Speaking English in Puerto Rico: Ideologies, Identities and Practices of Bilingual Youth

This volume presents an innovative and engaging account of the social role of English in Puerto Rico through an ethnographic exploration of youth bilingual practices. It explores how islanders are socialized as bilinguals in their educational communities, observes how peer groups are formed in relation to shared values, beliefs and language practices, and reviews the ideological roles that English and Spanish take up in the construction and negotiation of meaning in interaction. This community-centered account of language behavior offers rich insights into the layered identities and ideologies that shape the use of English in Puerto Rico, both in school contexts and online discourse. It is ideal for researchers and students interested in language ideology, the dynamics of language and race, bilingual identity and colonial/postcolonial linguistics.