This is an examination of the social structures that shape Latin American societies. Knowledge of demography, rural and urban life, and ethnic and status relationships is critical for understanding the political and economic fabric of those societies. Although the author draws on materials from all the social sciences, the primary frame of reference is sociological. The book presents, in an organized form, the findings from an ever-growing number of studies about Latin American society.

The book proceeds from a brief introduction of the political and economic patterns of Latin...

This book deals with the past, present, and possible future of minority languages. It begins with a number of relevant concepts in macro-sociolinguistics as a background for analyzing the problems associated with minority languages. The fundamental question posed throughout is whether these minority languages will continue to exist, caught as they are in the strong currents of national and international development. A history of the society and language is given for each area. Comparisons are made in quantitative terms, in addition to interpretations based on the spontaneous remarks of...