Please vote below.

I use it very often.

0

I use it sometimes.

0

I've heard it but I never use it.

0

I've never heard of this word.

0

There were 0 votes since the poll was created on 05:47, 9 June 2015.

poll-id ABA647AC396478AAE652B43C8CD71586

Do you use ""Mira pa ya" in context of Puerto Rican Spanish"?

Please vote below.

I use it very often.

0

I use it sometimes.

0

I've heard it but I never use it.

0

I've never heard of this word.

0

There were 0 votes since the poll was created on 05:47, 9 June 2015.

poll-id CF23DFEF1EFD1DCEE7C74A10B7F63CEC

Note: This page is a work in progress and is not yet done.

Disclaimer: When it comes to understanding the spanophone community anywhere it is detrimental to situate the variety of Spanish which dominates that particular community. Especially, when there are a minority of Spanish speakers who do not share the same perspective on same words as the group in majority which holds the dominance. In the case of the spanophone community at Northwestern it is crucial to place its context within that of the Chicagoland area. Despite Northwestern being located in Evanston, IL the city of Chicago’s latino immigrant population greatly influences the university’s approach to the Spanish speaking community. Chicago’s largest hispanic/latino demographic is made up of primarily of Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans. The university is a reflection of this as it displays a Mexican Spanish interpretation for all things regarding the spanophone community. Below is an example of this situation compiled by my personal experiences as well as from the feedback collected from my consultants which come from Mexican and Dominican backgrounds.

Part of Speech

Noun

Alternate Forms and Pronunciation

1. mira para allá [me ra/ pa ra/ a ya/]
2. mira pa ya [me ra/ pa / ya/]

Description

Its literal meaning “mira para allá” can be translated to English meaning “look over there.” In Puerto Rican Spanish some parts of the word are not enunciated hence the difference to "mira pa ya.” It is also used to convey astonishment or surprise instead of the literal sense of the word.

Usage

Mira para allá or Mira pa ya is most commonly used within the Latin American community as a cultural expression. Anyone can use it is not restricted so long as it is used in the correct context.

Example Sentences

1. Don’t forget to look both ways. Mira para allá too.
2. Mira pa ya, that purse is gorgeous.

Note: In order to convey the different interpretations of the expression the example sentences uses code switching between Spanish and English.