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Eastern Michigan University

Spanish-Creole characteristics in the dialect of people with African origins in Port Limón, Costa Rica

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>This research project examines the language spoken by the Afro-Caribbean population in Port Limón, Costa Rica. This language resulted from the cultural blend of peoples from Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, and other Caribbean islands that immigrated to the Atlantic coast region of Costa Rica in the 1870's. This language is different from the language spoken in the rest of the country because of its British English language influence that came in contact with the local Spanish language. Issues regarding attitude toward this language in Costa Rica are addressed in this project. In the course of time, as with other aspects of the culture, there has been a marked change in the linguistics of Port Limón's Afro-Caribbean population. The author hypothesizes that external factors such as language dominance, as well as the lack of support from the Costa Rican community and the government may have contributed to the decrease in its use.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts (MA)
Level thesis:degree_level
Open Access Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
World Languages
Year dc:date.available
2010

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Benn, Maren
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Rosemary Weston - Gil, PhD, Chair
  • Alfonso Illingworth-Rico, PhD
  • Francesco D'lntrono, PhD

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1287
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2625

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Eastern Michigan University
Base URL
commons.emich.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Benn, Maren. Spanish-Creole characteristics in the dialect of people with African origins in Port Limón, Costa Rica. Open Access Thesis thesis, 2010. https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1287