contrabandista

I learned from this article about the Wayuu, uno de los pueblos originarios en Colombia that traditionally engages in what is often called contraband, that a more respectful term for this is 'comerciante informal transfronterizo' or, in English, informal cross-border trader. The Wayuu's traditional territory crosses the Venezuela-Colombia border.

person with hearing impairment

persona con discapacidad auditiva

as with all forms of disability, it is more respectful to put the word person first, both in English and in Spanish, as opposed to, say, using 'hearing impaired person'


I was reminded of the term when my friend Andrea posted this story about kids fighting for sign interpreters in school

bullying

bullying: matoneo escolar (often shortened to just matoneo)

At the recent educators conference I interpreted for I heard several Mexicans use the English word, but in Colombia matoneo is used.  I'm not sure about other countries, any other versions out there? 

Matoneo has been in the Colombian news a lot lately because rates are way up and a student was killed recently.   A senator is asking for a national school emergency to be declared, details here.