Mexico, Information, Softened Bad News

Widening the Band

On the night of December 19, 1994, Mexico decided to “elevar 15 por ciento el techo de la banda” (raise the ceiling of the band by 15 percent), according to the history of the Bank of Mexico. Expansión later wrote that the government “anunció primero una ampliación de 15% en la banda de flotación del peso” (first announced a 15 percent widening of the peso’s flotation band).

In his own account of the crisis, Carlos Salinas de Gortari wrote that Finance Secretary Jaime Serra Puche “procuró aclarar que se trataba de la apertura de la banda y no de una devaluación” (tried to make clear that this was the opening of the band and not a devaluation). According to El Financiero, the dollar rose from 3.46 pesos on December 19 to 5.60 pesos on December 27.

A Grave Prognosis

In 2006, an editorial in the medical journal of UNAM quoted a line that its author recalled from a code of medical deontology: “un pronóstico grave debe ser disimulado al paciente, pero explicado a los familiares” (a grave prognosis must be concealed from the patient, but explained to the family). The editorial observed that doctors believe they must hide the truth, and sometimes lie, to keep hope alive.

Since 2009, Article 166 Bis 3 of the General Health Law has given patients with a terminal illness the right to “recibir información clara, oportuna y suficiente sobre las condiciones y efectos de su enfermedad” (receive clear, timely and sufficient information on the conditions and effects of their illness).

In a study published in 2008, 96 percent of 50 internal medicine residents at the INCMNSZ, a national institute of medical sciences, said that the patient should know the diagnosis and prognosis. Only 38 percent asked their patients how much they wanted to know about the prognosis.

Notice That

Fíjate que…, or with usted, fíjese que…, means “notice that…” In 2023, the UNAM linguist Josaphat Enrique Guillén Escamilla published a study of mira and fíjate in the educated speech of Mexico City, in the Anuario de Letras. When the markers open a reply, he wrote, they can announce “una justificación, pero también una respuesta despreferida” (a justification, but also an unwelcome answer).

One example from his corpus begins: “Fíjate que oportunidades he tenido” (Notice that I have had chances). The speaker goes on: “únicamente que por cuestiones de trabajo no… lo he podido hacer” (only that, for work reasons, I have not been able to do it).

Avoiding Disagreement in Puebla

In 2017, the linguist Niktelol Palacios of El Colegio de México published a study of softened speech in Puebla in the journal Anuario de Letras. Lingüística y Filología. It drew on the PRESEEA corpus of Puebla, among speakers with little formal education.

The study names one aim of the softening devices that these speakers use: “se trata de evitar al máximo el desacuerdo” (the point is to avoid disagreement as far as possible).

Refusals in Mexican Spanish

In 2006, the linguist J. César Félix-Brasdefer published a study in the Journal of Pragmatics on how male speakers of Mexican Spanish refuse. He examined the effect of formality on their refusals and the link between politeness and protecting face.

In a study published in 2008, he observed 18 male Mexican students refusing a request, an invitation and a suggestion from a peer. They refused mainly in indirect ways, and they softened what they said.

Saying No Without Saying No

In 2019, BBC Mundo asked Mexican scholars why it is hard for Mexicans to say no. Alí Albarrán of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters at UNAM said: “Decir que no a alguien que te está ofreciendo algo de buena voluntad es considerado una ofensa” (Saying no to someone who offers something in good will is considered an offense). The anthropologist Roger Bartra said that “it is not very polite to say no openly.”

The article describes the common solution: “para no decir no, dicen que sí, pero no ponen un plazo” (to avoid saying no, they say yes, but they set no date).

Leaving a Good Impression

Quedar bien, “to come out well,” means to leave a good impression and keep things pleasant. Mexican Spanish has many phrases that serve it.

Sí, cómo no: “Yes, of course.”

Primero Dios: “God first,” meaning “God willing.”

Ahí lo vemos: “We will see about it.”

Ahí nos vemos: “See you there.”

Each can be a firm promise. Each can also be a kind way to leave a request open.