Multilingual San Diego

The rich variety of the bilingual communities in San Diego some of which are found in other large American cities and some of which are unique to San Diego has never been fully documented. Multilingual San Diego provides a historical overview of the city s multilingual heritage, as well as chapters that highlight the linguistic diversity and cultural perspectives of communities that are bilingual in English and Spanish, Japanese, Hebrew, Italian, Tagalog, Kumeyaay, Russian, Korean, or Mixtec; vignettes introduce communities that speak French, German, Arabic, Somali, Persian, and Chinese. Every chapter and vignette, written by UCSD students in Ethnic Studies, analyzes the variables that determine the linguistic vitality of a specific community s language(s), i.e., its demographic power, its status, and the extent of institutional support it enjoys. Locations that are described include shops, parks, schools, a library, and different temples of worship throughout San Diego County. Focusing on the efforts of families and communities across San Diego to foster language revitalization, Multilingual San Diego incorporates the voices and views of diverse community members in every chapter. This book emphasizes the linguistic and cultural contributions of old and new communities alike, making it relevant to readers of all backgrounds across the United States. Ana Celia Zentella (Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania), Professor Emerita in the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, San Diego, is a preeminent figure in the study of U.S. Latino varieties of Spanish and English, language socialization, bilingualism, Spanglish, and English-only laws. Her groundbreaking research with transfronterizos, students who live and study in Tijuana and San Diego, challenges prevailing notions about ideal bilinguals, and immigrant alien discourses. In 1997, Professor Zentella was inducted into the Hunter College Hall of Fame, and was honored for her work by the Manhattan Borough President, Ruth Messinger. Dr. Zentella lives in San Diego with her husband.