Spanish (s) aspiration as a prestige marker on the Uruguayan-Brazilian border

Abstract

This study analyzes the sociolinguistic distribution of /s/-aspiration, one of the realizations of syllable-final /s/ in Uruguayan border Spanish. It discusses aspiration as a new variant which is entering the dialect through the speech of the upper classes, in a process opposite to what has been reported by studies of (s) aspiration elsewhere. Because border Spanish is highly stigmatized and stereotypically a variety that maintains syllable-final (s) as full sibilants, aspiration enters the dialect as a prestige marker owing to its identification with the linguistic model of the speech of Montevideo. Data analysis reveals social and linguistic factors that condition the variable, and explores the role of aspiration as an ultra-local marker that has been incorporated by social groups who, by converging their speech with that of Montevideo, cause it to diverge from the local norm.

The analysis of languages in contact: A case study through a variationist lens

“…Both Carvalho (2006a) and Waltermire (2008) studied syllable-final (s) aspiration and found that-contrary to claims in previous literature-(s) aspiration entered border Spanish in a variation pattern that very closely resembled patterns found among Spanish monolinguals in Montevideo. Finally, Carvalho (2010) examined the use of 'vos' and 'tú' as the second person address forms in border Spanish, finding that 'vos', the form preferred in Montevideo, was entering the border dialect, illustrating yet another continuity between bilingual and monolingual varieties despite the latter variety's contact with Portuguese.…”

Frequency Effects on the Morphological Conditioning of Syllable-fi nal / s / Reduction in Border Uruguayan Spanish

“…As determined previously, the aspiration of syllable and word-fi nal / s / is only characteristic of Uruguayan Spanish, not Portuguese, as such rea lizations of / s / have never formed part of the phonological repertoire of Southern Brazilian Portuguese. Th e aspiration of this phoneme has attained a certain level of prestige in Rivera due to its association with non-border, monolingual varieties of Uruguayan Spanish, with Montevideo at its center (Carvalho, 2006a ). Among the consultants for the current study, the rate of aspiration is twice as high as that of deletion, as shown in Table 3 .…”

“…Rates of aspiration of / s / are extremely high in this context, but low in pre-vocalic and absolute fi nal positions. Somewhat surprisingly, aspiration has not been reported for the Spanish of border communities in northeastern Uruguay, with the exception of Carvalho ( 2006a ), who examines the aspiration of syllable-fi nal / s / as a prestige marker in the Spanish of Rivera, the most populous city on the Uruguayan side of the border with Brazil. Th is may be due to the fact that aspiration has only recently entered into the Spanish of this contact variety and has traditionally, perhaps even stereotypically, been regarded as a dialect in which / s / was maintained (Carvalho, 2006a ).…”

“…Somewhat surprisingly, aspiration has not been reported for the Spanish of border communities in northeastern Uruguay, with the exception of Carvalho ( 2006a ), who examines the aspiration of syllable-fi nal / s / as a prestige marker in the Spanish of Rivera, the most populous city on the Uruguayan side of the border with Brazil. Th is may be due to the fact that aspiration has only recently entered into the Spanish of this contact variety and has traditionally, perhaps even stereotypically, been regarded as a dialect in which / s / was maintained (Carvalho, 2006a ). It also may be due to the fact that past studies of language use on the border have focused primarily on Portuguese (alternately referred to as Dialectos portugueses del Uruguay or fronterizo by linguists and portuñol by non-linguists) (Carvalho, 1998(Carvalho, , 2003a(Carvalho, , 2003b(Carvalho, , 2004Elizaincín 1976Elizaincín , 1992aElizaincín , 1992bElizaincín et al, 1987 ;Hensey, 1972 ;Rona, 1965 ).…”

“…Th e prestige associated with this variant may provide a partial explanation for why this might be the case. Th e use of aspirated variants of / s / is most frequent among young members of the middle class (Carvalho, 2006a ), young professionals, and students (Waltermire, 2006 ). Th ese individuals likely incorporate a greater number of low frequency words in everyday speech since their access to them has been greater than for members of the community that have less formal education.…”