In this paper, I investigate the ways in which bilingual speakers utilize linguistic resources to negotiate socil roles and manage social relationshios at an institutional setting in Momostenango, Guatemala. Drawing from studies on code-switching and politeness, I examine the ways in which speakers utilize the available language resources-Spanish and K'iche' on the hand, and second-person pronouns on the other-to negotiate social roles in institutional interactions. This study contributes to our understanding of the ways in which bilinguals organize and conceptulize social roles in culturally specific and meaningful ways. The qualitative analysis of speech examples can adecquatey show facets of social life when combined with ethnographic understanding. In addition, by focusing on actual language use and on a single institutional setting rather than multiple ones, this study brings to light the complex dynamics of using both Spanish and K'iche' as well as formal and familiar pronouns in Guatemala.
Biografía del autor/a
Jinsook Choi, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
