The document discusses the cultural and linguistic evolution of the Raizal community, descendants of Europeans and Africans, highlighting three significant historical phases. It emphasizes the impact of sociopolitical changes on language usage, particularly the conflicts between English, Spanish, and Creole, as well as the community's efforts to preserve their cultural identity amidst challenges such as linguistic and cultural genocide. Ultimately, the Raizals seek to blend various cultural influences, promoting an intercultural and multilingual relationship within their society.

1. Language in Culture “ The Raizal Case ”

2. Descendants from : Europeans Africans

3. Languages : English Creole Spanish

4. The cultural and Linguistic phenomenon has gone through three big moments …

5. 1. There was a social structure : “ The high class” and “The others” (Wilson, 2005) Wealth Fair Skin Religious Habits Excelent level of English Fishing Agriculture Creole

6. Durante muchas décadas, el inglés criollo fue visto con desdén por parte de los isleños al tener raíces africanas, además de las inglesas, y era considerado como la lengua de las clases bajas, y se rechazaba su uso tanto en las escuelas como en las iglesias (Dittman, 1992)

7. 2 . Around the sixties : There was a process of assimilation. Spanish and Catholicism was imposed. English teaching was forbidden Some Baptist churches were closed down confrontation between the island and the Colombian state.

8. 3. In the constitution of 1991, Colombia is defined as an ethnically plural and multicultural nation . English and African heritage is taken up Anglo- Afro- Caribbean ethnic group

9. Nowadays … The cultural richness of Raizals is expressed by their language, Creole. Creole: Historic, social and linguistic dimensions. For many Raizals, there exists a diglossia in the Local Languages with more formal occasions eliciting the use of English while Creole is the “natural” everyday language of interaction (Forbes, 1989). At school, they teach the subjects in English and Spanish, which gives the Creole an oral dimension. Sometimes young people are ashamed of speaking their native language. Although Creole is a powerful presence for the community, In San Andres people often use more Spanish than Creole, even at home! T he interest in preserving the Native Creole has become a very important element for locals and Colombians in general.

10. A Symbolic View of Language – Culture A symbol is understood as an expression that represents something else, usually a real world condition. Tools, house structures, art works, family interrelationships, economic exchanges, abstract concepts and beliefs. All of these diverse and complex manifestations are symbols and as such express meaning. Culture is the group of material and spiritual productions of society. Language is also productive because it has a symbolic capacity. So, Language and Culture have a parallel development .

11. Cultural meanings do not reside in people´s heads but are shared and acted out publicly among those who could be said to have the same culture. These cultural meanings are realised in symbols and in behaviour which itself is seen as symbolic action (Roberts, Byram, Barro, Jordan & Street, 2001)

12. Some Conclusions Raizals do not reject neither Spanish nor English culture, they believe they are in a position to combine and build an intercultural and multilingual relationship between different cultures and languages, that they coexist with but also are in conflict with. Languages have cultural, historical and psychological marks which are stored in society´s memory and identity.

13. El hecho de tener territorio, gente con una lengua y una cultura diferente, los enriquece, los potencia, les da una posibilidad de mirada de mundo mucho mayor. (Diana Uribe, Cuarto Encuentro Semana Raizal)

14. Sentimos la importancia de fortalecer esta identidad como parte del proceso de recuperación lingüística y cultural en un esfuerzo por rescatar una cultura que sufre un rápido proceso de genocidio lingüístico y cultural. (Dittman, 2006)