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Spanish in the US: A Sociolinguistic Approach
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Spanish in the US: A Sociolinguistic Approach

A special issue of Languages (ISSN 2226-471X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2024) | Viewed by 4307

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Alberto Pastor

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of World Languages and Literatures, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX 75205, USA
Interests: Spanish syntax; Spanish in the US; language contact; bilingualism; language ideologies; language attitudes; linguistic landscapes; heritage language pedagogy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue on Spanish in the United States of America. The goal of the present issue is to expand our understanding of current social and sociolinguistic trends and factors affecting the vitality of Spanish varieties and the life of Spanish-speaking communities in the US. Scholars from different disciplines, primarily linguistics, sociology, anthropology, and education, are invited to address key topics related to the future of Spanish and Spanish-speaking communities in the US. This Special Issue includes but is not limited to the following topics: bilingualism/multilingualism; language contact and change; formal aspects of US Spanish; language maintenance; shift and loss; language ideologies and language attitudes; educational policies and practices; translanguaging; heritage language acquisition; heritage language learning and teaching; third-generation heritage Spanish; language and identity; raciolinguistics; language in politics and politics of language; language and the law; language planning; language policy; language rights; linguistic anthropology; linguistic variation;linguistic landscapes; mass media and Spanish; Spanish in the professions; and Spanish and the economy. We welcome multidisciplinary, multimethod, and collaborative cutting-edge scholarship.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of between 400–600 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the guest editor ([email protected]). Abstracts will be reviewed by the guest editors for the purpose of ensuring the paper fits within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer-review.

Tentative Completion Schedule

  • Abstract Submission Deadline: September 15th, 2023
  • Notification of Abstract Acceptance: October 15th, 2023
  • Full Manuscript Deadline: February 15th, 2024

Dr. Alberto Pastor
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Languages is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • language contact
  • bilingualism
  • linguistic variation
  • language ideologies
  • language attitudes
  • language identity
  • language maintenance/shift/loss
  • bilingual education
  • heritage language
  • language policy and planning
  • linguistic anthropology

