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Submitted October 28, 2026
Published 2026-10-29

Artículos

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2026): Synergía

Spanish in Panama and language contact: Sociolinguistic perspectives


DOI https://doi.org/10.48204/synergia.v5n2.11575

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References
DOI: 10.48204/synergia.v5n2.11575

Published: 2026-10-29

How to Cite

Trujillo Delgado, Y. A., & Salcedo Murillo , Z. A. (2026). Spanish in Panama and language contact: Sociolinguistic perspectives. Synergía, 5(2), 155–174. https://doi.org/10.48204/synergia.v5n2.11575

Abstract

This study examined linguistic contact between Panamanian Spanish and the seven indigenous languages of the Chibcha and Chocó families, as well as varieties of Afro-Antillean Creole English. Its objective was to compile an inventory of these languages and describe their contemporary sociolinguistic situation, based on sources published between 2020 and 2025, considering processes of lexical borrowing, linguistic displacement, and phonetic adaptation. The research was conducted using a qualitative, documentary, and interpretive approach, involving a review of scholarly articles, theses, reports, conversational transcripts, and glossaries. These materials were organized into thematic categories and analyzed using iterative coding combined with documentary triangulation, which ensured the interpretive consistency of the study and allowed for the identification of qualitative patterns and the comparison of evidence from different sociolinguistic contexts. The results show that Panamanian Spanish maintains contact with languages such as Ngäbere and Dulegaya, which retain relative vitality, while Buglére, Bribri, and Wounaan face the risk of extinction due to limited intergenerational transmission and asymmetrical bilingualism; furthermore, in urban areas such as Colón, Spanish incorporates adapted loanwords and Anglicisms, such as “wapin” and “chotear,” which are used in everyday life, cuisine, and social interactions. It is concluded that linguistic contact in Panama enriches Panamanian Spanish but also fosters processes of displacement that threaten indigenous linguistic diversity; consequently, it is recommended to strengthen policies for intercultural bilingual education, promote community participation, and consolidate efforts to revitalize endangered languages.

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