With the U.S. Hispanic population projected to triple by 2050 (PDF), rising to nearly 25% of the total population, maybe it’s time for our pop culture to pay attention to spanish grammar. First we have U2 in the new iTunes Vertigo TV ad (Quicktime required) counting “uno-dos-tres-catorce.” One, two, three, fourteen? Maybe they’re being all ironical and over my small Bush-voting head. I’ve also noted that the Dora the Explorer Fruit Snack package suggests one count “una, dos, tres…” That’s a real nit-pick, but isn’t generic cardinal counting supposed to start with uno? Maybe it’s to be implied that we’re counting Doras or something. Una chica, dos chicas…, which would be correct.
These things bother me for some reason. And they defeat the purpose of the advertising. Instead of selling me on what is actually a good idea - preload an iPod with the oeuvre of an artist (I wouldn’t buy a U2 iPod, but I’d consider other versions) - I get hung up on the grammar. Same with “Think Different.” And this mortgage broker.
