Language Causing and Breaking New Rules

I now have a new perspective on code-switching. Before I thought that it was related to not knowing or being proficient in two languages. But after reading several articles, I agree with those that claim code-switching is a skill. I find it interesting to read articles that look more in depth on particular usage of verbs within code-switching, especially when the future of its usage is considered. Even though many can agree with code-switching being a proficient ability, it is still viewed as being used by people who are uneducated in the language. I am partial to this claim because from my experience and considering the people that I hear using it within my community have not been formally educated in the language. Yet without education, they are still able to code-switch and demonstrate their knowledge of the languages without grammatical violations. Furthermore, these people and their usage of the language or code-switch is what is being studied and attracts the educated. Another interesting factor is acknowledging that code-switching changes the grammatical rules of the language, as seen in Carmen Silva-Corvalan’s 1994 article. It is obvious therefore, that code-switch will continue to advance and change simultaneously with language causing and breaking new rules.

¿Y que...?

I sent this out as a question, but realized that it would be absurdly long to project out on the screen, so I'm going to post it here for everyone's perusal.

 

How much does a researcher's willingness to believe a given outcome influence whether or not that person finds it? And how much does another researcher's negative reaction to such a "found" outcome motivate the undertaking of research to question its validity? The reason I ask is because it seems that a lot of the articles we are reading are responses to assertions of corruption of language, lack of linguistic ability, and other similarly negative characteristics of the language of code mixers. The general theme I've been seeing is that the first quest is to show why the apparently extra-linguistically motivated conclusion is untrue and then to say that the phenomenon in question (we've seen lack of skill, grammatical convergence, and calques) is in effect, inconsequential. We seem to be saying, "see, it happens in monolingual varieties too, just in a different way." The effect that this produces in the audience (i.e. grad students subjecting themselves to amounts of this stuff the way undergrads drink) is the frustration that all we are doing is showing that the categorically heinous findings published previously are in fact, and can to be proven with empirical evidence, categorically heinous. I think that the non-linguists in the room are then stymied by an overwhelming sense of SO WHAT?!!! Even though the author who wrote the categorically heinous findings was well, heinous, it was still compelling enough to want to disprove. Right now the only thing I feel compelled to do is find some mind-numbing activity that will compensate for reading through all that technical language. Maybe I'm asking to have my cake and eat it too, but when it comes to many of these articles that disprove previous research, not only do I want them to be correct (which they have taken great pains to be) but I want to want to care.

Food for thought:

When analysing modeling, Otheguy offers calificar as an example of linguistic modeling: (3) Calificó a Carlos de incapaz de desempeñar ese cargo, (4) Carlos no es un hombre calificado para ese cargo, y (5) Carlos no califica para ese cargo. He points out that "speakers of general Spanish do not use calificar intransitively, as in (5)". He also lists saber as an example of linguistic modeling: (1) Mami, ¿cómo ese niño sabe a Eric?. It seems to me that these words differ still: While saber has changed lexically, its meaning encroaching on conocer, calificar (in 5) has changed grammatically. Do we have special labels for this?

Metaphorical application v semantic extension

Geee.. time really flies by in class[which is a good sign], so I'm going to share my question from the last class. Here goes...

Otheguy uses the examples (1) Mami, ¿cómo ese niño sabe a Eric? and (2) Papi, tú me prestas esa pluma y yo te la doy para atrás; please, please, préstamela y yo te la doy para atrás. He states: "The saber of (1) appears where speakers of general Spanish would almost certainly use conocer. It is said to be a semantic extension because, on the model of English know, the meaning of saber has been extended to areas that in unimpacted varieties are covered by conocer. The dar para atrás of (2) appears where speakers of general Spanish would almost certainly use devolver 'to return', and is said to be a loan translation or calque modeled on English give back." In his later examination of para atrás, he says that "Speakers of Spanish in the US could very well have gotten the idea from speakers of English that the concept of "behindness" in space could be applied metaphorically to the temporal notion of repetition." How is it exactly that a metaphorical application of para atrás differs from a semantic extension of saber?

Stereotypical language expectancy

How I understood the article of Cacoullos and Travis is the between the languages of English and Spanish the use of the yo form are significant in relation to each other. I believe that what makes it even more significant is the fact that bilingual relativity is increasing with the influx of more Spanish speaking persons into the areas. In my Spanish 101 course my students ask me why is it the same “Yo como as to como”. My response is that using como has the implication of using the yo form. Again we have the duality of languages by trying to translate and not ending up with a logical answer. To make my point I ask for them to translate Yo voy al parque. It makes sence in English “I go to the park” but if you try to translate voy al parque they always tend to say “go to the park”. Now trying to explain the trend of the use of yo in code-switching has to do with bilingual speech. Since yo is very useful in English to say I the same stereotypical expectancy is applied to the Spanish by use of a bilingual speaking person.

