Isleños’ Spanish language preservation in Saint Bernard Parish: a case study in the voices of Joseph ‘Chelito’ Campo, Irvan Perez and Allen Perez

Abstract

This qualitative case study examines Isleno Spanish language attrition and preservation in Saint Bernard Parish, New Orleans, when this linguistic variety was approaching extinction. It identifies levels of language maintenance in severely limited social communicative domains and studies language attitudes. The main aim is to compare Isleno Spanish with the 18th century Canary Spanish variety from which it originated. Using a panel study, the last of the Islenos speakers were followed over a fifty-year period analyzing their language in real time to report how the oldest and last fluent speakers had kept their Canary Island linguistic heritage. This dialectal research attests to extraordinary linguistic preservation in a handful of old speakers right before Hurricane Katrina forced the dismantling of the community in 2005.