Subjective ethnolinguistic vitality of Welsh in the Chubut Province, Argentina

Johnson, Ian 2007. Subjective ethnolinguistic vitality of Welsh in the Chubut Province, Argentina. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.

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Abstract

This thesis takes a sociolinguistic perspective regarding the Welsh in Patagonia, discussing the subjective perceptions held by Chubut Province residents of the vitality of the Welsh language and culture in their surroundings. Drawing upon the theories and taxonomy of Vitality, suggested by Giles, Bourhis and Taylor (1977), a questionnaire was developed to uncover the subjective perceptions of Welsh language and culture in the Chubut Province. This questionnaire was distributed between September and November 2004 in seven urban areas, with 369 completed questionnaires being returned by inhabitants of these municipalities. The distribution of the questionnaires included a wide cross-section of society to reflect perceptions of the strength of the Welsh language amongst the society as a whole and not just the 'Welsh community'. The concept of a 'Welsh community' in the Chubut Province is problematised in the thesis, with informants self-reporting their affiliation and fluency in oral Welsh. Analysis of the questionnaire results has shown generally positive trends in informants' responses, suggesting that Welsh in the Chubut Province has medium strength vitality, a stronger than might be expected finding. Factor analysis uncovered seven different factors. Further analysis of these factors through Oneway ANOVA and Scheffe post-hoc tests uncovered significant differences in responses uncovered in relation to the informants' location, their self-reported affiliation to the 'Welsh community' and their self-reported fluency in oral Welsh and. Some significant differences existed in responses according to the informants' age, although fewer than had been predicted. Additionally, ten focus-group style interviews were held with members of the 'Welsh community' in the Chubut Province. These interviews suggest opportunities for further development or re-working of the ethnolinguistic vitality concept, with informants noting the importance of tourism, transnationality and the wider linguistic economy in determining the ethnolinguistic vitality of Welsh in the Chubut Province.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	English, Communication and Philosophy
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics
ISBN:	9781303208294
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	12 Feb 2016 23:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/56163

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