This chapter highlights the ongoing discussion about Spanish as Jamaica’s second language within the political sphere and the broader Jamaican society. It emphasises the distinction between Spanish as a second language and as a foreign language in the Jamaican context. Indeed, Spanish should be recognised as Jamaica’s official “foreign” language, according to the definition of a foreign language. While some may argue that Jamaica has only one language, English, this chapter advances the view that Jamaican Creole (JC) is a language—the primary language of most Jamaicans—and Jamaican English (JE) is the second language; therefore, the learning of Spanish falls under the umbrella of Third Language Acquisition (TLA). This chapter explores the linguistic implications of Spanish as TLA in Jamaica, including cross-linguistic influence, primarily between JC and Spanish. It examines Jamaica's language situation based on scholarly research on JE and JC, situating Spanish within this linguistic framework in the country.

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Introduction: Spanish: Jamaica’s “Second” Language

  • Nadine K. Barnett

摘要

This chapter highlights the ongoing discussion about Spanish as Jamaica’s second language within the political sphere and the broader Jamaican society. It emphasises the distinction between Spanish as a second language and as a foreign language in the Jamaican context. Indeed, Spanish should be recognised as Jamaica’s official “foreign” language, according to the definition of a foreign language. While some may argue that Jamaica has only one language, English, this chapter advances the view that Jamaican Creole (JC) is a language—the primary language of most Jamaicans—and Jamaican English (JE) is the second language; therefore, the learning of Spanish falls under the umbrella of Third Language Acquisition (TLA). This chapter explores the linguistic implications of Spanish as TLA in Jamaica, including cross-linguistic influence, primarily between JC and Spanish. It examines Jamaica's language situation based on scholarly research on JE and JC, situating Spanish within this linguistic framework in the country.