Diggit Magazine

Linguistic landscapes

File
The Editors
15/09/2016
Print

This file includes a number of (ethnographic) linguistic landscape analyses (see more about ELLA in our wiki). Although quite a few of the signs under investigation are located in the city of Tilburg and its surroundings, also other parts of the world are represented, both online and offline. The analyses have in common that they all contribute to a better understanding of the ways in which the fabric of public spaces is shaped by and at the same time reflected in visible semiotic signs. This not only includes linguistic but also social, political and cultural aspects of public space in a given locality.

© Plaza de Toros Murcia

¡ toros vivos ! The semiotic landscape of Murcia

Article
Sjaak Kroon
16/10/2019
7 minutes to read

Bullfights are allowed again in Spain, even in Catalonia. In the Spanish city of Murcia, Sjaak Kroon discovered some traces of veganarchistic resistance against this example of Spanish cultural heritage.

What linguistic landscapes hide

Column
Jan Blommaert
26/02/2019
6 minutes to read

Offline linguistic landscapes hide a lot that only becomes overt when one traces these landscapes to their online extensions. It is by this move that we begin to get a grasp of the real complexity of "local" phenomena in a superdiverse world.

© Plug In City | Strijp-S

Strijp-S: A Straight Line To Urban Rejuvenation

Paper
Vanda Vozarikova
14/09/2018
17 minutes to read

In his paper Strijp-S, an area in Eindhoven, is analyzed with regards to whether the innovation the area strives for is reflected in its linguistic landscape.

Spoorzone Tilburg Station
© Jan Dijsselbloem

Linguistic directions in De Spoorzone of Tilburg

Paper
Jan Dijsselbloem
09/02/2018
23 minutes to read

'De Spoorzone', North of Tilburg station, was claimed in 1886 by Dutch Railways, and received the name 'Forbidden City'. Recently reclaimed, urbanization began. Hiding an abundance of signs, the area displays tons of indexicality.

© Twitch Interactive

The Emotes of Twitch

Paper
Jeroen van der Weijden
27/10/2017
24 minutes to read

This paper aims to explore the linguistic landscape of Twitch.tv. Three different emotes taken from three streams are analysed. The results indicate that the usage of these emotes is universal; that they are highly mobile and complex.

‘Why not a zebra crossing?’, Breda (28-02-2017 , © M. van Gorp)

Who is dangerous?

Paper
Meauraine van Gorp
22/09/2017
15 minutes to read

Participating in traffic situations requires knowing the norms and trusting others knowing the same norms. This paper, using linguistic landscape analysis, analyzes the underlying structures of a fake zebra crossing.

© Asya Krusteva

Exploring the Linguistic Landscape in the Sofia Subway

Paper
Asya Krusteva
28/04/2017
12 minutes to read

In language policy certain norms and laws should be strictly followed. However, in the Sofia subway this seems not to happen. Four examples of language mistakes are analyzed in this paper, as well as a map with some correctly written names.

© Aimee Overhof

Homemade semiotics and linguistic landscaping

Paper
Jules van Iperen
13/01/2017
19 minutes to read

Analyses of linguistic landscapes found in and around the city of Tilburg. The focus of this paper is on homemade signs. It demonstrates how authenticity plays a role in the sociolinguistic characteristics of signs.

Aberystwyth
© Crown copyright (2013) Visit Wales

Free erections in Wales

Paper
Jessica Lambregts
07/12/2016
10 minutes to read

A short paper on the usage of Welsh on public signs in Wales. Using two examples, we try to decipher why certain mistakes in the signs were made, and who is to blame for them. 

© Plaza de Toros Murcia

¡ toros vivos !

Article
Sjaak Kroon
24/10/2016
6 minutes to read

Stierenvechten mag weer in heel Spanje, ook in Catalonië. In de Spaanse stad Murcia ontdekte Sjaak Kroon sporen van de strijd voor en tegen dit Spaanse culturele erfgoed en komt daarbij uit bij de veganistisch-anarchistische beweging.

Language Policy in Timor-Leste

Article
Sjaak Kroon
29/08/2016
2 minutes to read

Conflict between language practices on the ground and top-down policies. Director of the National Institute of Linguistics in Dili, Timor-Leste, drives a car saying 'Kareta Estado': wrong spelling of Tetum, one of the countries national languages.

The conservative turn in Linguistic Landscape Studies (Shohamy & Ben-Rafael)

Review
Jan Blommaert
29/08/2016
14 minutes to read

The very first issue of a new academic journal called Linguistic Landscape (vol 1/1-2, 2015, John Benjamins) contains much to be concerned about. It proposes a self-stereotyped scope to a vibrant field with great potential.

© Sjaak Kroon

Looking for Wifi

Article
Sjaak Kroon
06/03/2016
2 minutes to read

The example of Timor-Leste shows that literacy research cannot escape investigating new digital literacy sites. In Dili a shopping mall with Wifi access is the place to be for those who want to engage in online literacy.

Peiro
© Jan Blommaert 2007

From mobility to complexity in sociolinguistic theory and method

Academic paper
Jan Blommaert
22/01/2016
29 minutes to read

A theoretical and methodological paradigm sift is underway in sociolinguistics, in which insights in the mobility of sociolinguistic phenomena leads to a complexity perspective with far-reaching effects.