El “periodo de Boyer” (1822-1844) en Santo Domingo: situación sociolingüística y política del lenguaje

Abstract

The occupation of the Spanish part of Santo Domingo by Haitian troops (1822-1844) is one of the most important incidents in the historical conflicts between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, whose demographic and linguistic consequences continue to be perceptible. The problematical relations between the different linguistic groups (Spanish/French/Creole) are reflected in several legal initiatives initiated by Boyer, then president, prohibiting the use of Spanish language in all administrative, judicial and educative contexts. On the basis of a reconstruction of the sociolinguistic situation —which necessarily will be approximate— the present article analyzes the main features of the linguistic policy of the government in the context of the linguistic attitudes at that time.