LADINO

Europeanized Central American person of predominantly Spanish origin. Despite regional variations, there is a cultural similarity among Ladinos stemming from their common Spanish origins and speech. Ladinos include urban classes, rural labourers, and peasantry. Although not always physically distinguishable from Indians, Ladinos may be recognized by their exclusive use of the Spanish language and by their Western dress. Many Ladinos practice a subsistence agriculture much like that of their Indian neighbours, although with more stress on cash crops and participation in a regional market economy. They also differ from the Indians in their greater use of advanced cultivation equipment and methods, such as steel plows, irrigation, and fertilization. Many employ Indians or landless peasants as seasonal labour. In small towns, Ladinos very commonly engage in small-scale commerce, in addition to agricultural activities.