Paving the road to hell: The Spanish word menas as a case study

Menas es un término que ha ganado notoriedad en la actual escena política española. Aunque el término tenía un uso neutro en su origen, ya que es un acrónimo de “menores extranjeros no acompañados”, recientemente ha evolucionado a un término con claras connotaciones negativas. Este artículo explora qué tipo de término es menasactualmente. Específicamente, examinaremos si menas es un slur o un TESNI, es decir, un término étnico/social neutro usado como insulto. Primero, señalamos las características más definitorias de ambos tipos de términos. Después, por medio de análisis sobre corpus lingüísticos, mostramos que menas exhibe las características más definitorias de los TESNI. Acabamos discutiendo la posible evolución del término, señalando que, aunque el término tiene los rasgos de los TESNI, existen dos posibles escenarios. Por un lado, el término puede conservar sus usos neutros y de este modo seguir siendo un TESNI. Por otro lado, los usos neutros pueden desaparecer y así el término acabar convir-tiéndose en un slur. “Menas” is a term that has attracted a great deal of attention on the political scene in Spain at present. Although the term had a neutral usage originally, being an acronym for unaccompanied foreign minors, it has recently evolved into a term with clear negative connotations. This article explores what kind of term menas is today. Specifically, we will examine whether “menas” is a slur or an ESTI, an ethnic/social term used as an insult. First, we point out the most defining characteristics of both types of terms. Then, using analyses on linguistic corpora, we show that “menas” exhibits the most defining characteristics of TESNI. We end by discussing the possible evolution of the term, pointing out that, although the term presents the features related to ESTIs, there are two possible scenarios. On the one hand, the term may retain its neutral uses and thus remain an ESTI. On the other hand, the neutral uses may disappear, and thus the term may become a slur.

The Challenge of Training Translators and Interpreters in the Social Context of Foreign Unaccompanied Minors

There are many challenges facing teachers in the classroom, throughout the process of training translators and interpreters in higher education. This paper aims to share reflections and teaching practices related to the preparation of these future professionals, in the context of caring for a vulnerable group of the immigrant community, Unaccompanied Foreign Minors (UFM). The proposal is based on taking a step further in the Teaching Practice and Development (TPD) methodology of Specialized Translation and Bilateral Interpreting subjects by incorporating new knowledge such as that related to Public Management or Social Sciences. This is due to the firm belief of the author of this manuscript in the quality of training from a multidisciplinary approach that will undoubtedly bring many more benefits, not only to the students, but also to UFM as a sensitive group, to the Administration as a competent body and, also, to the host society.This proposal arises from a simple question: Are future translators and interpreters prepared to manage their work in a vulnerable context? To answer this question, it is necessary to analyze the practical knowledge acquired by these professionals in the preparation phase. Thus, the main objective of this work is to demonstrate that the use of real texts in the Translation and Interpreting classroom is a bet that leads to an excellent academic training. Furthermore, this multidisciplinary work will serve as a model to be followed by teachers in this field.

Reduction of prejudice toward unaccompanied foreign minors through audiovisual narratives. Effects of the similarity and of the narrative voice

This study focuses on the reduction of prejudice toward foreign unaccompanied minors (UAMs) by means of audiovisual testimonial messages. Specifically, it analyzes the role of two narrative elements that can influence, in an indirect way, the intention to share the message, the feelings toward UAMs, the intention to approach UAMs, and the intention to collaborate with an NGO that provides support to immigrants. With this goal in mind, an experimental study (N = 500) was conducted using a 2 × 2 factorial design, where the factors analyzed were similarity in terms of social identity (high vs. low) and narrative voice (first-person vs. third-person). No interaction effects of similarity and narrative voice on identification or transportation were observed. However, multiple serial mediation analyses were statistically significant. A significant indirect effect of similarity on dependent variables was observed through perceived similarity (primary mediator), identification and transportation (secondary mediators), and counterarguing and reactance (tertiary mediators). Similarly, the narrative voice also had a significant indirect effect on the dependent variables that was explained by the increase in identification and transportation, and by the reduction in counterarguing and reactance. This work improves the understanding of the mechanisms that explain the impact of narratives and demonstrates that certain narrative elements can increase the effectiveness of audiovisual testimonial messages designed for the prevention of racism and xenophobia.

The Challenge of Training Translators and Interpreters in the Social Context of Foreign Unaccompanied Minors

There are many challenges facing teachers in the classroom, throughout the process of training translators and interpreters in higher education. This paper aims to share reflections and teaching practices related to the preparation of these future professionals, in the context of caring for a vulnerable group of the immigrant community, Unaccompanied Foreign Minors (UFM). The proposal is based on taking a step further in the Teaching Practice and Development (TPD) methodology of Specialized Translation and Bilateral Interpreting subjects by incorporating new knowledge such as that related to Public Management or Social Sciences. This is due to the firm belief of the author of this manuscript in the quality of training from a multidisciplinary approach that will undoubtedly bring many more benefits, not only to the students, but also to UFM as a sensitive group, to the Administration as a competent body and, also, to the host society.This proposal arises from a simple question: Are future translators and interpreters prepared to manage their work in a vulnerable context? To answer this question, it is necessary to analyze the practical knowledge acquired by these professionals in the preparation phase. Thus, the main objective of this work is to demonstrate that the use of real texts in the Translation and Interpreting classroom is a bet that leads to an excellent academic training. Furthermore, this multidisciplinary work will serve as a model to be followed by teachers in this field

TRAINING OF EDUCATORS FOR THE SOCIAL INCLUSION AND TRAINING OF UNACCOMPANIED FOREIGN MINORS IN SPAIN

The article begins with an introduction to the Spanish context, focusing on migration, diversity, and the specific profile and needs of immigrant minors arriving alone in Spain, which raises the new professional roles of social educators working in intercultural diversity contexts. The second section of the article deals with educators' training of immigrant minors and young people, a relatively neglected and under-served field. Sections three and four are dedicated to present two training experiences we have carried out, on a four-month online course for under-age educators and a short-term face-to-face course on the same topic

Personal Learning Environments that Facilitate Socio-Educational Integration of Unaccompanied Foreign Minors

The aim of the present study was to predict the variables that facilitate integration of unaccompanied foreign minors (UFM) and to develop personal learning environment (PLE) questionnaire dimensions with respect to social integration of UFM. Methods: A social study that was descriptive in nature was conducted with a quantitative empirical-analytical focus. Results: Results from discriminant function analysis indicate that 86% of group membership was correctly classified from gender alone, with female learning environments leading to greater future success. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the predictive results possess methodological coherence. Thus, from them we can propose possible development strategies, particularly targeting males, in order to improve learning and promote social integration. According to the results obtained, improvement of learning strategies and strengthening of the very learning environments, demands new policies to be established which promote emotional improvement and better futures for UFM, especially males.