Keywords
limonese creole
extinction
fusion
code-switching
lenguas en contacto
criollo limonense
extinción
fusión
alternancia de códigos
How to Cite
Abstract
History has shown that whenever there is a situation of languages in contact, it develops either into a harmonious bilingualism or an overpowering colonialism. It is also well known that the relationship between language and identity may bring about divergent consequences in such circumstances; notably, cultural assimilation or the fusion or the extinction of a language. This paper will focus on the case of a minority of English-based Limonese Creole (LC) speakers in contact with Spanish-speaking (S) Costa Ricans. It will be apparent that LC speakers frequently make use of LC-S code-switching and imported loans and substitutions thus incorporating Spanish into Limonese Creole. Even though it is risky to predict the future of that relationship, this fusion –rather than the extinction of the Creole– may prevail if its speakers consider their language an important element of their identity.References
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