Language interaction in náhuatl discourse: The influence of spanish in child and adult narratives

Norbert Francis, Pablorogelionavarrete Gómez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study of code-mixing focuses on the influence of Spanish in Náhuatl discourse as it is revealed in performance in narratives produced by adults and children. Language samples analysed were non-conversational, produced in response to structured Náhuatl language story-telling tasks presented to participants. Narrators were bilingual speakers of the two languages from an indigenous community in Central Mexico. Results indicate differences in the frequency of content word embedded language (Spanish), lexical items across grade level (for children), grade level attained (for adults), and correlations (for children) between the frequency of these Spanish embedded items and a measure of metalinguistic awareness. The discussion of findings is placed in the context of a language contact situation characterised by the rapid shift toward Spanish monolingualism in the broader surrounding region (Tlaxcalan Highlands) despite high levels of Náhuatl language proficiency in the locality in which the study was carried out.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)17
Number of pages1
JournalLanguage, Culture and Curriculum
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • Language and Linguistics
  • Linguistics and Language

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