The Valparaíso (Chile) Anglophone Periodical Press: Voices from the Borders of Empire

Research on the Anglophone periodical press in Valparaíso, Chile, reveals how language and print media served as pivotal instruments of cultural, social, and emotional cohesion for British and other European immigrant communities. The study, focusing on newspapers like the Valparaiso English Mercury and Chilian Times, demonstrates that these publications not only maintained connections to their metropolises but also fostered a sense of belonging and identity among settlers, even across generations. By digitizing and analyzing 19th- and 20th-century Anglophone newspapers, the research explores the sociolinguistic dynamics of a multilingual, transoceanic port city—Valparaíso, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its cultural diversity. The findings highlight how these media outlets functioned as 'imagined communities,' bridging imperial ties while rooting settlers in their new home on the margins of informal British Empire.

Prain Brice, M. (2022). The Valparaíso (Chile) Anglophone Periodical Press: Voices from the Borders of Empire. Journal of European Periodical Studies, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.21825/jeps.84819