Revitalizing a Post-Vernacular Language in the Rama Region (Nicaragua)
Pivot, Bénédicte
Revitalizing a Post-Vernacular Language in the Rama Region (Nicaragua) - 2013.
89
Based on the analysis of the discourse of different types of social actors, this article raises questions regarding the revitalization process of Rama, an indigenous language of Nicaragua that is no longer passed on to children. Concentrating on the various roles that the language occupies in the community, I show that as a post-vernacular language, the symbolic functions of Rama, and their constant renegotiations, are now more important than its actual practice as an everyday language. As a symbolic resource, the language is variously appropriated by several social groups to sustain a number of social demands and positions.
Revitalizing a Post-Vernacular Language in the Rama Region (Nicaragua) - 2013.
89
Based on the analysis of the discourse of different types of social actors, this article raises questions regarding the revitalization process of Rama, an indigenous language of Nicaragua that is no longer passed on to children. Concentrating on the various roles that the language occupies in the community, I show that as a post-vernacular language, the symbolic functions of Rama, and their constant renegotiations, are now more important than its actual practice as an everyday language. As a symbolic resource, the language is variously appropriated by several social groups to sustain a number of social demands and positions.
Réseaux sociaux