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1139 KiB  
Article
Radio-Lect: Spanish/English Code-Switching in On-Air Advertisements
by Roshawnda A. Derrick
Languages 2024, 9(5), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9050156 - 24 Apr 2024
Viewed by 391
Abstract
The 2020 census reports that 61.2 million Latinxs live in the US, totaling around 19% of all residents, forming the country’s largest minority population. With the growing number of Latinxs, there has been a higher level of contact between Spanish and English leading [...] Read more.
The 2020 census reports that 61.2 million Latinxs live in the US, totaling around 19% of all residents, forming the country’s largest minority population. With the growing number of Latinxs, there has been a higher level of contact between Spanish and English leading to language mixing or code-switching (CS) in mainstream American culture. This paper examines the Spanish/English CS in radio advertisements on Los Angeles’s 96.3 La Mega, a bilingual radio station geared towards today’s youth. Using Derrick’ 2015 sentential framework for the linguistic analysis of multilingual sentences, I carry out a sentence-by-sentence analysis of the linguistic nature of the on-air bilingual advertisements. I explore both national advertisements, as well as DJ-endorsed advertisements, to discern whether they follow the patterns previously pointed out in the literature for positive consumer evaluations of Spanish/English bilingual advertisements. Furthermore, I am interested in if these advertisements are in line with the ethos of 96.3 La Mega, which prides itself on being fully bilingual. This research will shed light on the linguistic nature of contemporary strategies being used in bilingual advertisements for the US Latinx community and marketing tactics designed to encourage their consumerism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spanish in the US: A Sociolinguistic Approach)
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14 pages, 3458 KiB  
Article
Bilingual Texting in the Age of Emoji: Spanish–English Code-Switching in SMS
by Cecilia Montes-Alcalá
Languages 2024, 9(4), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9040144 - 15 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1437
Abstract
Technology and computer-mediated communication (CMC) have quickly transformed the means of interaction among monolingual and bilingual individuals alike, especially in the younger generations. While e-mail once replaced traditional “snail mail”, today’s youth networks mainly via social media and short message services (SMS). Digital [...] Read more.
Technology and computer-mediated communication (CMC) have quickly transformed the means of interaction among monolingual and bilingual individuals alike, especially in the younger generations. While e-mail once replaced traditional “snail mail”, today’s youth networks mainly via social media and short message services (SMS). Digital communication has thus become a fertile ground for sociolinguistic research. The present study aims to contribute to the field of “electronic” code-switching, specifically in the emerging area of text messaging. To this end, I analyze The Bilingual Youth Texts Corpus, a collection of text messages among urban emergent Spanish–English bilinguals in New York City. The main findings indicate that (1) although it is not the most common practice, participants do engage in code-switching when texting each other; (2) their language mixing obeys most of the socio-pragmatic and communicative patterns attested in oral production (such as emphasis, elaboration, lexical need and, especially, tag switches) along with other functions (textisms) which are idiosyncratic to CMC; and (3) the language choices made by these bilinguals reveal a linguistic and a cultural belonging to two worlds where they may and must use both languages to fully express themselves online just like in real life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spanish in the US: A Sociolinguistic Approach)
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24 pages, 1711 KiB  
Article
“Dime con Quién Andas y te Diré Qué Piensas Sobre el Español de los US”: Language Attitudes and Motivation to Learn Spanish as a Heritage Language through the Lens of Social Networks
by Marina Cuartero Marco
Languages 2024, 9(4), 140; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9040140 - 12 Apr 2024
Viewed by 492
Abstract
This study explores the motivation and attitudes of heritage speakers (HSs) of Spanish, focusing on the influence of their social networks. Previous research highlighted variations in HS motivation, attributed to social, cultural, and contextual factors. The study investigates how HS communities shape motivation [...] Read more.
This study explores the motivation and attitudes of heritage speakers (HSs) of Spanish, focusing on the influence of their social networks. Previous research highlighted variations in HS motivation, attributed to social, cultural, and contextual factors. The study investigates how HS communities shape motivation and attitudes towards learning the heritage language (HL). Employing personal network analysis, the research surveyed 26 Spanish HSs in a Spanish heritage language program. Results revealed that HS networks primarily consisted of emotionally close family members. Positive and negative factors within these networks, such as language support, confidence, shame, and expectations, significantly influenced HS motivation and attitudes. Language attitudes within the network positively impacted individual attitudes, indicating a process of internalizing shared values. The study emphasizes the importance of considering the context surrounding HSs and suggests that addressing language expectations and fostering language support in communities may positively transform perceptions of Spanish in the United States. The findings underscore the effectiveness of a personal network approach in recreating the external environment beyond the language classroom. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spanish in the US: A Sociolinguistic Approach)
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20 pages, 5617 KiB  
Article
From Bilingualism to Multilingualism: Mapping Language Dynamics in the Linguistic Landscape of Hispanic Philadelphia
by Daniel Guarín
Languages 2024, 9(4), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9040123 - 01 Apr 2024
Viewed by 657
Abstract
This study explores the linguistic landscape (LL) of three Hispanic neighborhoods in Philadelphia, PA, aiming to document and measure the presence of the Spanish language in public spaces and understand the influence of time, location, and establishment type on language use. [...] Read more.
This study explores the linguistic landscape (LL) of three Hispanic neighborhoods in Philadelphia, PA, aiming to document and measure the presence of the Spanish language in public spaces and understand the influence of time, location, and establishment type on language use. Based on 3437 signs analyzed from 2021 to 2023, our findings reveal that English dominates the LL at 61.65%, while Spanish constitutes 24.16%. The study employs chi-squared tests to confirm the impact of time and location on language use, highlighting a rise in bilingual and monolingual Spanish signs over time. Additionally, variables were combined into clusters using a heatmap to explore language use across different establishments. Bilingualism emerges as a sustained trend, underscoring inclusivity and linguistic diversity within these contexts. Location analysis exposes unique linguistic characteristics in each neighborhood, reflecting the cultural and linguistic diversity of their communities. The Golden Block exhibits bilingual prevalence, indicative of evolving demographics. Olney showcases language mixtures due to diverse ethnic and sociolinguistic influences, while South Philadelphia’s Italian Market area features prevalent Spanish and multilingual signage. The study underscores the growing presence of Spanish and minority languages, emphasizing the need to recognize and revitalize linguistic diversity in urban spaces. As cities evolve, continued exploration of the LL is crucial to understanding language dynamics in relation to identity, culture, and power. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spanish in the US: A Sociolinguistic Approach)
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