Between Global and Local Contexts: The Seoul Linguistic Landscape

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kapitolina Fedorova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Linguistic Landscape ◽  
Urban Contexts ◽  
Historical Sites ◽  
The One ◽  
Global And Local

Multilingualism in urban spaces is mainly studied as an oral practice. Nevertheless, linguistic landscape studies can serve as a good explorative method for studying multilingualism in written practices. Moreover, resent research on linguistic landscapes (Blommaert 2013; Shohamy et. al. 2010; Backhaus 2006) have shed some light on the power relations between different ethnic groups in urban public space. Multilingual practices exist in a certain ideological context, and not only official language policy but speaker linguistic stereotypes and attitudes can influence and modify those practices. Historically, South Korea tended to be oriented towards monolingualism; one nation-one people-one language ideology was domineering public discourse. However, globalization and recent increase in migration resulted in gradual changes in attitudes towards multilingualism (Lo and Kim 2012). The linguistic landscapes of Seoul, on the one hand, reflect these changes, and However, they demonstrates pragmatic inequality of languages other than South Korean in public use. This inequality, though, is represented differently in certain spatial urban contexts. The proposed paper aims at analyzing data on linguistic landscapes of Seoul, South Korea ,with the focus on different contexts of language use and different sets of norms and ideological constructs underlying particular linguistic choices. In my presentation I will examine data from three urban contexts: ‘general’ (typical for most public spaces); ‘foreign-oriented’ (seen in tourist oriented locations such as airport, expensive hotels, or popular historical sites, which dominates the Itaewon district); and ‘ethnic-oriented’ (specific for spaces created by and for ethnic minority groups, such as Mongolian / Central Asian / Russian districts near the Dongdaemun History and Culture Park station). I will show that foreign languages used in public written communication are embedded into different frameworks in these three urban contexts, and that the patterns of their use vary from pragmatically oriented ones to predominately symbolic ones, with English functioning as a substitution for other foreign languages, as an emblem of ‘foreignness.’

scholarly journals Overcoming Aggressive Monolingualism: Prejudices and Linguistic Diversity in Russian Megalopolises

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 672-689
Author(s):  
Vlada Baranova ◽  
Kapitolina Fedorova
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
Language Attitudes ◽  
Russian Society ◽  
Linguistic Landscape ◽  
Labor Migrants ◽  
Russian Speakers ◽  
Multilingual Communication ◽  
The One ◽  
Everyday Reality

AbstractThe study deals with linguistic prejudices of citizens of the two main Russian cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg, toward speakers of foreign languages. It aims to reveal possible recent changes in the language ideology dominating Russian society. Monolingual and linguistically normative orientations rooted in the Soviet ideological approach are being challenged nowadays by global processes of migration and cultural diversification, which influence the everyday reality of Russian megalopolises. The research is based on the analysis of two sets of data: (1) meta-discourse on language attitudes derived from interviews with labor migrants and native Russian speakers in St. Petersburg and Moscow, and posts and comments on issues of language, migration, and linguistic landscapes, collected from websites and social media and (2) linguistic landscape data collected in 2016–2019, mainly in St. Petersburg, which reflect recent changes in attitude toward linguistic diversity in public space. These data show, on the one hand, that most city dwellers still relate to monolingual speech norms and try to implement control over public space; on the other hand, that the tolerance toward multilingual communication has been increasing over the years. The study suggests that these “first cracks” in monolinguals facades of Russian cities could eventually lead to the establishing of a less rigid language regime.

scholarly journals Paisaje lingüístico en Benín: un recurso didáctico y motivador para el aula de lenguas extranjeras

2020 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent-Fidèle Sossouvi ◽  
Mei-Chih Lin
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Written Language ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Linguistic Landscape ◽  
Pioneer Study ◽  
The Status ◽  
Urban Scene ◽  
Context Of Learning

Multilingualism and multiculturalism have been and are constitutive aspects of African soci-eties. This pioneer study analyzes the linguistic landscapes of Cotonou and Abomey-Calavi (Benin), two contiguous cities; in order to verify the status and the vitality of the languages used and spoken in the country as well as seeing if it is possible to exploit didactically this written modality. For this purpose, a quantitative analysis of written language productions in public space was carried out. The results reveal the languages used in the urban scene of both cities as well as the linguistic contact in their diverse aspects. They also indicate that the linguistic landscape doesn’t take into account the local multilingual practices in all their complexity. It appears as a context of learning which can be used as a didactic resource in the teaching of foreign languages.

