A New Look at Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican Bonds

ABSTRACTThe Functional Compensation Hypothesis (Hochberg 1986a, b) interprets frequent expression of pronominal subjects as compensation for frequent deletion of agreement marking on finite verbs in Puerto Rican Spanish (PRS). Specifically, this applies to 2sg.túwhere variably deleted word-final -smarks agreement. If the hypothesis is correct, finite verbs with agreement deleted in speech should co-occur more frequently with pronominal subjects than finite verbs with agreement intact. Likewise, social dialects which frequently delete agreement should show higher rates of pronominal expression than social dialects which less frequently delete agreement. These auxiliary hypotheses are tested across a socially stratified sample of 62 speakers from San Juan. Functional compensation does show stylistic and social patterning in the category of Specifictú, not in that of Non-specifictú. However, Non-specifictúis the key to frequency differences between -s-deleting PRS and -s-conserving Madrid; hence the Functional Compensation Hypothesis should be discarded. (Functionalism, compensation, null subject, analogy, Spanish, Puerto Rico)

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Resilience of Communities in Puerto Rico Following Hurricane Maria: Community-Based Preparedness and Communication Strategies

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2021.306 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Elizabeth L. Andrade ◽

Nicole D. Barrett ◽

Mark C. Edberg ◽

Matthew W. Seeger ◽

Carlos Santos-Burgoa

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Puerto Rican ◽

Interpersonal Communication ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

First Responders ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Community Leader ◽

Disaster Resilience ◽

Community Based ◽

Community Assets

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to examine factors that may have contributed to community disaster resilience following Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Methods: In April 2018, qualitative interviews (n = 22) were conducted with stakeholders in 7 Puerto Rican municipalities (9% of total). Transcripts were deductively and inductively coded and analyzed to identify salient topics and themes, then examined according to strategic themes from the Federal Emergency Management Association’s (FEMA) Whole Community Approach. Results: Municipal preparedness efforts were coordinated, community-based, leveraged community assets, and prioritized vulnerable populations. Strategies included (1) multi-sectoral coordination and strategic personnel allocation; (2) neighborhood leader designation as support contacts; (3) leveraging of community leader expertise and social networks to protect vulnerable residents; (4) Censuses of at-risk groups, health professionals, and first responders; and (5) outreach for risk communication and locally tailored protective measures. In the context of collapsed telecommunications, communities implemented post-disaster strategies to facilitate communication with the Puerto Rican Government, between local first responders, and to keep residents informed, including the use of: (1) police radios; (2) vehicles with loudspeakers; (3) direct interpersonal communication; and (4) solar-powered Internet radio stations. Conclusions: Adaptive capacities and actions of Puerto Rican communities exemplify the importance of local solutions in disasters. Expanded research is recommended to better understand contributors to disaster resilience.

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Overcoming Issues in Ancient Puerto Rican Boulder Art Research: Reflections from the La Mina Petroglyph Project

AP Online Journal in Public Archaeology ◽

10.23914/ap.v7i0.148 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 61

Author(s):

Rhianna C. Rogers

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Puerto Rican ◽

Academic Research ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Archaeological Site ◽

Spanish Caribbean ◽

The Caribbean ◽

Art Research ◽

Number Of Publications ◽

Funding Opportunities

Puerto Rico has long been understood by archaeologists as a key geographical location for understanding the succession of cultural occupations in the Caribbean (Alegría, 1965; Curet, 2006; Siegel, 2005.) Unfortunately, despite the importance of archaeology in this region, the island has been continuously effected by socio-economic instability, lack of archaeological funding opportunities, few specialized academic programs, and a heavy focus on cultural resource management (CRM) rather than academic research. Though more Puerto Rican-focused archaeologists have joined the academic discussion, publications in this area are still relatively low and heavily focused on CRM and salvage work. Poor funding and resources for non-consulting archaeological projects has relegated Puerto Rico to the “island with the lowest number of publications in the Spanish Caribbean.” (L.A. Current, 2006 pg. 656). This paper will highlight some of the limitations of working in Puerto Rican archaeology. We will use the experiences we gained from our research project at the La Mina archaeological site to shed light on some of the difficulties we encountered as well as (hopefully) encourage an increase in academic and financial support for this understudied region of the Caribbean.

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Granice rzeczywiste i symboliczne. Przypadek Portoryko.

