Editing Llanito (section)

==Etymology==
The etymology of the term {{lang|es-GI-spanglis|Llanito}} is uncertain, and there are a number of theories about its origin. In Spanish, {{lang|es|llanito}} means "little flatland" and one interpretation is that it refers to the "people of the flatlands".{{sfn|Kellermann|2001|pp=8–10}} It is thought that the inhabitants of La Línea with important social and economic ties with Gibraltar, were actually the first to be referred to as {{lang|es-GI-spanglis|Llanitos}} since La Línea lies in the plain and marsh land surrounding The Rock.

Another theory for the origin of the word is that it is a [[diminutive]] of the name {{lang|it|[[Gianni]]}}: "gianito",{{sfn|Kellermann|2001|pp=8–10}} pronounced in Genoese slang with the "g" as "j".<ref>Vignoli, Giulio. "Gli Italiani Dimenticati"; Chapter: Gibilterra</ref> During the late 18th century 34% of the male civilian population of Gibraltar came from [[Genoa]] and {{lang|it|Gianni}} was a common [[Italian name|Italian forename]].<ref>Levey, David: [https://books.google.com/books?id=VKW6uqxsj4YC&q=french+gibraltar+ethnic&pg=PA24 ''Language change and variation in Gibraltar'', page 24. John Benjamins Publishing Company.]</ref> To this day, nearly 20% of Gibraltarian surnames are Italian in origin.<ref name="empire">{{cite book | title=Gibraltar, identity and empire | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2ip0C6odET4C | author=Edward G. Archer | publisher=Routledge | year=2006 | isbn=978-0-415-34796-9 | page=36 | chapter=Ethnic factors}}</ref> It has also been speculated that the term comes from the English name "Johnny".<ref name="Lipski86" />

It has also been hypothesized that the term originated as a reference to the language of the people, with {{lang|es|llanito}} originally referring to the "plain language" spoken by ordinary Gibraltarians.{{sfn|Kellermann|2001|pp=8–10}}