K'Iche': A Study in the Sociology of Language

The author presents a comprehensive look at language use and attitudes among the Kiche people of Guatemala. The book combines qualitative and quantitive analyses to test two hypotheses: (1) that K'iche' and Spanish are in a stable diglossic relationship and (2) that there is a significant relationship between language use and degree of acceptance of modern (i.e., nontraditional) identity factors in K'iche' communities. The study examines seven K'iche' communities, using the field notes and ...