The Importance of Linguistic Strategies in Shaping the Social Identities of Bilingual Youth
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Authors
Denton, Lisa M.
Issue Date
1998
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
My conclusions posit that the use of Spanish or "Tex-Mex" Spanish among
Hispanic youth serves as a reinforcer of identity among troubled and defeated youth, and
as a type of indicator for teachers and others to recognize these youth. Others may argue
that Spanish language use carries so much weight and merits such focused attention. To
the contrary, the trends that emerged within my study drew my attention to this topic,
unexpectedly, demonstrating apparent importance. Some may suggest that the use of
minority languages reveals no more than incompetency and incomplete knowledge of
the English language in students. Again, my observations alluded to more than this
simplistic interpretation, when I witnessed the same student communicating effectively
in both languages when necessary, but preferring the Spanish in the migrant/bilingual
classroom setting. Another possible explanation of frequent language shifts is that code-switching may simply be a playful"game" entertained by some students. In some cases,
this may be true, but other instances show that code-switches occur with such ease and
casualness that it constitutes a distinct communicative convention. Even when true,
however, code-switching always reflects some level of shared identity, and serves as a
reinforcer of that identity, as does any form of esoteric language. Use of Spanish or
Spanglish includes bilingual students and faculty and excludes non-Spanish speakers,
defining the social boundaries of a group.
Description
v, 227 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo, Mich. : Kalamazoo College.
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder. All rights reserved.