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The Complexity of Pronominal Address in Spanish: The Case of Hispanic Communities in Philadelphia and Their Linguistic Landscape
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2024-12
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Spanish
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https://doi.org/10.34944/rs97-de85
Abstract
This thesis examines the use of Spanish, specifically the use of Pronouns of Address (PoA), in the linguistic landscape and oral communication within Hispanic communities in Philadelphia. Based on the hypothesis that language is a complex, dynamic, and adaptive system, this study analyzes how a diasporic context adds an additional layer to the linguistic complexity of Spanish: the translocal. Through a layered methodological design that combines quantitative and qualitative analyses, both public spaces and oral interactions were examined to understand the variables influencing pronoun choice and how Hispanic communities leverage the symbolic power of language to express their identities and connect with other Latinos with whom they share this city they now call home.
The results of the linguistic landscape analysis (2021-2023) reveal that, while English predominates (61.65%), Spanish shows a significant gradual increase, particularly in South Philadelphia, where it rose from representing 17.77% of signs in 2021 to 35.60% in 2023. This shift highlights how Hispanic communities are gaining visibility in urban public spaces. Inferential statistics demonstrated the significant impact of location on written language (χ2 (6, N = 3356) = 109.454, p < .001, φ = 0.128), with certain establishments, such as religious temples and stores, favoring the use of Spanish or bilingual signage (p < .001).Regarding pronominal address on public signs, only “tú” (55.2%) and “usted” (44.8%) were found, with linguistic composition (p = 0.036) and speech act (p < 0.001) serving as significant variables in pronoun choice. Monolingual Spanish signs tend to use “tú” more frequently (58.7%), while bilingual signs prefer “usted,” suggesting that the presence of English is associated with a more formal style. From a pragmatic perspective, persuasive signs favor “tú” (74.3%), while those making requests prefer “usted” (75.9%).
In oral communication, “usted” emerges as the most frequently used pronoun (51.95%), followed by “tú” (42.15%) and “vos” (5.90%). Variables such as age (p = 0.025), level of English proficiency (p = 0.008), length of residence (p = 0.040), and educational level (p = 0.036) significantly impact pronominal choice. The data reveal that the use of “usted” increases with age and decreases with higher English proficiency. Recent residents (less than 3 years) tend to use “tú” (53.29%) more than “usted” (43.71%), while those who have lived in the city for over 20 years exhibit the opposite pattern (“usted” 60.20%, “tú” 33.25%). Educational level also shows a clear correlation: participants with primary education prefer “usted” (83.33%), while those with postgraduate education favor “tú” (84.37%).
The study suggests that in an era of globalization and technological advancement, ease of communication with countries of origin and the formation of virtual communities are slowing the traditional process of dialectal koineization. Unlike previous decades, when linguistic isolation and contact with English generated new dialects in diasporic communities, the immediacy of international communication today enables the maintenance of original dialectal patterns. However, pragmatic accommodation in PoA usage is observed during interdialectal contact situations, particularly in encounters with people of different nationalities (p = 0.002), where men tend to use “usted” more (58.06%) and women “tú” more (54.79%).This research makes a significant contribution to understanding Spanish in diasporic contexts, highlighting how Hispanic communities resist monolingual ideologies and maintain their linguistic identity through strategic use of address pronouns.
The findings highlight the dynamic and adaptive nature of Spanish in migratory contexts, where both local and global factors influence the preservation and evolution of linguistic patterns. This work not only documents pronoun usage patterns but also reveals how Spanish speakers in Philadelphia use their linguistic and cultural identity in a migration context, which is crucial for understanding contemporary processes of acculturation and language maintenance in the digital age.
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