Language

The article “Why Latino Children Are Scared of Donald Trump” by Héctor Tobar is written using very simple language. Although it uses several Spanish words referring to monsters from bedtime stories, the author explains their meaning from the very beginning: “There is “La Llorona,” who is said to moan for her dead children. And more recently, the Chupacabra, which sucks the blood from farm animals and maybe a boy or a girl if he or she doesn’t behave.” (ll. 2-4)

The simplicity of the language is mostly because the coverage is based on interviews with children of immigrants to the US, and their replies are mostly quoted directly:

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Apart from these general traits of the language, the author also uses some specific linguistic features which we outline next:

Imagery

Imagery means that a sender or an author uses descriptive words to create visual images, to make readers imagine what things look like or how people act.

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Epithets

Epithets help create visual images. Note, however, that in this article these epithets are mostly informative or...

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Similes and Metaphors

Similes and metaphors are mainly used for the purpose of creating humor and irony, but they also contribute to the overall imagery of the article.

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Symbols

The journalist employs two interesting symbolic elements, the piñata and the bedtime monsters.

The piñata

A piñata which is a traditional Mexican doll filled with candies which children are supposed to beat up. In the article, this tradition is associated with Donald Trump ...

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The bedtime monsters

The bedtime monsters - “El Cuco”, El Cadejo, La Llorona - from Latino folklore, become symbolic representations of the public figures who are against immigrants the author mentions.

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