ABSTRACT
A number of factors determine which language people use in a bilingual society. Naturally the speaker’s home background is very important, as is to whom the person is speaking. Some societies may have a history of attempting to impose one language as being higher in prestige than others. Using a particular language may be a signal of solidarity with or distance from others. For example, in Paraguay, Spanish is the language
used in more formal situations, while Guarani is the language of intimacy, signaling solidarity with the other person. Courtship frequently begins in Spanish and ends in Guarani (Crystal, 1997; Rubin, 1968).
