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Puerto Rico: On the Horns of a Language Planning Dilemma *
Author(s) -
POUSADA ALICIA
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
tesol quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.737
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1545-7249
pISSN - 0039-8322
DOI - 10.2307/3587695
Subject(s) - americanization , dilemma , perspective (graphical) , politics , plan (archaeology) , socioeconomic status , sociology , puerto rican , language planning , political science , pedagogy , law , history , ethnology , epistemology , anthropology , philosophy , population , demography , archaeology , artificial intelligence , computer science
This article considers a number of factors that have contributed to the long‐standing conflict between Spanish and English in Puerto Rico. Among them are the historical imposition of English as part of a heavy‐handed Americanization plan, the critical role of party politics in the consideration of linguistic and cultural questions, the socioeconomic schisms in Puerto Rican society and their linguistic and educational ramifications, and a host of pedagogical problems that stem from an overly centralized and politicized school system in economic crisis. The article then notes ways in which a language planning perspective could help defuse the conflict and arrive at functionally adequate policies in keeping with the Puerto Rican people's desire for self‐determination. Finally, the article specifies concrete roles for English language professionals in the planning effort.