Ya vuelta in Peruvian Amazonian Spanish: From Discourse Marker to Subversive Emblem
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30920/letras.96.144.8Keywords:
discourse marker, Amazonian Spanish, Peru, identityAbstract
This study examines the expression ya vuelta in Peruvian Amazonian Spanish (EPA), arguing that it has transcended its function as a mirative discourse marker to become a symbol of regional identity and a discursive resource for resistance. Based on a corpus composed exclusively of interactions from social media platforms—including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube—the study analyzes both the prototypical uses of ya vuelta as a mirative marker and its innovative functions related to identity affirmation, the subversion of linguistic hierarchies, and the performance of authenticity in commercial contexts. The analysis reveals that EPA speakers use ya vuelta not only to convey surprise or counter-expectation, but also to express pride in their linguistic variety in response to stigmatization within Peru’s diglossic context. This reassigned use functions as a form of affective resistance to linguistic shame, which is often induced by dominant ideologies that privilege coastal standard Spanish. Additionally, ya vuelta is documented in commercial branding, where it serves as a symbol of Amazonian authenticity, operating both as a marketing strategy and an identity marker. This study contributes to our understanding of how identity is constructed through language and demonstrates how a discourse marker can acquire symbolic, ideological, and commercial value in regional and digital spaces. Ya vuelta thus emerges as a dynamic resource that connects discourse, identity, and resistance within the Peruvian Amazon.Downloads
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