Bridging Cultures, Documenting Voices: The CORPEEU Project

Over the past decades, Hispanics in the United States have predominantly been identified as Mexican, Puerto Rican, or Cuban. However, alongside the growth of these established groups, there has been a significant increase in the numbers of Central Americans and Venezuelans. For instance, countries like Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic have witnessed substantial growth in their respective populations within the United States. This demographic shift underscores the need for comprehensive research and documentation of the Spanish spoken in the United States.

In this setting, politicians often rely on unsubstantiated arguments, appealing to fear and instinctive reactions to bolster their political support and garner followers through proposals that may lack practicality. However, the consequences of these political strategies can have far-reaching effects, impacting not only individuals but also language, sociolinguistic relations, and various other facets warranting careful examination. From education policies to migration strategies driven by apprehension, delving into the dynamics of linguistic diversity concerning Spanish can provide insight into a complex and challenging landscape.

A mural by Betsy Z. Casañas celebrating the contributions made by the U.S’ Hispanic and Latinx communities in Buffalo, New York. (Photo Credit: Carol M. Highsmith / Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-13459.)

The Corpus of Spanish in the United States (CORPEEU), is a project intended to fill this gap in the linguistic arena. Initiated by the Instituto Cervantes’ Observatory of the Spanish Language and Hispanic Cultures in Harvard University, in collaboration with the Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española (North American Academy of the Spanish Language, ANLE), CORPEEU emerges as a monumental endeavor aimed at comprehensively documenting and categorizing the diverse landscape of Spanish language usage across the vast extension of The United States America. Led by academics from Harvard University and the Heidelberg Center for Ibero-American Studies at the University of Heidelberg, CORPEEU stands as a hub of linguistic scholarship, meticulously collecting spoken and written Spanish samples from every corner of the nation since the pivotal year of 1960.

What distinguishes CORPEEU is not merely its role as a repository of language data, but its transformative potential as a continuously updating archive that encompasses the evolving varieties and dynamics of Spanish language usage in America. Through meticulous categorization based on geographical data, temporal context, and linguistic characteristics, CORPEEU allows academics and the general public to witness a mosaic of the ways in which Spanish is spoken and written across the country’s diverse landscapes.
Yet, the quality of CORPEEU lies not solely in its breadth, but in its capacity to make available the intricate sociolinguistic dynamics experienced in bilingual communities and bilingual persons. Bilingualism, a defining characteristic of many Spanish-speaking individuals in the U.S., implies a complex interplay factors such as social context, audience, and personal identity. CORPEEU’s qualitative analysis of language choice and usage provides a detailed lens through which to explore how bilingual individuals navigate the speaking, reading and normal everyday life terrain, oscillating fluidly and naturally between Spanish and English in response to shifting social dynamics, contextual cues or even just how comfortable a moment can be to use one language or another.

Moreover, CORPEEU’s integration of geographical and demographic metadata serves as a potent tool for contextualizing linguistic phenomena within broader sociocultural contexts. From lifelong residents in the United States, known as Chicanos, to first-generation migrants striving to improve the quality of life for their families, the spectrum of individuals spans various linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

By mapping language usage patterns to specific regions and demographic cohorts, researchers gain valuable insights into the spatial distribution of linguistic diversity and its relation with factors such as ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and immigration history.
In addition to its scholarly import, CORPEEU assumes a profound cultural significance as a scribe of Spanish language and heritage in the United States, a variety of Spanish often diminished or pejoratively addressed because of its particular context and characteristics. By archiving and disseminating linguistic samples, the corpus ensures that Spanish voices are not only preserved but also dignified, and made accessible to all.

As the Hispanic-speaking population grows in the United States, set in motion in part by waves of migration and the enduring legacy of heritage language retention, CORPEEU’s relevance assumes a greater salience. With populations from countries spanning the Hispanic diaspora, such as Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic, surpassing the one million mark within the United States, the corpus presents a unique opportunity to trace the evolving colors of Spanish language variation across different regions and demographic cohorts.

CORPEEU’s impact transcends the relevance of the academic sphere, having the potential to resonate deeply within broader sociolinguistic discourses and public policy debates. These debates are constantly utilized and instrumentalized in the political arena to exacerbate and justify the rejection of migration, gender perspectives, or simply human rights. By furnishing empirical data on language usage and attitudes, the corpus serves as a crucial resource for informed discussions on language policy, educational equity, and cultural identity. Moreover, CORPEEU’s integration of demographic metadata facilitates careful and nuanced analyses that shed light on the complex interaction between language and other sociocultural variables.

Additionally, the technological functionalities of CORPEEU are adept at facilitating both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, owing to its efficiency, user-friendly interface, and precision.

In summation, CORPEEU stands as a towering edifice, a testament to the enduring legacy of Spanish in America. By capturing the rich variety of Spanish language usage across the nation, the corpus enriches our understanding of linguistic diversity and cultural heritage, ensuring that the vibrant voices and narratives of Spanish-speaking communities and individuals are preserved and celebrated for generations to come. As we pay homage to the rich tapestry of Spanish language and culture in America, let us also acknowledge the indispensable role that CORPEEU plays in safeguarding and promoting linguistic diversity as a cornerstone of our collective heritage.

Click here for more information about the CORPEEU project.

References
CORPEEU: Corpus del Español en los Estados Unidos. (n.d.).Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://corpeeu.org/
Moreno Fernández, F. (2022). La lengua de los hispanos unidos de América: crónica de resistencia. Catarata.

*Erick Flores Herrera, B.A., is a student in the HCIAS’ Master’s program Communication and Society in Ibero-America