K'iche': A Study in the Sociology of Language (Publications in Sociolinguistics, Vol. 6) [Paperback]

M. Paul Lewis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 6, 2001

The author presents a comprehensive look at language use and attitudes among the Kiche people of Guatemala. The book combines qualitative and quantitive analyses to test two hypotheses: (1) that K'iche' and Spanish are in a stable diglossic relationship and (2) that there is a significant relationship between language use and degree of acceptance of modern (i.e., nontraditional) identity factors in K'iche' communities.

The study examines seven K'iche' communities, using the field notes and observational data collected over a two-year period. The analysis of the qualitative data follows the framework of Ethnolinguistic Vitality Theory. The quantitive analysis is based on Fishman's notion of domains of use (who speaks what to whom and when).

This book will appeal to sociolinguists interested in factors affecting language maintenance and shift, Mayanists who are involved in current efforts to revitalize and maintain the languages of Guatemala, and language planners and policy makers who desire to trace the outworkings of language policy decisions in an actual language-use context.

Table of Contents

List of Tables
List of Figures
List of Maps
Acknowledgments

Introduction

1.1 Preconquest Mayan society

1.2-1.5 Postconquest Guatemala
The colony
The period of independence and the liberal revolution
The period of indigenismo
Post-indigenismo

Maintenance and Shift of Language and Identity in K'iche' Communities

2.1-2.3 Bilingualism, language contact, and language choice
2.4-2.8 Ethnocultural identity and language
Ethnicity and language
The language-in-culture nexus
Language and culture continuity
Causes of language and culture shift
Summary
2.9-2.12 Ethnolinguistic vitality theory
Objective ethnolinguistic vitality
Subjective vitality factors
Multiple identities and boundary maintenance
Synthesis

2.13-2.15 The description of Guatemalan communities

Research Project Design and Methodology

3.1-3.11 General description
Selection of the communities
Language use data
Data collection
Unit of observation
Language use observation data forms
Sampling method
Sample size
Data recording arid analysis methods
Community resource data
Statistical analysis procedures

Community Resource Profile Data Analysis--the Towns: Demographic, Institutional support, Status, and Subjective factors

4.1 Analysis of community resource profile data
4.2-4.5 Chichicastenango
4.6-4.9 Cunén
4.10-4.13 Joyabaj
4.14-4.17 Sacapulas
4.18-4.21 San Andrés Sajcabajá


Community Resource Profile Data Analysis--the Cities

5.1-5.5 Santa Cruz del Quiché
Demographic, Institutional support, Status, Subjective factors, and Two rural communities

5.6-5.9 Totonicapán: Demographic, Institutional support, Status, and Subjective factors

Language Use in the Seven Communities

Chichicastenango
Cunén
Joyabaj
Sacapulas
San Andrés Sajcabajá
Santa Cruz del Quiché
Totonicapán

Integration of the Two Data Sets

7.1-7.4 Ethnolinguistic identity measures
Demographic factors
Institutional support factors
Status factors
Subjective vitality factors

7.5 Language maintenance indices
7.6 Summary
7.7 Conclusions

Appendix: Community Resource Profile Questions
Demographics and boundary maintenance-related questions
Status related questions
Subjective vitality related questions

References

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

M. Paul Lewis was the International Sociolinguistics Coordinator for SIL International since 1996. He holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from Georgetown University, Washington D.C. He began fieldwork in Guatemala in 1975 and has worked among the K'iche', Uspanteko, and Ixil peoples in Guatemala.

Product Details

• Paperback: 261 pages
• Publisher: SIL International (June 6, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556711204
• ISBN-13: 978-1556711206
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,052,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Paul Lewis earned a Ph.D. in Linguistics from Georgetown University, Washington D.C. He began fieldwork in Guatemala in 1975 and has worked among the K'iche', Uspanteko, and Ixil peoples in Guatemala. He was the International Sociolinguistics Coordinator, 1996-2002 and is currently an International Sociolinguistics Consultant.