Spanish in Chicago

Spanish in Chicago is the first book-length study of Spanish in Chicago, where populations originating in Mexico and Puerto Rico have lived in contact for generations, and Latinos now comprise nearly a third of the population. It analyzes patterns of language change and identity constructions through interviews with 124 individuals across three generations and two regional origins, and assesses the dynamics of linguistic convergence, dialect leveling, accommodation, and language loss.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Spanning over 130% to 150% more words, this comprehensive study delves into the intricate tapestry of Spanish in Chicago, a vibrant metropolis where populations hailing from Mexico and Puerto Rico have coexisted for generations, forming a rich linguistic landscape. As Latinos now comprise nearly a third of the city's population, Spanish in Chicago emerges as the first book-length exploration of this unique linguistic phenomenon. Authored by Kim Potowski and Lourdes Torres, the book recognizes Chicago as a prime location for examining language and dialect contact at both community and family levels. Through meticulous analysis, Potowski and Torres shed light on the spoken Spanish of Chicago, delving into patterns of language change, identity constructions, and the underlying factors that shape them. Drawing upon extensive interviews with 124 individuals spanning three generations of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and MexiRican Chicagoans, the authors meticulously trace the profound effects of language and dialect contact through a close sociolinguistic examination of lexicon, discourse markers, codeswitching, the subjunctive, and phonology. This groundbreaking analysis spans across three generations of speakers and two distinct regional origins within the same corpus, providing a unique perspective on linguistic convergence, dialect leveling, accommodation, and language loss. By incorporating MexiRicans as a category, the book goes beyond mere assessment and delves into the concept of intrafamiliar dialect contact, a pioneering framework introduced by Potowski. Contextualizing these language changes within the broader history of Latino communities in Chicago, Spanish in Chicago offers a nuanced portrayal of a minority language thriving in a major US city, making a significant contribution to sociolinguistics and Latino studies.

Weight: 488g
Dimension: 235 x 155 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780199326150