THE GARÍFUNA COMMUNITY OF TRIUNFO DE LA CRUZ, HONDURAS: ONE LANGUAGE, TWO REALITIES

Abstract

The objective of the research is to analyze the factors that affect the intergenerational transmission of the language. To carry out an objective analysis, the techniques of participant observation, exploratory interviews and linguistic biography of the researcher were used. The sample selected for data collection comes from two Garífuna families [one that transmits and one that does not transmit the language] belonging to the same linguistic and socioeconomic trend. The results of the analysis indicate that the Garífuna language in Triunfo de la Cruz community is being lost. The comparison between both households shows that some parents with a strong ladino tendency have resigned themselves to the gradual death of the Garífuna language. In contrast, other parents transmit the Garífuna language to their children with a strong sense of love and belonging to the language and culture. In addition, the study shows that it is viable and possible to revitalize the Garífuna language in the Garífuna community of Triunfo de la Cruz.