Linguistic differentiation and Mayan language revitalization in Guatemala1

Bibliographic Data

ID3607021
AuthorsR Barrett (0000-0001-7461-3553, University of Kentucky, corresponding author)
Year2008
Volume12
Issue3
Pages275-305
Publication date2008-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Sociolinguistics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1360-6441 • E-ISSN: 1467-9841
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1467-9841.2008.00368.x
OpenAlexW2156791712
LanguageEN
Citations received19
References cited40

This paper presents a quantitative study of syntactic change in the context of Mayan language revitalization in Guatemala. Quantitative analyses of grammatical variation and code-switching patterns were used to examine the degree of Spanish influence in the speech of three generations of Sipakapense-Spanish bilinguals. The younger generations show lower frequencies of code-switching compared to the oldest generation. In terms of syntactic variation, younger speakers show patterns that suggest a resistance to influence from Spanish. The results suggest that younger speakers are hyperdifferentiating the two languages by avoiding traditional Sipakapense constructions that could be interpreted as resulting from Spanish influence. The analysis highlights the important role of language ideology in cases of language change due to contact and language shift

Code-switching · Context (archaeology · Ideology · Language change · Language contact · Language shift · Linguistic change · Linguistics · Political science · Sociology · Variation (astronomy · History · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Multilingual Education and Policy · Psychology · Spanish Linguistics and Language Studies

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