The position of Spanish-based creoles in language policy and planning in the Hispanic world

Abstract

Spanish-based creoles have been the subject of research in various linguistic disciplines. The objectives of these studies are usually descriptive (to offer the description of the structure of the studied varieties) and theoretical (to reach the explanation of their origin). Bearing in mind that these are linguistic varieties which throughout their history have been in contact with more prestigious languages (mostly with their lexifier – Spanish), and that today they are mostly vernaculars not used in all domains of language use, they are also very important for sociolinguistic research. In this paper, we approach the relationship between Spanish-based creoles and language policy and planning (LPP) from the perspective of critical sociolinguistics. We consider their position inside LPP in a more general, global context of the Hispanic world. In order to obtain the appropriate elements for this type of analysis, we provide a sociolinguistic description of the status of each of the studied varieties based on UNESCO’s criteria for assessing language vitality and endangerment (UNESCO 2003). We also endeavour, through critical analysis, to highlight some features of Hispanic LPP that are usually ignored or that remain unrevealed in other types of analysis.