Unveiling Perceptions of Spanish Inclusive Language: A Sentiment Analysis of YouTube Comments

Inclusive language is a multifaceted issue that encompasses language, culture, society, and politics, making it a crucial topic for exploring the intricate nuances of language use. The present study conducted sentiment analysis using 21,512 YouTube comments as a dataset to comprehend how Spanish speakers perceive inclusive language. By employing relevant Python libraries and/or packages for extracting YouTube comments and conducting sentiment analysis, the present study aimed to shed light on the authentic perceptions and attitudes of the public towards Spanish inclusive language. The findings revealed a prevailing negative tone in the YouTube comments, with a diversity of mixed opinions regarding the linguistic phenomenon in question. Additionally, some disparities were observed in content and expression depending on whether the comments were written in Spanish or English. Spanish comments tended to focus more on the unique sociocultural context of Spanish-speaking communities, while English comments leaned towards interpreting it from a more international perspective, with an emphasis on the influence of American culture. The present study contributes to our understanding of inclusive language in Spanish through quantitative research combined with natural language processing technology.