The Evolution of Spanglish in the US and its Linguistic Classification
Presentation Type
Presentation
Release Option
Event
Description
Despite its long existence, Spanglish has become a hotly debated topic in recent current events. It has existed for as long as English and Spanish have been in close proximity to one another and continues to maintain its relevance in today’s society. Although it is a mix of two languages, it varies from place to place based on the cultures present. For example, the Spanglish that is spoken in Texas is not the same as what is spoken in Florida. Vocabulary is different as well as slangs which vary based on the cultures of that region. The vocabulary and cultural differences in English and Spanish will heavily impact the way English, Spanish, and Spanglish are spoken or written. Spanglish also varies in its linguistic categorization. While some linguistics classify it as a dialect, others say it is simply code-switching. Still yet, other linguists debate whether it can be called an official language, a creole, or a pidgin. Although many disagree with the theory that it is an official language, it is still a viable form of communication between two cultures. It is especially useful when two people are attempting to communicate but neither completely speaks the other’s language. There is no consensus on how to classify Spanglish, but regardless, it has a long-lasting impact on communities throughout the United States and enriches the way in which people interact.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Faculty Mentor
Diana Serrano
Department of Primary Presenter's Major
Department of Literature
Symposium Year
2020
The Evolution of Spanglish in the US and its Linguistic Classification
