An ethnographic account of Spanish-language publishing and reading in the United States

Abstract Through an ethnographic account, this article explores Spanish-language publishing and reading in the United States, focusing on the key role of translation and attitudes towards it, along with the social fabric of reading. The practice of “simultaneous and parallel publishing” (that is, publishing English originals and their Spanish translations at the same time) is found to be reflected in some reading practices that overlook the translated nature of Latina/o/x texts in Spanish translation. This special case of invisibility is considered alongside a type of talk among booksellers and readers that positions Spanish translation as best avoided. Thus, while the heterogenous Hispanophone readership in the United States could give rise to a laboratory for cohabitation, creativity and innovation in translation and language practices, this remains unlikely if translation is framed as an extension of an original’s market share or perceived as providing access to the “same” but an inferior text.