Language variation and dimensions of prestige in Belizean Kriol

Abstract

This paper provides a preliminary report on attitudes toward varieties of Belizean Kriol in coastal Belize. We used a verbal-guise test with 141 participants, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data in Belize City and Punta Gorda, and we found that the variety of Kriol spoken in Belize City is rated more highly in general along several dimensions than the variety spoken in Punta Gorda. We also found that BC Kriol was rated more highly by male participants from both test sites. This paper is the first installment of an ongoing project, which investigates the linguistic prestige system(s) in place with respect to Kriol by region and among individual ethnic groups in Belize.