The perception of educated varieties of Spanish by Madrid-born speakers. A study of perceptual dialectology from PRECAVES XXI

Abstract

This article intends to study how Madrid‐born speakers perceive the eight educated varieties of Spanish studied in the Project for the Study of Beliefs and Attitudes towards the Varieties of Spanish in the 21st Century (PRECAVES XXI). The project is structured around three research questions: 1) Do speakers from Madrid identify or recognize different cultured varieties of Spanish? If so, to what degree? 2) What perception do speakers from Madrid have of the proximity or remoteness of the cultured varieties of Spanish with respect to their own variety, Castilian Spanish? 3) Is there any variety of Spanish that can be considered better or more prestigious for Madrid‐born speakers? The answers to these questions provide data on the perception that speakers from Madrid have of the geolectal variation of Spanish in the 21st century, which lead to the conclusion that, although the perceived differences between the cultured varieties are not significant —hat is, the pluricentric model of Spanish is taking place—, the idea of a more prestigious Spanish continues to be consolidated, which Madrid‐born speakers associate with their own variety, the Castilian variety.