1 of 15

Broken Transmission and Cultural Identity: The Underlying Reality of Puerto Armuelles English (PAE) in the 21st Century

Universidad de Panamá

Elías De León

Relación de la Universidad con movimientos sociales, los pueblos originarios, la cultura popular y la inclusión de la educación superior en entornos rurales.

2 of 15

TOPIC OVERVIEW

Context: Puerto Armuelles relevance
Background: Puerto Armuelles English (PAE).
PAE emerged from the linguistic universe of the United Fruit Company (UFCo) and the Chiriqui Land Company (CLC).
A history of West-Indian/Antillean immigration creating a melting pot of English and Creole varieties in a Spanish-dominant region.
A national English variety in Panama left unaccounted by scholars is worth registering.

3 of 15

Reasons for the study

Problem: �Analyze the factors driving the sociolinguistic vulnerability of PAE speakers and explore possibilities for cultural and linguistic preservation.
Question: �How have the historical, social, and educational forces shaped the acquisition, transmission, and current sociolinguistic status of Puerto Armuelles English (PAE)?

4 of 15

Objectives

General Objective: �Trace the historical origins and socio-economic context that shaped the development of Puerto Armuelles English (PAE).
Secondary Objectives:

Explore the diverse pathways of English language acquisition among PAE speakers.
Analyze the phenomenon of broken intergenerational language transmission in the context of PAE.
Evaluate the current sociolinguistic status of PAE and propose recommendations for linguistic revitalization strategies based on lived community experiences.

5 of 15

METHODOLOGY

Qualitative Approach
Snowball sampling (“near-dead” language context)
Approved by the Bioethical Committee of the University of Panama (CBUP). [Note No. CBUP/199/2025]

Method

Description

Data Collection

Data Analysis

6 of 15

DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT: �Semi-structured Interview Process

Ethical standards.
Participant’s identity protection.
I conducted or supervised the research.
Objectives’ disclosure.
Data sovereignty.

Informed Consent Guiding Principles [Note No. CBUP/199/2025]

7 of 15

Semi-structured Interview Process

Inclusion Criteria

Male/female subjects from 18 years or older living in the community or in contact with English speaking population within Puerto Armuelles. (P.A.)
English Creole speakers within P.A.
Subjects whom the researcher considers sources of contact with subject networks.

Exclusion criteria

Poor compliance with the visit schedule.
Severe medical, neurological, and psychiatric disorders that might compromise the subject’s health. (i.e., hospitalized seniors, mental disorders, among others.)
People younger than 18 years old.

8 of 15

Semi-structured Interview Process

9 of 15

PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Evidence of a break in language transmission from parents to children.
Demise:

Economic Collapse: Post-plantation era leading to local economic instability.
Migration/Emigration: Loss of fluent speakers moving to Panama City or abroad.
Assimilation: The dominance of Spanish and the push toward "Standard English" in formal settings.

Homes with English-speaking heritage, the language is being lost due to a lack of active use.

10 of 15

Pedagogical Implications & Opportunities

Addressing the Instructional Gap: The study identifies "inadequate formal language instruction" in the public system; there is a clear opportunity to redesign curricula to better support local linguistic needs.
Language Revitalization as Pedagogy: Moving beyond teaching "Standard English" to include "Heritage Language" preservation strategies.
Bridging Home and School: Creating educational partnerships that involve the community/family to repair the broken intergenerational link.

11 of 15