Although both Spanish and English have been co-official languages in Puerto Rlco since 1902 (with a brief interlude of Spanish-only from 1991 to 1993), Puerto Rico is not a bilingual society. The two languages derive their prestige from different sources and are not used equally in all domains. Spanish, as the national language, is symbolic of the Puerto Rican tradition. In turn, English is associated with socioeconomic prestige and attractive employment opportunities. However, individual language choices today seem to be influenced also by the global context and technological advancements in communication and media, among other factors. This new "global lifestyle" an integral part of which is the English language, leads to questions about current language attitudes in Puerto Rico and the relationship among language, lifestyle, and identity.
