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tarjeta verde
Based on some research into early 20th century newspapers, I have come to believe that the phrase "green card" actually originated with Mexican immigrants who, based on the color of the card at that time, literally nicknamed it a "tarjeta verde," and then that got translated into English rather than vice versa. Today, I see Spanish language sources use "green card," "tarjeta verde" and "tarjeta de residencia" almost interchangeably.
I'm wondering whether, at least for some Spanish speakers, "green card" has become a sort of "loan translation" so that it's even absorbed into Spanish, similar to the way "carte blanche" is treated as English. Or it might be just a "code switch" -- used more as a switching back and forth between English and Spanish in the same sentence.
Can anyone advise me as to what they think is going on?
Thanks very much
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Re: tarjeta verde
Not in Spain. The neutral phrase "Green card" would have if anything an ecological connotation.
Example: http://www.uib.es/premsa/gener05/dia-28/1020019.pdf
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Re: tarjeta verde
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Re: tarjeta verde
It's an interesting question but my experience with Spanish from Mexico is that "green card" is widely understood but seldom used in conversation. In fact I hear "tarjeta verde" less each year (perhaps because the card is no longer green). "Tarjeta de residencia" is more common addressing the specific document but just as often I hear "papeles" used to indicate a person has or needs one or more of the following" passport, visa, resident alien card, and license.
Joel