Tecnicismos

Después de leer el artículo me encontré con la no nueva idea que lo qué entiendo de los artículos es un porcentaje muy bajo, primero pensé acaso es el inglés así que compré un hermoso diccionario inglés-español que me ayuda, pero lo que descubro frecuentemente al leer los artículos que no es eso lo que me acontece, tristemente debo confesar es que la mayor parte está escritos en un idioma técnico el cual yo no entiendo, veo las gráficas leo la información busco en la red y al final descubro que en realidad al final de la lectura nunca descubro el para qué de todo el estudio. Sé que existe una diferencia entre alternancia de códigos, préstamos, y todas las variaciones entre nativo hablantes, bilingües, etc pero qué me dice eso, para mí cada persona hace su propia variación al hablar, ¿me estaré volviendo loca?, ¿¿no debo pensar tanto??En fin espero al final del semestre sentirme menos frustrada.....

The value of research

I think this article underscores the importance of empirical research. It's easy to fall into the trap of observing a phenomenon, such as code-switching, and conducting research with presuppositions (e.g. there's no grammar or there's a convergent/hybrid grammar, etc.). Torres Cacoullos and Travis also highlight the fact that whatever constraints we do, or do not, incorporate in an analysis (such as the cross-linguistic priming effect) can produce different results (23). This article is an example of taking previous research and looking at it from a different angle. By adding one more constraint to the variable analysis (cross-linguistic priming), they were able to draw conclusions that haven't been drawn before. This research stuff ain't so bad after all.

A cluster of amputated sentences...

Después de leer el artículo de Otheguy me di a la tarea de buscar anglicismos usados en la ciudad de México, es un horror, el español se mantiene sí pero la sombra constante de la deformación es latente. No es que no acepte los intercambios o la alternancia, pero considero que el mejor lugar para que estos sucedan sea en lugares que existe el contacto de lenguas. Sin embargo en ciudades que de alguna manera se consideran "puristas" con lo que a la lengua se refiere y se empieza a utilizar estos anglicismos me hace pensar que la influnencia del país vecino está amputando de alguna manera el español. Recuerdo el comentario que hizo Alex acerca de la alternancia y cómo veía este fenómeno en el pasado y ahora su opinión es diferente, y lo mismo me sucede a mí, ¿¿¿¿será que estoy americanizando a mi cultura y a mi idioma con anglicismos???? Bueno espero que no sea tan grave, después de todo el lenguaje debe ser híbrido qué no?

Estoy recordando para atrás

Mi actitud hacia préstamos, y como especifica aquí Ortheguy, hacia las traducciones de préstamos ha cambiado bastante a través de mi travesía por el aprendizaje del español. Recuerdo que durante la escuela secundaria, cuando empecé a aprender el español, pensaba que había una traducción directa para cada término inglés. No tenía conciencia de las variedades de la lengua española, ni me daba cuenta de que podría haber diferentes maneras de describir la misma cosa según la cultura—hasta que fui a vivir en Costa Rica y pasaba tiempo con hispanohablantes de diferentes países. Me fascinaban las diferencias culturales. Lo interesante es que cuando regresé a los EEUU, al principio, no consideraba el cambio de código ni el "conceptual modeling" (como "llamar para atrás") una de ésas diferencias culturales, sino un tipo de muleta que usaban los hablantes para poder comunicarse. Ahora no pienso así, pero no me extraña que mucha gente lo hace, porque yo lo hice. Ortheguy ha hecho una distinción entre la forma lingüística y el uso lingüístico de una manera única y deslumbrante. Me asombra lo importante que puede ser un término y los efectos que puede engendrar. La decisión de usar, por ejemplo, "pérdida de una lengua" versus "desactivación de palabras" o de escoger entre "loan translation" versus "conceptual modeling" tienen consecuencias que nunca esperaba. Cada término tiene su historia.

View on linguistics

With all the new terms we are learning it would be helpful to start a linguistic dictionary. I think I understand all the terms but many times I find myself confusing them. The terms extra, intra and inter sentential are a bit confusing. Actually many of the terms I think will have the same meaning for one idea. Or on the other hand, one term will have many meanings like the word code-switch. From the beginning of class to now we have learned different meanings of the term based mostly on peoples opinions, whether they agree with it or not. Linguistics seems like science, there is no true solution and if one is found it can be redone for new results. In addition, the results will continue to change due to people, beliefs and environments changing (just like science). Yet, this idea is what keeps it interesting, since people can create or have an idea about a topic, test it and give results based on their investigation.

