As the topic of this terms seminar „ Contact Linguistics and Mixed-Language Genesis: the Case of English” was, I soon thought about the idea to write this term paper about Spanish speaking people living in the south of the United States of America. As a student of both languages, it is interesting for me to see how the so- called Hispanics and Americans live together on American territory and in which way both world languages influence each other. Is there also an influence of Spanish on English, or is it just the other way around?
I would like to have a closer look on the term “Spanglish”, what it means and as what it could be described in linguistical terms. Is it already an independent language or could it become one?
As a starting point it might be interesting to give an overview of the historical and contemporary situation of Hispanics in the USA.
Proceeding from that introduction, I will come to the linguistical aspects. First, I will give a few explanation of terms that might be interesting in the case of Spanish speaking people living in the USA. On that foundation I will attempt not just to have a look on the term Spanglish, but with the help of an example also try to define what kind of linguistical phenomenon it might be.
Finally, I will try to examine the sociocultural circumstances that can be found in those areas like New Mexico, Texas, California, Colorado or Arizona.
A conclusion shall summarize the results of my work and I will try to express my view on the entire situation of Hispanics in the USA.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. Hispanics in the USA
1.1 Historical background
1.2 Contemporary situation
2. Linguistical approach
2.1 Terms of interest
2.1.1 Language contact
2.1.2 Borrowing
2.1.3 Bilingualism
2.1.4 Diglossia
2.1.5 Code- switching
2.1.5.1 General definition
2.1.5.1.1 Prototypical code- switching
2.1.5.1.2 Code- switching by majority speakers
2.1.5.2 Motivation of code- switching
2.2 English- Spanish language contact in the south of the U.S.
2.2.1 Linguistical aspects of Spanglish
2.2.2 Analysis of a Spanglish version of Cervantes’ Don Quixote
2.2.3 An attempt to define the term Spanglish
3. Socio- cultural approach
3.1 Concerns
3.2 The role of media
Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This paper explores the contact situation between Americans and Hispanic populations in the Southern United States, specifically examining the linguistic phenomenon of "Spanglish." The research aims to understand whether Spanglish functions as an independent language or a sociocultural communication variety, while analyzing the mutual influence between English and Spanish in a region with high demographic intermingling.
- Historical and contemporary status of Hispanic communities in the U.S.
- Theoretical foundations of contact linguistics (borrowing, code-switching, diglossia).
- Linguistic analysis of Spanglish, including a case study of a translated text.
- Sociocultural implications, including media representation and identity issues.
- The role of "standard language ideology" in social integration.
Excerpt from the Book
First parte, Chapter Uno
In un placete de La Mancha, of which nombre no quiero remembrearme, vivía, not so long ago, uno de esos gentlemen, who always tienen una lanza in the rack, una buckler antigua, a skinny caballo y un greyhound para el chase. A cazuela with más beef than mutón, carne choppeada para la dinner, un omelet pa’ los Sábados, lentil pa’ los Viernes, y algún pigeon como delicacy especial pa’ los Domingos, consumían trés cuarers de su income. [...]
This section consists of 80 words. 29 of them are pure English words, 45 are pure Spanish. That leads to the first conclusion, that the main part of it is Spanish. So generally, Spanish is maintained as the basic language in that section, just as it is the case with Spanglish in oral conversation in the U.S. as well.
However, there are six words in that part, that can neither be determined as English nor Spanish ones: placete, remembrearme, choppeada, buckler, mutón and cuarers.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides a personal motivation for the study and outlines the focus on Spanglish as a linguistic and sociocultural phenomenon.
1. Hispanics in the USA: Offers an overview of historical migration waves from Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Cuba, and discusses the current demographic and social situation.
2. Linguistical approach: Defines core linguistic concepts such as language contact, borrowing, bilingualism, and code-switching, and applies them to the specific case of English-Spanish contact.
3. Socio- cultural approach: Analyzes the social climate, including the homogenization of cultures, discrimination, and the influence of media on the perception of Hispanic identity.
Conclusion: Summarizes that Spanglish is a communicative variety driven by identity rather than an independent language, and highlights the need for social tolerance.
Keywords
Spanglish, Contact Linguistics, Code-switching, Hispanic Communities, Bilingualism, Language Contact, Sociolinguistics, Borrowing, Cultural Identity, Migration, Diglossia, Language Variation, Language Ideology, American Society, Ethnic Groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the linguistic and sociocultural contact between English and Spanish speakers in the Southern United States, with a specific focus on the phenomenon of Spanglish.
What are the central thematic areas?
The work covers historical migration backgrounds, linguistic theory regarding language contact, the practical analysis of Spanglish, and the broader social implications of this contact in U.S. society.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine the nature of Spanglish in linguistic terms: whether it is an independent language, a dialect, or a communication variety, and how it reflects the identity of Hispanic speakers.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a theoretical framework of contact linguistics and conducts a practical, comparative textual analysis of a passage from Don Quixote translated into Spanglish.
What topics are discussed in the main section?
The main section details concepts like code-switching types, borrowing, and diglossia, followed by an analysis of the sociopolitical climate and the role of media in shaping Hispanic identity.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Spanglish, code-switching, bilingualism, Hispanic identity, contact linguistics, and sociolinguistics.
How is Spanglish characterized in the analysis?
The paper characterizes Spanglish not as a distinct, formal language but as a dynamic communication variety used by bilinguals to express their unique sociocultural identity.
What is the conclusion regarding the future of Spanglish?
The author concludes that Spanglish is unlikely to become an independent language because new waves of Spanish-speaking immigrants continue to bring standard Spanish into the U.S.
- Quote paper
- Franziska Linkner (Author), 2008, Contact linguistics: The Contact Situation between Americans and Hispanics in the South of the United States: A Linguistical and Sociolinguistical Approach, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/120782
