Contribution to Book
An Overview of Lexical Borrowing Behavior in Spanish in New York City
Lexical Borrowing and Deborrowing in Spanish in New York City
(2018)
Abstract
In this chapter, an indication of the overall frequency of lexical borrowing in Spanish is provided. Working definitions of independent variables, especially that of immigrant generation, are refined through statistical analysis of lexical borrowing patterns. And, crucially, the principal factors that condition lexical borrowing in Spanish in New York City (e.g. immigrant generation and Spanish use) and what they indicate about those that use them are addressed. Also addressed are factors that do not condition borrowing frequency (e.g. time spent in the U.S.), since these are often just as revealing as conditioning factors, especially when these findings challenge common perceptions about borrowing and the so-called mixing up of language more generally. Results indicate that the first and second generation represent distinct subcommunities within the larger Spanish-speaking community with respect to lexical borrowing. Further, other tendencies often presumed to influence the use of lexical borrowings, such as a penchant to use them among the young or those in the U.S. longer, have not been borne out in the data.
Disciplines
Publication Date
April, 2018
Publisher
Routledge
ISBN
9781315408941
DOI
10.4324/9781315408941-4
Citation Information
Rachel Varra, Dale Koike and Javier Muñoz-Basols. "An Overview of Lexical Borrowing Behavior in Spanish in New York City" 1stLexical Borrowing and Deborrowing in Spanish in New York City (2018) p. 54 - 68 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/rachel-varra/9/