Home Linguistics & Semiotics Nonconvergence toward the standard: the maintenance of a distinctive use of rhotics among the Santomean diaspora in Portugal
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Nonconvergence toward the standard: the maintenance of a distinctive use of rhotics among the Santomean diaspora in Portugal

  • Marie-Eve Bouchard ORCID logo EMAIL logo and Félix Desmeules-Trudel ORCID logo
Published/Copyright: September 12, 2022

Abstract

The variable use of rhotics is a salient linguistic feature in the variety of Portuguese spoken on São Tomé Island. In this study, we employ ethnographic and variationist sociolinguistic methods to report on the use of rhotics by 40 Santomeans living in Portugal. The objective is to determine whether Santomeans who are in closer proximity with European Portuguese, which is the variety perceived as standard and more prestigious in Portugal, tend to use rhotics in a more standard way or if they maintain the distinctive use of rhotics from their island. The results indicate that Santomeans do not converge toward a more European standard use of rhotics. We argue that the distinctive use of rhotics is available for identity-driven use to express a connection to São Tomé and Príncipe.


Corresponding author: Marie-Eve Bouchard, Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies, The University of British Columbia, 715-1873 East Mall, Buchanan Tower, Vancouver, BC, V6T 0C1, Canada, E-mail:

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Received: 2022-01-06
Accepted: 2022-08-12
Published Online: 2022-09-12
Published in Print: 2022-08-26

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