A sociolinguistic study of language use and identity amongst Galician young adults

Abstract

The following is a sociolinguistic study carried out in 2009 in a region with a particular linguistic background, Galicia, in northern Spain. The study examines the relationship between language and identity amongst Galician students and recent graduates aged 18 to 25 years, looking specifically at the way in which the identity one desires to portray affects one’s linguistic choices, and inversely how one’s linguistic choices affect the identity displayed to others. A questionnaire was circulated amongst participants requiring responses on the topic of language use and the opinions held associated with the use of language in order to examine this issue in depth. A distinction was drawn between those reading Arts subjects and those studying Sciences in order that any differences between the uses of language and opinions held by these groups should come to light. The results show several statistically significant differences in linguistic usage and views on the topic between these two groups.