LAVIS IIILAVIS IIILanguage acquisition and Language acquisition and

social integration of social integration of Hispanics in NE MississippiHispanics in NE Mississippi

Patricia M. LestradePatricia M. Lestrade

Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State University

Effects of Immigration LawsEffects of Immigration Laws

1986 Immigration Reform and Control 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA)Act (IRCA)

Amnesty Provision in IRCAAmnesty Provision in IRCA

1994 North American Free Trade 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)Agreement (NAFTA)

Purposes of studyPurposes of study

Hispanic demographicsHispanic demographics

Hispanic opinions about life in MSHispanic opinions about life in MS

Language acquisition and use Language acquisition and use

V

VI

IV

III

I

II

NE Mississippi

20 counties

Tupelo

Starkville

Eupora

Questionnaire in TupeloQuestionnaire in Tupelo(54 volunteers)(54 volunteers)

31 Interviews in Eupora, Starkville, 31 Interviews in Eupora, Starkville,

and Tupeloand Tupelo

II

Population 34,400

500 Latinos

Starkville

Population 22,000

300 Latinos

Eupora

Population 2,300

90 Latinos

Demographic resultsDemographic results(85 informants)(85 informants)

Young: Average age 29.5Young: Average age 29.5

70% married; 90% live with family70% married; 90% live with family

54%: 8-12 yrs of school54%: 8-12 yrs of school

35%: 1-6 years of school35%: 1-6 years of school

<10% speak English well <10% speak English well

Number of Years in Mississippi

0

10

20

30

<=1 2 3-4 5-7 8-13 >13

Years

Res

pond

ents

Interviews

Questionnaires

Language Use

0

25

50

At home At work With boss

Res

pond

ents

Spanish

English

Services to Hispanics in NE Mississippi

• Churches: Spanish services and English classes• Community college: English classes• Established Latino residents

Self-Evaluation of English Proficiency

0

10

20

“understandand speak

well”

“understandwell and make

myselfunderstood”

“understandand speak a

little”

“understandmore or less”

Res

po

nd

ents

Poor course attendancePoor course attendance

Teachers do not speak SpanishTeachers do not speak Spanish

Vocabulary inappropriateVocabulary inappropriate

SchedulingScheduling

All classes very elementaryAll classes very elementary

Television as language aidTelevision as language aid

40 of 54 have satellite access40 of 54 have satellite access

Only 20 of 40 watch any English Only 20 of 40 watch any English language programminglanguage programming

7 of 14 without satellite never watch 7 of 14 without satellite never watch televisiontelevision

English at workEnglish at work

Repetition by customersRepetition by customers

Gestures and paralinguistic cuesGestures and paralinguistic cues

Bilingual or sympathetic co-workersBilingual or sympathetic co-workers

Away from workAway from work

Avoid asking questionsAvoid asking questions

Watch cash register totalsWatch cash register totals

Point to menu itemsPoint to menu items

Go out with someone who speaks Go out with someone who speaks EnglishEnglish

Living in MississippiLiving in Mississippi

Why Mississippi? Why Mississippi?

Work, cost of living, safetyWork, cost of living, safety

Language problem?Language problem?

Racism? Not like the SouthwestRacism? Not like the Southwest

Factors in favor of language Factors in favor of language maintenancemaintenance

Cultural transmissionCultural transmission

Identity markerIdentity marker

Support for Spanish in the communitySupport for Spanish in the community

Growing popularity of SpanishGrowing popularity of Spanish

Limited English acquisitionLimited English acquisition

Factors favoring language shiftFactors favoring language shift

Distance from borderDistance from border

Dispersion of MS LatinosDispersion of MS Latinos

Need to communicateNeed to communicate

Desire for economic success Desire for economic success

Challenges for MississippiChallenges for Mississippi

Social and economic integrationSocial and economic integration

Information disseminationInformation dissemination

Education for Latino advocacyEducation for Latino advocacy

TranslatorsTranslators

Language educators: Spanish and Language educators: Spanish and English as a Second LanguageEnglish as a Second Language

Maintenance of economic growthMaintenance of economic growth

SummarySummary

Demographics follow US patterns Demographics follow US patterns

Very recent Latino arrivalVery recent Latino arrival

Mostly first generation Mostly first generation

Positive climate for SpanishPositive climate for Spanish

MS unprepared to meet needsMS unprepared to meet needs