Castilian speakers’ attitudes towards accents and regional stereotypes in Spain

Authors

  • Juan Carlos Gallego California State University, Fullerton Author
  • Anthony Rodríguez California State University, Fullerton Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/sols.v6i3.543

Keywords:

Castilian, attitudes, sociolinguistics, Spain, stereotypes, dialect

Abstract

This study investigated what Castilian speakers thought about their own and ten other regional varieties of Spanish in Spain, including their perception of regional stereotypes. A questionnaire containing statements about language attitudes and regional stereotypes was administered to 620 subjects. Results were compared across language varieties, and by age, gender and level of formal education. Comparisons were also made between Castilian speakers from Madrid and the rest of the group. Findings reveal that Castilians like their own variety of Spanish better than almost any other, but that they also show a positive attitude toward the other ten varieties. Age proved to be a significant variable, in particular with regard to Catalan Spanish, with the oldest and the youngest groups showing a slight dislike of that variety. Age, gender and level of education also made a difference when analyzing responses to stereotypes. No important distinctions were found between the Madrileno and Castilian subgroups. Through this study, we are better able to understand how speakers of a standard dialect perceive non-standard dialects of that language, and how their attitudes may change over time.

Author Biographies

  • Juan Carlos Gallego, California State University, Fullerton
    Juan Carlos Gallego is a Professor of TESOL and Spanish in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at California State University in Fullerton. His research interests include language and attitudes, bilingualism, discourse analysis and the teaching of oral skills. He has recently published on the incorporation of a service-learning component into a TESOL program, on the benefits of technology-assisted instruction in foreign language instruction and on attitudes toward accent in Spain. In addition, he filmed the documentary España y sus acentos, which has been added to the documentary collection of the Cervantes Institute.
  • Anthony Rodríguez, California State University, Fullerton
    Anthony Rodríguez is a graduate student of Quantitative Psychology Measurement at the University of California, Los Angeles. His research interests include issues pertaining to dimensionality of psychological and educational instruments specifically within the context of bi-factor structures. Additionally, of particular interest is 4 parameter logistic model (PLM) estimation procedures using Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo models to estimate lower and upper asymptotes as well as the psychometric implications of the 4PLM in the analysis of personality and clinical instruments. He currently has two papers in preparation focusing on the aforementioned psychometric topics as well as papers focusing on differential item functioning and longitudinal mediation.

Published

2013-08-03

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Gallego, J. C., & Rodríguez, A. (2013). Castilian speakers’ attitudes towards accents and regional stereotypes in Spain. Sociolinguistic Studies, 6(3), 543-569. https://doi.org/10.1558/sols.v6i3.543