The consolidation of the VOSEO phenomenon in Latin America and the replacement by tú are closely tied to the establishment and history of colonial viceroys. The extent of economic, political, and cultural contact with the colonial country during the colonial era was crucial. Countries like Mexico and Peru, where viceroys were established early and maintained close ties with Spain, adopted the Spanish pronoun system with tú. In contrast, other regions, which were established later or had less close ties with the colonial country, continued to use vos as the singular second-person pronoun.
Thus, the persistence of vos in Latin America during the colonial period, influenced by the establishment of viceroys, played a decisive role in the use of the VOSEO phenomenon. Even within Latin America, the distribution of pronouns of address based on geographical and social factors varied significantly by region.
✔️ Latin American countries with predominant use of VOSEO
Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, etc.
✔️ Latin American countries with partial use of VOSEO
Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, etc.
✔️ Latin American countries without the use of VOSEO
Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, etc.