Portuguese in Massachusetts
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Patricia Gubitosi
Abstract
In the state of Massachusetts, Portuguese is the second most spoken foreign language after Spanish and the dense population of Portuguese speakers gives this community vitality. This paper analyzes the linguistic attitudes of a group of twenty Portuguese men and women, from the island of Saint Michael, Azores, who have lived on the eastern coast of Massachusetts for more than fifteen years. Some important factors that have been linked to language maintenance and the prevention of language attrition are positive attitudes, socio-cultural factors and social networks. Using the social networks framework, we further discuss the implications that language attitudes may have on language maintenance within this community. We conclude that linguistic attitudes continue to be a key factor in preventing language loss and promoting ethnic pride, which ultimately benefit language maintenance.
Abstract
In the state of Massachusetts, Portuguese is the second most spoken foreign language after Spanish and the dense population of Portuguese speakers gives this community vitality. This paper analyzes the linguistic attitudes of a group of twenty Portuguese men and women, from the island of Saint Michael, Azores, who have lived on the eastern coast of Massachusetts for more than fifteen years. Some important factors that have been linked to language maintenance and the prevention of language attrition are positive attitudes, socio-cultural factors and social networks. Using the social networks framework, we further discuss the implications that language attitudes may have on language maintenance within this community. We conclude that linguistic attitudes continue to be a key factor in preventing language loss and promoting ethnic pride, which ultimately benefit language maintenance.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Preface ix
- Introduction 1
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Part I. Language integration through education
- Prosody perception meets language attitudes 11
- Perceptual attitudes towards Spanish in the Panhandle of West Virginia 39
- Differing attitudes toward Spanish sign languages in three Galician pre- and primary schools 61
- The role of attitudes in the management of multilingualism in Brazilian schools located in the Brazil-Paraguay border region 83
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Part II. Language policy
- Attitudes toward Portuguese in Uruguay in the nineteenth century 111
- Patterns of linguistic vitality 137
- Language use, language attitudes and identity in Curaçao 155
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Part III. Language maintenance
- Parental language attitudes and language use among Brazilian families in Japan 185
- Portuguese in Massachusetts 207
- Spanish-speaking immigrants in Indiana 231
-
Part IV. Closing reflections
- The study of language attitudes 255
- Index 273
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Preface ix
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Language integration through education
- Prosody perception meets language attitudes 11
- Perceptual attitudes towards Spanish in the Panhandle of West Virginia 39
- Differing attitudes toward Spanish sign languages in three Galician pre- and primary schools 61
- The role of attitudes in the management of multilingualism in Brazilian schools located in the Brazil-Paraguay border region 83
-
Part II. Language policy
- Attitudes toward Portuguese in Uruguay in the nineteenth century 111
- Patterns of linguistic vitality 137
- Language use, language attitudes and identity in Curaçao 155
-
Part III. Language maintenance
- Parental language attitudes and language use among Brazilian families in Japan 185
- Portuguese in Massachusetts 207
- Spanish-speaking immigrants in Indiana 231
-
Part IV. Closing reflections
- The study of language attitudes 255
- Index 273
