Resumen de Understanding Spanish-language maintenance in Puerto Rico: political will meets the demographic imperative

Jorge A. Vélez

• Puerto Rico is today by and large a monolingual Spanish-speaking society.

  This is so despite 100 years of political and economic Subordination to the United States, and despite intense exposure to the English language and American culture. Meanwhile in other populations andareas that have come under US control, language shift into English appears to be the norm. This paper analyzes the variables and circumstances that have allowed Puerto Rico to resist the imposition and encroachment of English on the Island.

  Special emphasis is given to the development and adoption ofan ideology of Hispanicity äs a reaction to colonial administrators* attempts at imposing the ideology of Americanism. An equally important factor has been the island's already dense population, which Supports deep-rooted Spanishspeaking socialnetworks that have not been threatenedby the relatively few English-speaking immigrants and residents.