Sprawy Narodowościowe ◽

10.11649/sn.2373 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Anna Kaganiec-Kamieńska

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Puerto Rico ◽

Puerto Rican ◽

Main Part ◽

The United States ◽

The Real ◽

The Us ◽

Puerto Rican Diaspora

Borders and Boundaries, Real and Symbolic: The Case of Puerto RicoThe aim of this article is to outline the real and symbolic borders and boundaries, of geographical, political, cultural and racial nature, in the history and present of Puerto Rico, and their role in shaping and transforming the Puerto Rican identity. The main part of the article focuses on the borders and boundaries between Puerto Rico and the United States. The second part looks at the lines dividing the population in the island and the Puerto Rican diaspora in the US. Granice rzeczywiste i symboliczne. Przypadek PortorykoCelem artykułu jest zarysowanie rzeczywistych i symbolicznych granic, geograficznych, politycznych, rasowych i kulturowych, wpisujących się w historię i współczesność Portoryko oraz ich roli w kształtowaniu się i przekształcaniu tożsamości portorykańskiej. Główna część artykułu skupia się na granicach biegnących między Portoryko a Stanami Zjednoczonymi. W drugiej części wskazano linie podziału powstałe między mieszkańcami wyspy a diasporą portorykańską w USA.

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Puerto Rican Farmers' Obstacles Toward Recovery and Adaptation Strategies After Hurricane Maria: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Understanding Adaptive Capacity

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems ◽

10.3389/fsufs.2021.662918 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Author(s):

Luis Alexis Rodríguez-Cruz ◽

Maya Moore ◽

Meredith T. Niles

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Puerto Rican ◽

Adaptive Capacity ◽

Linear Models ◽

Negative Binomial ◽

Adaptation Strategies ◽

Structural Factors ◽

Mixed Methods Approach ◽

Adaptation Practice

Farmers across the globe are experiencing compounding shocks that make evident the need to better understand potential drivers and barriers to strengthen adaptive capacity. This is especially true in the context of a disaster, where a disruption in the natural and built environment hinders livelihood strategies and exposes the underlying dynamics that perpetuate vulnerability to natural hazards. As such, the interconnections of structural and individual attributes must be considered when evaluating adaptive capacity. This paper uses a convergent mixed-methods approach to assess Puerto Rican farmers' actual and intended adoption of adaptation practices, in light of the obstacles they faced toward recovery after 2017's category four Hurricane Maria, to contribute to better understanding adaptive capacity. This study uses data from 405 farmers across Puerto Rico (87% response rate), surveyed 8 months after Maria by agricultural agents of the Extension Service of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. Quantitative data was assessed through negative binomial regressions (actual adoption) and generalized linear models (intended adoption), while qualitative data (reported obstacles) were analyzed through thematic analysis. This study found that almost half of farmers adopted an adaptation practice after Maria, and that in many cases, broader structures, such as systems of governance, farmers' social networks, and infrastructure, affect adaptive capacity more than individual perceptions of capacity. Future adaptation strategies and interventions, especially in the context of disaster, should consider the extent to which structural factors hinder individuals' ability to prepare for, respond, and recover from the impacts of these shocks. Our results show that there might be opportunity to enact new systems in light of catastrophic events, but this does not solely depend on individual actions. The mixed-methods approach used can inform future studies in better assessing adaptive capacity from a standpoint that incorporates individual and structural components.

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Fertilizer requirements of coffee grown on Catalina clay in Puerto Rico

The Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico ◽

10.46429/jaupr.v30i3.12858 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 127-137

Author(s):

Luis A. Gómez ◽

José Lería Esmoris ◽

B. G. Capó

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Phosphoric Acid ◽

Puerto Rican ◽

Soil Type ◽

Coffea Arabica ◽

Sharp Contrast ◽

Soil Types ◽

Coffee Production

The results obtained in two coffee fertilizer tests performed with the Puerto Rican variety of Coffea arabica on "Catalina Clay" are presented, statistically analyzed, and discussed. Nitrogen and phosphoric acid applications seem to be of greater importance as regards market-coffee production of the above variety in the soil type used, than are the applications of potash, which had no significant effects on the yields. These results are in sharp contrast with the results obtained by McClelland, who found potash applications to be essential and phosphoric acid applications to be not essential for maximum coffee production in Puerto Rico. It should be noted that McClelland's experiments were carried out on other soil types, which were probably not in condition to provide the coffee trees with their potash requirements.

