Meso-American Languages in the Wiregrass: An Investigation of Language Maintenance in North Florida/South Georgia

This study used oral survey methods to examine first the diversity of Meso-American languages and second the potential language maintenance or loss of these languages among Meso-American language speakers in Wiregrass country (North Florida-South Georgia). Language shift, the process of gradually changing from one first language to another first language over successive generations, often occurs among displaced immigrant populations (Fishman, 1967). In a similar study Gladwin (2004) predicted potential Meso-American language shift/loss among surveyed Meso-American language speaking respondents in Southeast Florida. The current study in North Florida/South Georgia also predicts potential Meso-American language loss, however, the present findings showed greater linguistic diversity and a stronger loyalty to Meso-American languages among the respondents in Wiregrass country. [This paper has been published as: Gladwin, R.F. (2010). Meso-American Languages in the Wiregrass: An Investigation of Language Maintenance in North Florida/South Georgia. "Florida Foreign Language Journal," 6(1), 9-21.]