Mira para allá/Mira pa ya
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. It also includes my personal feedback as a Salvadorian.
Contents
Part of Speech
Noun
Alternate Forms and Pronunciation
Description
The literal meaning of “mira para allá” can be translated to English phrase “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
- Don’t forget to look both ways. Mira para allá too.
- 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.
