The recent passing of Vargas Llosa in Lima at 89 years old has left a void in the cultural world. However, his legacy endures in his works and in his firm convictions on essential issues.
A laugh that said more than a thousand words
In an interview with Mexican-American journalist Jorge Ramos, Mario Vargas Llosa was questioned about the use of inclusive language, specifically about terms like "todes."
The writer replied with a spontaneous laugh, followed by a clear explanation:
"Language is something that is born naturally and certain rules are established over it. We have in Spanish a very clear inclusive masculine."
Faced with Ramos's insistence on whether this use wasn't sexist, Vargas Llosa was emphatic:
"That is a very dangerous path. Deeply denaturalizing language in the name of a misunderstood feminism... is nonsense that I am in no way going to approve."
A legacy of clarity and commitment
Mario Vargas Llosa, Nobel Prize in Literature 2010, was recognized not only for his vast literary work but also for his commitment to clarity and precision in the use of language.
