Publication Date
12-11-2025
Degree Level
B.A.
Program
Psychology
First Advisor
Sperling, Rick
Second Advisor
Langston, Camille
Document Type
Thesis
Medium
Manuscript
Abstract
Language is a mechanism of cultural preservation. The history of language has two parts: 1. the technical aspects and 2. how it is diffused and/or becomes extinct. According to the U.S. Census Data, the Hispanic population has grown immensely over the past several decades, particularly from 1980-2020. Even so, there has been significant loss of the Spanish language. The researcher examined this phenomenon in two phases. First, 14 peer-reviewed articles published between 2008-2024 were assessed to determine emerging themes. Results showed that articles cited “the lack of knowledge/use” of Spanish and the “language/cultural dominance.” Second, the researcher conducted four focus groups with four to five Hispanic/Latino(a) undergrad students from St. Mary’s University, a small liberal arts university in the Southwestern region of the U.S., in each group. Participants valued cultural identity and were able to maintain their Spanish due to familial ties. As for how language and culture are affected by being a student at a Hispanic-serving Institution (HSI), students declared that there is adequate incorporation.
Recommended Citation
Santiago-Maldonado, Wilzaid L., "Quien soy sin mi idioma nativo?: The Loss of the Spanish Language and its Effects on Identity" (2025). Honors Program Theses and Research Projects. 89.
https://commons.stmarytx.edu/honorstheses/89
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Included in
Latina/o Studies Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Sociology of Culture Commons