Abstract
The overarching question in this article is: What contextual and individual-level factors influence the decision to maintain Spanish, or see to it that one's children learn and maintain it? Ifirst model the configuration of area-specific circumstances that influence the degree to which Spanish-English bilingualism (as opposed to English monolingualism) is viable or desirable in a particular metro area. When contextual incentives for bilingualism are included in individual-level models, contextespecially bilinguals' status and Hispanics' political influence - greatly influences the odds of bilingualism among native-born Hispanic adults. In addition to other macrolevelfactors, there is evidencefor a critical mass effect. People are more likely to maintain bilingualism when lots of others around them are doing the same thing.
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