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Biodiversity of Heteroptera in Puerto Rico: Part III. Conspectus of Pentatomomorpha: Aradoidea, Pyrrhocoroidea, Coreoidea, and Concluding Notes on Endemism and Biogeography

The Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico ◽

10.46429/jaupr.v105i4.19295 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-102

Author(s):

Alejandro E. Segarra-Carmona ◽

Rosa A. Franqui ◽

Hariette Pérez-Martínez

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Puerto Rican ◽

West Indies ◽

Host Plants ◽

New Records ◽

Final Part ◽

The West ◽

Island Endemics

Superfamilies Aradoidea, Pyrrhocoroidea and Coreoidea from Puerto Rico are discussed as part of an updated account of Hemiptera: Heteroptera. In this final part, we present 48 species belonging to the three superfamilies, with six families known from Puerto Rico: Aradoidea: Aradidae (12); Pyrrhocoroidea: Largidae (1) and Pyrrhocoridae (3); and Coreoidea: Alydidae (5), Rhopalidae (7) and Coreidae (20). Taxonomic accounts presented here include synonymies, known distribution, lists of host plants and a listing of examined specimens. Taxonomical keys are also provided for the identification of all taxa included. Color plates for 43 species are included. Five species are new records for Puerto Rico: Brachyrhynchus membranaceus (F.), Leptoglossus confusus Alayo and Grillo, Eubule scutellata (Westwood), Mamurius cubanus Barber and Bruner, and Merocoris typhaeus (F.). Most species are widespread in the West Indies, with the largest number of island endemics in the Aradidae. A discussion of the origins, biodiversity, biogeography, and endemism of all Puerto Rican Pentatomomorpha is presented.

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Sugarcane Variety Trials in Puerto Rico, 1951-55

The Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico ◽

10.46429/jaupr.v41i3.12613 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 147-160

Author(s):

Ferdinand Méndez-Roig ◽

George Samuels

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Puerto Rican ◽

Sugarcane Variety ◽

Commercial Variety ◽

University Of Puerto Rico ◽

Agricultural Experiment Station ◽

North Central ◽

Variety Trials ◽

Agricultural Experiment ◽

Entire Island

Sugarcane variety trials performed by the Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, P. R., During the period 1951-55, involved 19 separate experiments and 33 crops. The following results are significant: 1. In the production of available 96° sugar per acre B. 37161 was the outstanding variety of East and North Central cane areas of the Island. P.R. 980 was the leading variety in the Northwest, West, South, and Interior of Puerto Rico. 2. B. 40105, B. 37172, B. 41227, H. 328560, and P.R. 975 all were among the leading producers in tons of sugar per acre. 3. The check varieties M. 336, P.O.J. 2878, and P.R. 902, ranked poorly in the trials as compared with the leading varieties in tons of sugar produced per acre. 4. In terms of tons of cane per acre B. 37161 and P.R. 980 were the two leading varieties for the entire Island, with H. 328560, B. 41227, and B. 37172 also showing favorable cane-tonnage figures. All check varieties did poorly in tons of cane per acre as compared to the leading variety. 5. The varieties were also ranked according to their production of sucrose-percent- cane. P.R. 975 and B. 4362 were first and second, respectively. These two varieties also produced higher cane tonnage than the favored commercial variety M. 336, which ranked third. 6. Finally, the varieties were ranked according to the tons of sugar per acre produced per month, and P.R. 980 ranked first. The first eight experimental varieties produced over 0.60 ton of sugar per acre per month as compared with all commercial varieties, except B. 37161, which produced below 0.50 ton of sugar per acre per month. 7. The reluctance of Puerto Rican farmers to adopt the new cane varieties tested and proven superior to the old commercial varieties is very unprofitable to them. Yields are cited which show that if the land now used to grow the older cane varieties were planted to the new leading experimentally tested varieties discussed in this article, the present sugar crop in Puerto Rico could be produced on about two-thirds of the present acreage. This would release over 100,000 acres for other agricultural uses.

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Constructing Spiritual Blackness

New West Indian Guide / Nieuwe West-Indische Gids ◽

10.1163/22134360-bja10004 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-24

Author(s):

Omar Ramadan-Santiago

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Puerto Rican ◽

Final Section ◽

Puerto Ricans ◽

Black Identity ◽

Caribbean Region ◽

African Continent ◽

Imagined Community ◽

Identification Process ◽

Global Construction

Abstract In this article, I address how my interlocutors, members of the Rastafari community in Puerto Rico, claim that they identify with Blackness and Africanness in a manner different from other Black-identifying Puerto Ricans. Their identification process presents a spiritual and global construction of Blackness that does not fit within the typical narratives often used to discuss Black identity in Puerto Rico. I argue that their performance of a spiritually Black identity creates a different understanding of Blackness in Puerto Rico, one that is not nation-based but rather worldwide. This construction of Blackness and Black identity allows my interlocutors to create an imagined community of Blackness and African descent that extends past Puerto Rico’s borders toward the greater Caribbean region and African continent. In the first section, I discuss how Blackness is understood and emplaced in Puerto Rico and why this construction is considered too limiting by my interlocutors. I then address their own construction of Blackness, what I refer to as “spiritual Blackness,” and how they believe it diverges from Afro-Boricua/Black Puerto Rican identity. In the final section, I direct focus to how Africa is centralized in the construction of spiritual Blackness.

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