Fiesta 1980 Junot Diaz Analysis

In Diaz’s Narration, the use of Spanish has a purpose, it shows or reveals in certain degree hints of the traditions of Latin America and the Caribbean. Taking as an example “Fiesta 1980”, Diaz uses a lot the expression “Dios mio”, “Bendición”, “Que Dios te bendiga” (Meyer 172) reflecting the religiosity of the Dominicans since 68.9 percent of the population declare to have Roman Catholic as their religion (Buffington). This shows that most of the population is devoted to a Christian religion and that represents a big part of their beliefs and traditions and even though the narration is in English these words are in Spanish to emphasize the meaning that they had for them. This is a clear example of a mix of cultures through the language. Other words that are not translated into English are “Pastelito”, “Tostones”, “Chicharrones”, “Sancocho”, “Pernil” (Meyer 175-77), these are traditional foods of Dominican people and since they have a big meaning for their culture they remain in Spanish. This kind of vocabulary without translation shows the respect and knowledge that Junot Diaz has for his country and his roots and that even though he came to the

For example, Yunior reveals that he lives with his father, mother, Rafa (his brother), and his sister, this shows that it is a nuclear family. This is a change that most of the Dominican immigrants suffer “Their families become smaller and more nuclear the longer they remain in the country. In contrast, Dominican families in the Caribbean are more likely to be large and nonnuclear” (Buffington). In Latin America in contrast with the United States, families are big and most of them live together in a house, so most are extended families. This represents another mix of cultures and also the personal experience that Diaz lived as an immigrant because back in his country he used to live even with his