Afro-Hispanic Language Contacts

Instructor: Prof. Martha Ruiz-García

Span 378 not only provides information on how African slaves created their own language (while they were learning Spanish, French, English, and Portuguese), but it also explains how they influenced the Latin American dialects, such as Caribbean and Chocó Spanish. In this course you will study the characteristics of Spanish spoken by African descendants (Afro-Perú, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panamá, etc.). Most importantly, we will explore the Palenquero, a Spanish based Creole of Colombia created by runaway slaves. Moreover, this course will study the African influence in art, music, and religion. Historical, linguistic, and cultural evidence will be a part of this course to assess the impact of Africa in Latin America. Assignments include a presentation, a midterm, a final research paper, and a final exam.

Prerequisite: Span 360 or 376; permission from the instructor for students lacking the prerequisite.

IDEAs in Action Gen Ed: FC – Past