Loan translations (Otheguy 1993)

Sometimes it takes a while for me to come up with discussion questions about the articles that we read for class, and other times it comes too easily. It seems that when I am not strictly "required" to come up with questions or comments, they simply spill out! Since I won't be contributing questions for Wednesday's class, I decided to post them here instead. :)

First of all, I must say that this article was very interesting, and it called to mind the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis of linguistic relativity, which says that a person's language affects (or at least influences) his or her conceptualization of the world. Otheguy seems to be making the opposite argument: that a person's conceptualization of the world affects or influences his or her language. So is it one or the other, or both (like a two-way street)?

Additionally, while I agree that cultural adaptation plays a role in the way language is used, I cannot completely disregard the idea of "word-for-word" translations. Why can't it both? If a translation of this kind exactly followed the word order of the donor language, the result would belong to neither language. Speakers who employ loan translations instinctively adapt them to their native syntactic structures and semantic devices, in order to avoid this problem. So, I still believe that the notions of "loan translations" and "word-for-word" translations are valid.

As a last question: Did Otheguy end by totally refuting the existence of loan translations, or not? Thanks for listening! :)

Mid-Term Personal Review

I know that this blog has to be about what we read and learn, but since the start of the class I have been in a personal dilemma where my prescriptive and descriptive saints and angels have been battling for understanding. I have gained understanding and to some point have created a tolerance to the Northern New Mexico register and dialect. Tolerance I prescribe to this feeling that I get when I listen to someone from northern New Mexico. I had lived in the border city of El Paso, TX for most of my life 18 years to be exact. South of the border I was always the "pocho" the guy who was a linguistic outcast. Then in my first year of college I thought if I am the outcast down south what would these people (I northern dialect speakers) be called south of the border. I guess this is why I still maintain a guard when I hear the dialect; it is my trigger. (Mid-Term Review)

Poplack

Hello all!

I finally made it onto the blog! This article was interesting and frustrating at the same time. After our discussion in class I realize that there are many descriptions for the alternation of language use and words. However, giving a phenomena a name does not solve the complexities that accompany it. I think back to the article we read last week by England and can relate to the Maya who question the purpose of research. I am not saying I am against research in regard to code switching, borrowing, etc. I just feel like at some point the information can become redundant and overstated. I realize the importance of the goal of the researcher, but it feels like we are defending something that happens naturally but that is sometimes influenced socially. In most of the articles we have read, the purpose of the research is somewhat influenced (inevitably) by the researcher's personal experiences or even political views. That this is observed in the research makes me think about how the presentation of the data is viewed by the critics who have negative feelings toward this phenomena. Are we really getting our message across or are we fueling more negative feelings toward the phenomena? This is just a thought...

El sitio de conflicto

En el artículo de Poplack, habla acerca del sitio de conflicto como el lugar donde dos sistemas de gramática no tienen concordancia o harmonía. Me parece bastante semejante al concepto de "aporia", una palabra griega que significa "obstáculo o dificultad". Derrida utiliza esta palabra para des-construir un argumento--donde está la aporia está un punto de descontrucción. Para los linguistas, que estudian las diferencias entre alternancia de código, préstamos, préstamos momentáneos, etc., el sitio de conflicto, o "aporia", es el punto de desconstrucción. Tienen que enfocarse en cada palabra, cada repair, cada artículo, o sea, cada punto de disonancia como un posible indicador de correct or incorrect code-switching. Ricardo nos preguntó si había un estudio que se ha basado en un corpus de code-switching y que (si no me equivoco) ha subrayado los sitios de conflicto más sobresalientes a través de comunidades bilingües. Aunque no he leído toda la literatura acerca de code-switching, me imagino que estas "aporias" o sitios de conflictos van a variar según la comunidad de hablantes. Creo que se podría componer un continuo de estas aporias. Cada estudio que las busca en un cierto contexto va agregando más ejemplos al continuo. No sería un cross-linguistic continuo (entre diferentes idiomas), sino un cross-dialectal continuo de codeswitching. No sé si esto tiene sentido, pero es bien fascinante.

Comments on Poplack and Chucoboy

I know I have already commented on our research project for this class, but the articles that we currently are reading I think provide useful information. Poplack seems to provide a well developed and detailed study in 1980 on code switching. This article also includes information about language attitudes that will be beneficial to our research project. The setting of the study is ideally what we are aiming for in our investigation. Pedraza’s, like myself, was from the community of interest and was permitted familiarity with the setting and participants. As stated, this allows entrance to local network situations and tape-recordings without interference. I am hoping that like Pedaza, we are able to carry out a “sociolinguistic interview” that is casual, undirected speech and administers detailed attitudes. Our study consists of four specific questions, which may seem more vernacular than intra-group, but with our advantage I am hoping to discuss concepts at an informal level. Towards the end of the article, Poplack lists contributions of extralinguistic factors. Many of these factors I believe are not relevant to our study, since we are only determining attitudes. In particular, the gender of the participant was considered, yet no explanation or analysis of why differences exist in the study were provided. Therefore, if gender was not a contributor to the project, why was it mentioned? I also find interesting that levels of classification exist, for example Spanish-dominant, bilingual, English-dominant or fluent and non-fluent bilinguals. I wonder if in our investigation we will be able to categorize levels of attitude (despises, somewhat despises, appreciates). In addition, I was shocked by the mention of the low socio-economic living condition that was provided in the article. I was unable to find correlation between the relevance or significance that it would bring to the study. Is this information necessary? Does this fact imply or determine the maintenance or loss of a language?

