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Exploring the Impact of Rhotic Enregisterment in Santomean Portuguese for Speech Therapy

Exploring the Impact of Rhotic Enregisterment in Santomean Portuguese for Speech Therapy

The distinctive use of rhotics in Santomean Portuguese, as detailed in the research article “We have that strong R, you know”: the enregisterment of a distinctive use of rhotics in Santomean Portuguese, offers valuable insights for speech-language pathologists working with Santomean children. This study reveals how a specific linguistic feature can become a marker of national identity, especially in a diaspora context. Understanding this phenomenon can help practitioners improve their skills by implementing the research outcomes or encouraging further exploration.

Understanding Rhotic Enregisterment

According to the study, the use of rhotics in Santomean Portuguese is becoming enregistered as a feature that marks Santomeans’ national identity. This process is contingent on contact with non-Santomean Portuguese speakers, which raises awareness of the distinctive use of rhotics among Santomeans. The research identifies three orders of indexicality that explain this phenomenon:

Implications for Speech Therapy

Speech-language pathologists can use these insights to tailor their therapy approaches for Santomean children. Here are some practical steps:

Encouraging Further Research

The study highlights the importance of understanding linguistic features within their social context. Practitioners are encouraged to conduct further research on how other linguistic features in Santomean Portuguese or other languages are enregistered and how this impacts identity and communication.

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: “We have that strong R, you know”: the enregisterment of a distinctive use of rhotics in Santomean Portuguese.


Citation: Bouchard, M.-E. (2023). “We have that strong R, you know”: The enregisterment of a distinctive use of rhotics in Santomean Portuguese. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 279, 233-257. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijsl-2021-0099
Marnee Brick, President, TinyEYE Therapy Services

Author's Note: Marnee Brick, TinyEYE President, and her team collaborate to create our blogs. They share their insights and expertise in the field of Speech-Language Pathology, Online Therapy Services and Academic Research.

Connect with Marnee on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest in Speech-Language Pathology and Online Therapy Services.

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