Spanish-speaking immigrants in Indiana
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Mara Barbosa
Abstract
This study investigated the language attitudes of Spanish-speaking immigrants in Indiana. One hundred participants completed sociodemographic and language attitudes questionnaires. The results from the questionnaires were statistically analyzed to establish the participants’ attitudes towards each of the four analyzed components (Spanish in general, Spanish in the U.S., Spanish language maintenance, and Spanish/English bilingualism) and the relationships between participants’ attitudes and sociodemographic factors. The analysis revealed positive attitudes towards Spanish in general (M = 4.41, SD = 0.5) and Spanish in the U.S. (M = 4.05, SD = 0.84) and moderately positive attitudes towards Spanish language maintenance (M = 3.64, SD = 1.08) and Spanish/English bilingualism (M = 3.67, SD = 0.9). The data also indicated that education is a powerful predictor of positive attitudes towards three of the four language attitude components among this population.
Abstract
This study investigated the language attitudes of Spanish-speaking immigrants in Indiana. One hundred participants completed sociodemographic and language attitudes questionnaires. The results from the questionnaires were statistically analyzed to establish the participants’ attitudes towards each of the four analyzed components (Spanish in general, Spanish in the U.S., Spanish language maintenance, and Spanish/English bilingualism) and the relationships between participants’ attitudes and sociodemographic factors. The analysis revealed positive attitudes towards Spanish in general (M = 4.41, SD = 0.5) and Spanish in the U.S. (M = 4.05, SD = 0.84) and moderately positive attitudes towards Spanish language maintenance (M = 3.64, SD = 1.08) and Spanish/English bilingualism (M = 3.67, SD = 0.9). The data also indicated that education is a powerful predictor of positive attitudes towards three of the four language attitude components among this population.
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
