"I Would Like To Speak More Spanish": Language Attitudes and Behaviors Amongst Hispanics

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2019

Abstract

This article reports the findings of a recent study which examined Spanish language maintenance attitudes and behaviors in a Hispanic church community in Western New York. The participants were 48 church members, aged 13 to 80 years. Data come from participant observation and ethnographic interviews.

The investigation compared participants' attitudes toward the Spanish language with their behaviors--their opinions and beliefs about the importance of maintaining Spanish as compared to what they actually did to maintain the language. It then explored participants' awareness of and feelings around the issue.

Findings indicate that older, foreign born Hispanics held positive attitudes toward Spanish language maintenance and engaged in behaviors that were supportive of language maintenance. Younger US-born Hispanics and those who immigrated at a younger age held positive attitudes toward Spanish language maintenance but tended to engage in behaviors that were detrimental to language maintenance.

Publication Title

LLJournal

Volume

14

Issue

1

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