Language attitudes, ideologies, maintenance, and Spanish Heritage Learners in the South Texas border

Authors

Hyanghee Lee, University of Texas-Pan American

Date of Award

8-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Spanish

First Advisor

Dr. Jose Esteban Hernandez

Second Advisor

Dr. Deborah Cole

Third Advisor

Dr. Yong Lang

Abstract

Unlike the situations in Europe or Canada, the power of language exercised by the speakers in the U.S.A is centered on English. Considering the general perception of a language as an index of an ethnic identity, this circumstance clearly reflects a linguistic inequality in the multiethnic U.S. society. The primary objective of this study is to examine the language ideologies and attitudes that the Spanish Heritage Learners in South Texas adapt and exercise in their daily activities. This investigation also attempts to analyze the correlations between language attitudes and the intergenerational transmission of Spanish, which would significantly impact the maintenance of Spanish in the study area. Sociolinguistic interviews and language surveys were implemented to carry out the study with the permission from the Institutional Review Board at the University of Texas Pan American.

Comments

Copyright 2014 Hyanghee Lee. All Right Reserved.

https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/language-attitudes-ideologies-maintenance-spanish/docview/1629825610/se-2

Granting Institution

University of Texas-Pan American