article

The political topography of Spanish and English: the view from a New York Puerto Rican neighborhood

American ethnologist • 18 (2) • Published In 1991 • Pages: 295-310

By: Urciuoli, Bonnie.

Abstract

This article is based on the author's study of eight families (seven Puerto Rican and one black) in New York's Lower East Side, and their views and experiences on bilingualism and community structure. The field work was done during 1978-1979 and again in 1988. Urciuoli suggests '…that people build their sense of language around relationships as much as they build relationships around language' (p. 295). For example, when English is used by inner-city Puerto Ricans with one another and with black neighbors, the experience is completely different from that in which English is used with middle class whites. Those individuals who are bilingual develop a set of strategies. Linguistically, the ease with which Puerto Ricans and blacks form social relationships, contrasts strongly with relationships between Puerto Ricans and middle class whites.

HRAF PubDate

2002

Region

North America

Sub Region

Regional, Ethnic and Diaspora Cultures

Document Type

article

Evaluation

Creator Type

Linguist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

John Beierle ; 1992

Field Date

1978-79, 1988 (p. 296)

Coverage Date

1978-1988

Coverage Place

Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York, N.Y., United States

Notes

[by] Bonnie Urciuoli

LCCN

74644326

LCSH

Language--Puerto Ricans--New York, N.Y.