BTLPT Sociolinguistics and Language Variation Flashcards

What does the term 'language prestige' mean in the context of bilingual communities?

Answer: The social status assigned to a language or variety within a community

Language prestige refers to the social value and status communities assign to particular languages or dialects, which affects their use in schools.

How does 'Spanglish' differ from formal code-switching in bilingual communities?

Answer: Spanglish is an informal mixed variety; code-switching is a systematic, rule-governed alternation

Spanglish is a popular term for informal mixed speech, while code-switching is a systematic linguistic behavior governed by grammatical and social rules.

On the BTLPT, understanding regional Spanish variation is important because:

Answer: Teachers must recognize and respect students' home dialects while teaching standard academic Spanish

BTLPT-certified bilingual teachers must value students' home dialects and connect them to standard academic Spanish without stigmatizing variation.

What is 'language socialization' in the context of bilingual education?

Answer: The process by which children learn to use language appropriately within their cultural community

Language socialization describes how children acquire not just language structure but also cultural norms for appropriate language use in their community.

Which concept explains why some US Latino students feel pressure to abandon Spanish in school settings?

Answer: Subtractive bilingualism — learning English at the expense of Spanish

Subtractive bilingualism occurs when a new language replaces rather than supplements the first, often due to societal pressure to assimilate linguistically.

In Texas bilingual classrooms, which Spanish variety is most commonly the basis for academic instruction?

Answer: Mexican Spanish, reflecting the predominant Hispanic community in Texas

Texas bilingual programs primarily draw on Mexican Spanish due to the predominance of Mexican-heritage students in the state.