Up to now, most studies on the effects of the settlement of the
British colony in Las Palmas within the period 1880-1914,
approximately, have focussed on its significant contribution to the
economic development of the city, as well as on the major role it played
in the growth of the island as an international winter resort. But the
co-existence of English and Spanish speakers also provoked a situation
of languages in contact, which affected both native and British
residents, as it is evidenced by the written records they left.
Apart from corroborating the mutual influences received, a
linguistic approach can determine the range of the social contact
performed between the two communities. But it is obvious that before
carrying out this kind of research, we should consider several points,
since some difficulties may be encountered. These are the aspects this
article is concerned with.
