Assimilation Processes within the Puerto Rican Diaspora
Document Type
Paper Presentation
Presenter Language
English
Research Area
Spanish in the US
Location
MBSC Council Room 306
Start Date
17-10-2024 2:00 PM
End Date
17-10-2024 2:30 PM
Abstract
This project delves into sociocultural dynamics and linguistic experiences of four Puerto Rican women living in North Carolina. Several studies focused on perceptions towards specific Spanish allophones typical of Puerto Rican Spanish, which are often associated with different degrees of sociolinguistic attitudes and stereotypes (Ortiz, 2022; Delgado Díaz, Galarza, & Díaz Campos, 2020; Mack, 2011; Marquéz, 2006; López Morales 2003; and some others). Though previous research has shown that speakers may adapt their use forms that carry social stigma as part of a process of assimilation to the dominant varieties when joining new communities (Woods & Rivera-Mills, 2012), less is known about these processes within the context of the Puerto Rican diaspora. This case study analyzes narrative interviews to illustrate some of the complexities of language use, negotiation of identity, processes of assimilation, and responses to social dynamics in North Carolina.
The four speakers participated in individual 40-minute semi-structured interviews in Spanish, which included open-ended questions on migration processes, experiences of cultural shock, experiences with other Spanish-speaking communities, language attitudes, and racial and linguistic discrimination. After transcribing the interviews, I utilized a Grounded Theory approach (Glaser and Strauss 1967) to identify recurrent themes in participants’ narratives. I then analyzed these themes through a raciolinguistic lense (Alim et al., 2016). In this project, the speakers reflected on their linguistic assimilation processes, often adapting their speech to fit “standard” regulations due to the negative interactions faced while living and working in North Carolina. These negative interactions provoked a conscious decision to build a “dual personality” – as stated by some of them - while trying to navigate linguistic norms within their contexts. Not only were they misjudged by their sociolects, but some of them were also racialized (Ahmed, 2002).
This case study contributes to the broader discussion on linguistic stereotypes and discrimination. Through its focus on in-depth analysis of personal narratives, this study highlights the importance of considering participants' lived experiences in sociolinguistic analysis. Furthermore, these results reinforce the need to deconstruct perceptions of non-standard varieties as “impure” (Flores & Rosa, 2015; Leeman & Serafini, 2016).
Assimilation Processes within the Puerto Rican Diaspora
MBSC Council Room 306
This project delves into sociocultural dynamics and linguistic experiences of four Puerto Rican women living in North Carolina. Several studies focused on perceptions towards specific Spanish allophones typical of Puerto Rican Spanish, which are often associated with different degrees of sociolinguistic attitudes and stereotypes (Ortiz, 2022; Delgado Díaz, Galarza, & Díaz Campos, 2020; Mack, 2011; Marquéz, 2006; López Morales 2003; and some others). Though previous research has shown that speakers may adapt their use forms that carry social stigma as part of a process of assimilation to the dominant varieties when joining new communities (Woods & Rivera-Mills, 2012), less is known about these processes within the context of the Puerto Rican diaspora. This case study analyzes narrative interviews to illustrate some of the complexities of language use, negotiation of identity, processes of assimilation, and responses to social dynamics in North Carolina.
The four speakers participated in individual 40-minute semi-structured interviews in Spanish, which included open-ended questions on migration processes, experiences of cultural shock, experiences with other Spanish-speaking communities, language attitudes, and racial and linguistic discrimination. After transcribing the interviews, I utilized a Grounded Theory approach (Glaser and Strauss 1967) to identify recurrent themes in participants’ narratives. I then analyzed these themes through a raciolinguistic lense (Alim et al., 2016). In this project, the speakers reflected on their linguistic assimilation processes, often adapting their speech to fit “standard” regulations due to the negative interactions faced while living and working in North Carolina. These negative interactions provoked a conscious decision to build a “dual personality” – as stated by some of them - while trying to navigate linguistic norms within their contexts. Not only were they misjudged by their sociolects, but some of them were also racialized (Ahmed, 2002).
This case study contributes to the broader discussion on linguistic stereotypes and discrimination. Through its focus on in-depth analysis of personal narratives, this study highlights the importance of considering participants' lived experiences in sociolinguistic analysis. Furthermore, these results reinforce the need to deconstruct perceptions of non-standard varieties as “impure” (Flores & Rosa, 2015; Leeman & Serafini, 2016).