Moralejas y Enseñanzas: A Discourse Analysis of Oral Stories Told in Latino Immigrant Homes

• In Event: Roundtable Session 111
  In Roundtable Session: Family and Community-Based Resources for Language and Literacy

Abstract

This study focuses on the stories that Latina immigrant mothers share with their children. Using discourse analysis, one family legend is analyzed to understand underlying messages and purposes for storytelling. Findings suggest that stories are told to inculcate family values and foster educación--a culturally specific view of education that highlights respect and responsibility. This particular story points to discourses regarding child obedience and good vs. bad daughter. We suggest that parents be invited into classrooms as storytellers to share family histories and thus bridge academic notions of education with more culturally specific notions of educación.

Authors

• Guadalupe Dominguez Chavez, The University of Texas - Austin

• Kiyomi Sanchez-Suzuki Colegrove, Texas State University

• Anissa Wicktor Lynch, University of Rochester - Warner School

• Christian Ellen Zuniga, The University of Texas - Austin