UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS Kumeyaay Language Loss and Revitalization A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership by Stanley Rodriguez Committee in charge: University of California San Diego Professor Carolyn Hofstetter Professor Alison Wishard-Guerra California State University, San Marcos Professor Patricia Stall, Chair Professor Sinem Siyahhan 2020 Copyright Stanley Rodriguez, 2020 All rights reserved. The dissertation of Stanley Rodriguez is approved, and it is acceptable in quality and form for publication on microfilm and electronically: Chair University of California San Diego California State University, San Marcos 2020 iii Dedication This work is dedicated to the current students of Kumeyaay who offer hope for language regeneration. iv Epigraph When I was growing up, at the age of four, I remember sitting on my grandmother's lap and hearing her speak Kumeyaay to my aunt. I began repeating what I heard. However, before I learned to speak the language, they stopped speaking it. Many years later, I heard my aunt speaking Kumeyaay to another person and I told her, “I want to learn our language. Will you teach me?” She replied, “Why do you want to learn?” She quickly changed the subject. Throughout the years I continued to ask about our language, but most of her responses were dismissive and curt. Finally, I learned Kumeyaay from others. I then used the language with her in conversations because she had no one else to speak to. Before she left this world, she said that she wished more people could speak our language. v Table of Contents Signature Page .............................................................................................................................. iii Dedication...................................................................................................................................... iv Epigraph .......................................................................................................................................... v Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... viii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ ix Vita .................................................................................................................................................. x Abstract of the Dissertation .......................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................................. 2 Preview of the Literature ......................................................................................................... 5 Case Study Methodology .......................................................................................................... 7 Participants ................................................................................................................................ 8 Significance of the Study .......................................................................................................... 9 Overview of Dissertation ........................................................................................................ 10 Chapter 2: Review of the Literature ............................................................................................ 11 Positionality ............................................................................................................................. 11 The Historical Context ........................................................................................................... 12 Language Socialization ........................................................................................................... 18 Literacy Socialization ............................................................................................................. 22 Language Loss and Culture ................................................................................................... 26 Kumeyaay Speakers in Geographical Context..................................................................... 37 UNESCO Language Vitality and Endangerment Indicators.............................................. 40 Chapter 3: Methodology .............................................................................................................. 43 Research Design ...................................................................................................................... 44 Participants .............................................................................................................................. 46 Setting....................................................................................................................................... 50 Procedures and Instruments .................................................................................................. 50 Data Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 51 Significance .............................................................................................................................. 56 Chapter 4: Results ........................................................................................................................ 58 vi Case Study Analysis and Presentation of Data .................................................................... 58 Contextual Narrative of Participant Interviews .................................................................. 58 Reservation I ......................................................................................................................... 59 Reservation II ........................................................................................................................ 61 Reservation III ...................................................................................................................... 63 Reservation IV ...................................................................................................................... 66 Reservation V........................................................................................................................ 67 Reservation VI ...................................................................................................................... 68 Reservation VII ..................................................................................................................... 70 Reservation VIII.................................................................................................................... 71 Reservation VIIII .................................................................................................................. 72 Data Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 74 Research Question 1: What are Kumeyaay speakers’ perceptions about the current state of the language?....................................................................................................................... 75 Research Question 2: How do the Nation, communities, and individuals think about using language assets to reverse its moribund status? ...................................................... 114 Chapter 5: Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 135 Revisiting Research Questions ............................................................................................. 135 Limitations of the Study ....................................................................................................... 142 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 144 Policy and Programmatic Recommendations .................................................................... 147 Final Thoughts ...................................................................................................................... 159 Appendix A ................................................................................................................................. 161 Appendix B ................................................................................................................................. 166 References .................................................................................................................................. 168 vii List of Tables Table 1: Summary of UNESCO Framework on Language Vitality and Endangerment............... 42 Table 2: Interagency Language Roundtable Scale and European Language Proficiency Scales . 49 Table 3: Interagency Language Roundtable Scale Levels ............................................................ 51 Table 4: Summary of the UNESCO Framework on Language