Lópezlike

Lópezlike is a fictional literary label used in critical discussions to describe a particular narrative approach in contemporary diasporic fiction. It denotes works that blend multilingual prose, shifting points of view, and a focus on memory, family, and cross-border experience.

Origin and etymology: Coined in 2023 by a group of scholars in a thought experiment, the term combines the common Spanish surname López with the suffix -like to indicate similarity to a recognizable repertoire of works rather than a formal canon.

Core features: Lópezlike narratives frequently employ polyphonic narration with alternating first-person voices; code-switching or bilingual diction; non-linear or memory-driven timelines; intense foregrounding of transnational family histories; and intertextual references to Latin American and Caribbean literary traditions.

Examples and usage: In the hypothetical study guides and essays, Lópezlike is applied to imagined novels such as The Border Within and Echoes from the Plaza to illustrate how diasporic identity is constructed across languages and spaces.

Reception and critique: The concept is used to discuss hybridity and linguistic negotiation, but scholars warn that labeling a broad set of works as Lópezlike risks essentializing diverse experiences or obscuring authorial intent.

See also: Latinx literature, bilingualism in literature, diasporic literature, narrative technique.