Last update:
9 February 2010
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Bilingualism and IdentitySpanish at the crossroads with other languages
2008. vii, 365 pp.
Publishing status: Available
Hardbound
– In stock
978 90 272 4148 1 / EUR 99.00 / USD 149.00
Paperback
– In stock
e-Book
– Available from e-book platforms
Sociolinguists have been pursuing connections between language and identity for several decades. But how are language and identity related in bilingualism and multilingualism? Mobilizing the most current methodology, this collection presents new research on language identity and bilingualism in three regions where Spanish coexists with other languages. The cases are Spanish-English contact in the United States, Spanish-indigenous language contact in Latin America, and Spanish-regional language contact in Spain. This is the first comparativist book to examine language and identity construction among bi- or multilingual speakers while keeping one of the languages constant. The sociolinguistic standing of Spanish varies among the three regions depending whether or not it is a language of prestige. Comparisons therefore afford a strong constructivist perspective on how linguistic ideologies affect bi/multilingual identity formation.
Table of contents
“This book examines linguistic identity construction in Hispanic bilinguals and trilinguals in Spain, Latin America and the United States, offering readers a comprehensive overview of the ways in which identities emerge and are constantly renegotiated in vastly different settings. It is an exciting and important addition to the literature on language contact and a "must read" for anyone who wants to understand the role that linguistic exchanges play in the construction of identity in general and for those who are particularly interested in multilingualism in various parts of the Spanish-speaking world.”
Guadalupe Valdés, Bonnie Katz Tenenbaum Professor of Education and Professor of Spanish & Portuguese, Stanford University
“As one of most important and widespread languages, what happens to Spanish is a barometer for understanding complex transformations in languages, identities and power relations in a globalizing world. This fascinating collection of studies explores the many meanings of Spanish and the identities of its users as they are co-constructed in diverse contact settings in Europe and the Americas.”
Subject classification |
Linguistics