Anglicisms: Use and Perceptions in the Tijuana-San Diego Border
Humanities
Linguistics Department - Linguistics 195: Senior Thesis
The Tijuana-San Diego border region is characterized by the hybridization of Mexican and American cultures that is manifested in the language patterns of its inhabitants. Anglicisms, or words that combine English and Spanish are one of the common varieties of the speakers of the region. My senior thesis is a study that, through the implementation of self-report tasks and a questionnaire, examined 24 Tijuanenses’ and San Diegans’ use and perceptions of two types of anglicisms. The first type are those that have been standardized into the Standard Mexican Spanish dictionary, such as estrés (‘stress’) or zíper (‘zipper’), and the second are those that are non-standard and are part of the regional slang that is known as 'border slang'. Examples are verbs like parquear and lonchear, which stem from the verbs ‘to park’ and ‘to have lunch’. The two types have subtypes that differ in the overtness or covertness of their English-Spanish mixed quality, which tends to affect speakers' use and perceptions. Past studies have revealed that Tijuanenses, although avid users, are critical of non-standard anglicisms that are overt in their mixed quality due to the fact that they are perceived as representational of the threat that American influence poses to the integrity of the Spanish language and preservation of Mexican culture. On the other hand, it has been observed that San Diegans use them and view them positively due to their perceived ability to constitute a new language that connects two cultures that they identify with. There seems to be a discrepancy of perception and use that only applies for Tijuanenses in regards to this type of anglicisms, but it is unknown whether these patterns also hold for their standard counterparts and covert anglicisms that are standard and non-standard.
Overall, one of the purposes of this study was to compare the use and perceptions of overt and covert anglicisms and their standard and non-standard forms in order to find out to what extent prescriptivism, or the notion of the standard language as the only proper or correct language form, and interaction with U.S cultural imperialism dictate the linguistic practices and attitudes of the inhabitants of this border region. The second purpose was to highlight potential differences that shape Tijuanenses’ and San Diegans’ experiences navigating the hybrid culture of the Tijuana-San Diego border and how they affect the construction of their Mexican identity.
Based on the results of previous studies, I hypothesized that all types of anglicisms would be used by both groups, regardless of their background. However, I expected that Tijuanenses’ perceptions of overt anglicisms, regardless of their standard quality, would be more conservative than those of standard and non-standard covert anglicisms. Meanwhile, I presupposed that San Diegans’ perceptions would be more progressive regarding all types of anglicisms.
Based on the data results, I concluded that my hypothesis is partially supported. As I had hypothesized, Tijuanenses and San Diegans, across all education levels and ages, used a majority of the anglicisms regardless of their hybrid and standard quality. In other words, hybrid and standard quality seemed to be irrelevant in shaping use. However, there was a strong Tijuana vs. San Diego divide in terms of perceptions, especially in regards to non-standard overt anglicisms or 'border slang'. Although both Tijuanenses and San Diegans validated 'border slang' as a unique linguistic variety, Tijuanenses’ perceptions were more critical and conservative than those of San Diegans. Specifically speaking, Tijuanenses are hyper aware that, in using 'border slang', the authenticity of their Mexican identity and their membership in the national Mexican community is questioned. This translates into fear and stems from the idea that their use of ‘border slang’ deviates from the standards of “Mexicanness” that are defined by the dominant community, the capital of Mexico City. The standards of “Mexicanness” call for the protection of the linguistic purity of the socially inferior Spanish language against the influence of the powerful English language. As a result, the use of 'border slang' is an indication of complacency in the tainting of the Spanish language and, in turn, the betrayal of “Mexicanness”. Although the slang encompasses the hybrid culture of the Tijuana-San Diego border, due to its contact with American culture, it is not sanctioned by the prescriptivist and dominant Mexican community. This leads to a conflicting response from Tijuanenses who, in using border slang, assert their membership in the local community, but, in turn, must endure scrutiny from the dominant community for this practice. However, such did not seem to apply for San Diegans who view 'border slang' and the hybrid culture it represents as a solution to the identity conflict that they face due to the feeling of not fully belonging with either Mexican or American cultures. The hybrid culture of the Tijuana-San Diego border does not seem to threaten their identity, but it merely adds a dimension to its dual nature.
Through the findings of my senior thesis, it can be concluded that the inhabitants of the Tijuana-San Diego border region face different experiences when attempting to adjust to the changes that are prompted by cultural contact and the effects that these may have on their identity and their social position in their local and national communities. Overall, the significance of this senior thesis lays in its ability to highlight the notion that Mexican identity cannot be defined by a shared universal experience but is, rather, unique to an individual’s relation to Mexican culture and, in some cases, American culture.
