Spanglish as a marker of identification among Hispanics in the United States: A case study of two Tejano radio stations

Abstract

Although critics believe the language variety Spanglish to be a corruption of one or both of the standard languages with which it is associated as well as a language of inadequacy spoken by the poor and uneducated, this thesis seeks to support the idea that it is used by Hispanics in the United States as a marker of identity. An examination of previous studies shows that it is not associated with a lack of linguistic ability on the part of its speakers. Demographic information provided by two Tejano stations that broadcast in Spanglish, KQQK of Houston and KXTN of San Antonio, demonstrates that listeners, when compared to the national averages among Hispanics, actually live under better socioeconomic circumstances. Interviews with radio station personnel reveal that, in their opinions, Spanglish is related to the identity of the Tejano, differentiating him or her from the Anglo as well as the recently-arrived immigrant