I also wanted to comment Jose’s linguistic passing blog. I agree with your terminology, and think that even Poplack created one of her own. For example, in the 1998 article she uses the term “vowel harmony” and gives an explanation for it. I am not sure whether this is legitimate or invented, but I like it.

A partir de today viva the codeswitching

Después de leer los artículos para hoy quedé con un dolor de cabeza; sin embargo, hay algo que de verdad me gustó y es saber que la alternancia de códigos es en verdad una hablidad que tienen los bilingües para comunicarse usando dos idiomas. Es importante esto porque en comunidades híbridas la identidad es una construcción de varios elementos que conforman al individuo, uno de estos elementos es su lenguaje. Si se habla de comunidad híbrida se entiende que su lengua también es una mezcla de dos o a veces más idiomas, de ahí la necesidad de usarlas para poder mantener su identidad completa. En este mundo globalizado es necesario entender que el lenguaje ha dejado de ser puro, y se ha vuelto una construcción socio-económica-política que intenta crear puentes de comunicación entre estas comunidades tan diversas.

Linguistic Passing

I do not know if there is such term as language passing, but if there is not I think that it should be incorporated as part of some kind of study. By what I am referring to as language passing might seem as code switching or loan words but I believe there is a more sociological aspect to the term that I am coining here. Language passing is the actual mutation of the vocabulary to be able to be incorporated into the syntax of another language for the sole purpose of being incorporated into an inner circle on the linguistic sphere. I may sound redundant but troca is the most obvious example. Now this particular word became modified from its mother language English to fit into another language Spanish. In order for this word to gain validity the slow process of assimilation took place by first incorporating a vowel so an article could be attached. Next, the constant use of the word made it possible for the passing of the term as a legitimate term able to be used by the people.

I get it

When I went to Spain I did not understand why would somebody call a computer an "ordenador" in Castellano from Spain as opposed to "computadora" in Mexican Castellano(I think this option would of made more sense, since the word is from the US and it is a American continent word). It is my thought that Spain has realized why they lost so much territory in the American continent to its English descendant opponents (now allies). When the conquerers of New Spain (Mexico) started to assimilate to the native language adopting nahuatl to create new words they actually started to develop a new identity. This new identity had climactic periods with both Mexican Revolutions. Now, by simply not adopting the new words for the new technology coming from the US, Spain and other countries counter a sublime strategy that may put them at risk for colonization (for example Puerto Rico) through language. Let us admit, creating new cool technology and cool new words to describe these objects makes for the English language to be vogue. But, if you cancel the english word and create your own to dissipate you cancel the threat.

Researcher and Researched

This week’s articles were interesting and helpful. There are many factors that need to be considered when conducting an investigation. Since I will be investigating for a project, I find the information relevant, even though it may be challenging to comprehend. Since I am familiar with the location of investigation, I think this will eliminate many preconceived notions about the community. In addition, by growing up in the community I can claim to belong to it, therefore relating with the members in a vernacular and ethnographic manner. Even though this setting is advantageous, I think challenges between researcher and researched will exist. By simply stating that an investigation is being conducted to a group that is considered subordinate, can immediately offset the relationship and create a power relationship in the interview setting. As an interviewer, it is essential that authority behavior is moderated to remove signs of superiority. The goal is not to speak for the community, but represent it through investigation and giving it a voice.

Presentation schedule...

3/3 and 3/8 - Daniel Abeyta (dabeyta@unm.edu)

3/10 - Abigail Feldman (afeldman@unm.edu)

3/22 - Cynthia Meléndrez (cmelen09@unm.edu)

3/24 - Alison Grochowski (agrochow@unm.edu)

3/29 - José Domínguez (jdomingu@unm.edu)

3/31 - Alison Grochowski (agrochow@unm.edu)

4/5 - José Domínguez (jdomingu@unm.edu)

4/7 - Ricardo Martínez (rmtz@unm.edu)

4/12 - Abigail Feldman (afeldman@unm.edu)

4/14 - Linda González (lgonzal7@unm.edu)

4/19 - N/A

4/21 - N/A

4/26 - Linda González (lgonzal7@unm.edu)

4/28 - Ricardo Martínez (rmtz@unm.edu)