Empirical approach from lexical availability to the influence of sociolinguistic factors on mastery of spelling / Aproximación empírica desde la disponibilidad léxica a la influencia de los factores sociolingüísticos en el dominio ortográfico

Abstract

Correct spelling is associated with social prestige. However, the research carried out in the Spanish-speaking world, from preschool to university, shows little impact of social class on spelling competence. In this study, we use lexical availability materials to investigate the influence of sociolinguistic factors — gender, type of school, area and sociocultural level — on pre-university students’ misspellings. The factorial correspondence analysis showed that the variables studied are directly related to the type of error recorded. Sociocultural level may be especially significant: the lower the level, the greater and more stigmatized the reported errors. These results encourage us to reflect on the levelling power that school should have in the twenty-first century when preparing students to face life in society with the strongest guarantees of success.