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Puerto Rican Spanish, Reggaetón Style! The (Socio)linguistics of Urban Music

Wilfredo Valentín-Márquez, Cristina Isabel Maymí, Derrek Powell (Eds.)

by Derrek Powell (The University of Texas at Austin), Piero Visconte (The University of Texas at Austin), Julio Vega Cedeño (University of Minnesota at Twin Cities), Marién Villanueva Vega (Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Mayagüez), Almeida Jacqueline Toribio (The University of Texas at Austin), Kendall Medford (Tulane University), Erin Trybulec (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

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Featuring in-depth studies of iconic reggaetón artists from Ivy Queen to Karol G, 'Puerto Rican Spanish, Reggaetón Style: The (Socio)Linguistics of Urban Music' is a groundbreaking collection that delves into the sociolinguistic intricacies of reggaetón. This volume offers innovative examinations of the genre through a linguistic lens, featuring a diverse range of methodologies and subdisciplines, including phonology, lexicography, semantics, and discourse analysis.
The chapters explore the stylistic elements that define reggaetón, shedding light on the unique indexical value of sibilant and liquid consonants, the distinctive lexicon of reggaetón lyrics, and the ways in which artists use language to navigate—and challenge—racial and gender stereotypes in the construction of their performative identities.
By bridging the gap between linguistic theory and popular music, this cutting-edge volume offers a fresh perspective on reggaetón’s cultural power. It is an invaluable resource for anyone working in fields like language, sociolinguistic analysis, performance studies, popular music, and Puerto Rican culture.
'Puerto Rican Spanish, Reggaetón Style: The (Socio)Linguistics of Urban Music' will not only resonate with researchers, but it will also captivate fans of reggaetón—from cultural and media critics to the everyday listener. With its thorough exploration of how language drives the global expansion and cultural significance of reggaetón, this text is essential for anyone interested in the intersections of language, music, and sociocultural identity.

This book is dedicated in memorium to Wilfredo Valentín-Márquez and his enduring contributions to Puerto Rican cultural studies and sociolinguistics.
Cristina Isabel Maymí and Derrek Powell are up-and-coming researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. The two bonded over an interest in the curious interplay between language and popular culture, often conversing around a shared passion for reggaetón and the resonance and cultural significance of the genre. What began as lighthearted discussions gradually evolved into deeper explorations of reggaetón form, content, meaning, and influence, with a particular focus on the genre’s relationship to productions and perceptions of Puerto Rican Spanish. Each editor contributes a complimentary perspective on the topic informed from their unique experiences and engagement with reggaetón as both consumers and critics.
Cristina Isabel holds MAs in Linguistics from the Universidad de Puerto Rico and in Hispanic Lexicography from La Real Academia Española. Her work on Caribbean sociolinguistics, bilingualism, and language ideologies, primarily focuses on perceptions and productions of Puerto Rican Spanish in contexts of dialect contact and the migratory experience.
Derrek holds BAs in Spanish and Dance from The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and an MA in Hispanic Linguistics from The University of Colorado at Boulder. His work is grounded in intersections of critical sociolinguistics, ethnomusicology, and media studies, principally investigating linguistic stylization for artistic and stage performances.

Puerto Rican Spanish, Caribbean Spanish, Reggaetón, Reggaeton, Urban Music, Popular Music, Sociolinguistic, Ethnomusicology, Language and identity, Caribbean Studies

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Bibliographic Information

Book Title

Puerto Rican Spanish, Reggaetón Style! The (Socio)linguistics of Urban Music


ISBN

979-8-8819-0213-1


Edition

1st


Physical size

236mm x 160mm


Illustrations

15 B&W

Publication date

March 2025
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