Lengua y sociedad en Cuba a través de cartas del siglo XIX

Abstract

The letter or epistle is a written document as old as writing itself. Result of communicative practices between interlocutors who are at a distance, it is part of a communicative system that responds, among other issues, to linguistic and cultural elements. Its study is of significant relevance for knowledge about language and different societies.

The analysis addresses both linguistic and social issues. The investigation allows the characterization of the letter as a document of analysis because this textual typology, as a source of communication, is closer to the individual and his subjectivity than any other document. It is an original piece of writing that does not require intermediaries and through which a content that is very close to dialogue is expressed. The letters are distinguished by being authentic documents and, therefore, they offer more expeditious information on the reality of the different linguistic uses. Its study enables the description of this type of document, as well as the peculiarities of the Cuban variant of the language in the 19th century.

The objective of this work is the formal and pragmatic analysis of letters written by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes for the characterization of a state of language, as well as the determinants of linguistic use from the positions of the interlocutors. In this way, the study of the language in context and specifically, in the context of the 19th century, allows us to distinguish the social and cultural support in which the communication is inserted. Four letters from Carlos Manuel have been selected due to the importance of this figure in the history of the country. The 19th century laid the foundations for nationality while allowing the most relevant features of the Island to be observed.