Maya Kenny
Pronouns:
Research Mentor(s): Teresa Satterfield
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Romance Languages Literatures / LSA
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 4 – 2:40pm – 3:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors:
Presenter: 97
Abstract
Studies (Williams, 2020) on US minority populations observe that an individual’s sense of Ethnic-Racial Identity (ERI) is heavily influenced by the environment that they are brought up in. Within these factors, language plays a crucial role in ERI (Bucholtz, 2018). The current study examines membership in the US Latinx/o community, based on speakers’ different levels of Spanish-English use, in relation to their perceptions of their own ERI and degrees of impact of COVID-19. We hypothesize that within the category of individuals who identify as US Spanish-English bilinguals, higher Spanish frequency will be related to higher measures of ERI and also strong community ties. In turn, we predict that the experience of the COVID pandemic will develop a stronger sense of community for these individuals even in challenging times. Data was collected through a self-reporting online Spanish-language survey which included items related to demography, community involvement and experiences during the pandemic. The 700+ respondents were sourced from Amazon Mechanical Turk and required to read (and by implication, demonstrate comprehension of) the Spanish-language questionnaire. As a determinant of level of Spanish usage, participants were not prompted to provide answers in a specific language. The sample was divided into three categories depending on response type: all-Spanish, mixed Spanish-English, or all-English. Respondents with at least 75% Spanish were classified as higher Spanish frequency, 26% – 74% as mixed, and less than 25% as lower Spanish frequency. Statistical analysis was carried out in SPSS. We then identified differences in the strength of community ties in individuals during COVID-19. We predict that findings will show a strong association between language frequency and community during COVID-19. Additionally, the perception of ERI will also positively change due to this community experience. The results of this study indicates the complexities of language use and identity in the US Hispanic population in the midst of the pandemic. Word count: 300 Keywords: Spanish-English bilingualism, Ethnic-Racial Identity, Spanish proficiency REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY
Arts and Humanities, Interdisciplinary