scholarly journals Pride parades and prejudice: Visibility of Roma and LGBTI communities in post-socialist Europe

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aidan McGarry
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Coming Out ◽  
Group Identity ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Marginalised Groups ◽  
Pride Parades ◽  
The One ◽  
Minority Interests

This article argues that public space is important for marginalised communities in order to ensure visibility and presence in public life. Often minority groups are excluded from democratic procedures which favour majority interests and preferences. This is not to say that minority interests are incompatible with those of the majority but some marginalised groups are not anchored in public space, can suffer discriminatory treatment and lack the ability to control dominant, usually negative, ascriptions of group identity. This article explores two cases of marginalised communities and access to public space in post-socialist Europe: Roma and the LGBTI communities. Both communities have attempted to ensure their presence in public space through ‘Pride’ parades across Central and Eastern European capitals. The purpose of pride parades is to demand rights as citizens, such as equality and respect, and to ensure visibility in public life. On the one hand, visibility is important for LGBTI communities who remain relatively hidden and fear ‘coming out’. On the other hand, for Roma, who are highly visible, pride offers an opportunity to harness this visibility to challenge prevailing negative stereotypes through an affirmation of group identity.

scholarly journals Symbolic Functions of Graffiti in Padang City of Indonesia: Critical Linguistic Landscape Studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Yendra Yendra ◽  
Ketut Artawa ◽  
I Nyoman Suparwa ◽  
Made Sri Satyawati
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Linguistic Landscape ◽  
The Public ◽  
Landscape Studies ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Written Form

This study concerned with language in written form that is visible as graffiti in the Padang city, Indonesia landscape. The mushroomed of graffiti in Padang city landscapes increasingly has been a growing problem in society. Even local government as the official authority has created some task to prohibit graffiti, but a new graffiti has always been emerging in public space. Therefore graffiti has been considered a crime. It is interesting to explore graffiti in Padang city landscapes from other perspectives, particularly the symbolic functions of graffiti. The study uses qualitative approaches by applying Critical Discourse Analysis. The result shows that graffiti in Padang city landscapes accomplished two principal symbolic functions; first graffiti as a medium of demonstration in which providing space for marginalized expression with the opportunity to voice controversial ideas publically; second graffiti as social critics in which providing input into the public discourse that is not concerned by other conventional media.

Linguistic Landscape as standing historical testimony of the struggle against colonization in Ethiopia

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-290
Author(s):  
Hirut Woldemaram
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Historical Narrative ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Linguistic Landscape ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Public ◽  
History Of ◽  
The One ◽  
The City

Ethiopia is Africa’s oldest independent country and its second largest in terms of population. Apart from a five-year occupation by Italy, which is considered as a war time, the country has never been colonized. The Linguistic Landscape (LL) of Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia and the seat of the African Union, prominently depicts that important history. Erected in the main squares of the city, the various monuments serve as standing testimonies of the struggle, victory and important figures pertaining to Italian fascist invasion of Ethiopia. Moreover, there are different institutions (schools, hospitals) and infrastructures (bridges, streets) officially named after significant historical moments. Visible in the central locations and squares of the city, monuments, statues, and the naming of streets, bridges, schools, and hospitals, keep the peoples’ memory about the struggle against the Italian invasion and the victories obtained. Symbols of the Lion of Judah, cross and national flags are also part of the public exhibit marking identities, ideologies and references to the country’s history. This study aims at showing how the LL serves as a mechanism to build the historical narrative of Ethiopia. It overviews how the LL in Addis Ababa via its monuments depicts the anti-colonial struggle and the victory over Fascist Italian forces. The monuments considered are: the Victory Monument, The Patriots Monument, The Abune Petros statute, and the Menelik II Statue. After presenting background aspects, this paper tackles Ethiopians’ memories of the Italian invasion as expressed in Addis Ababa’s LL and their identity construction and reconstruction. The last section discusses the findings and draws concluding remarks. Methodologically, digital Figures of the monuments were collected coupled with interview. Ethnographic approaches to the LL are used to analyze the selected memorial objects. As Creswell (2003) indicates ethnographic designs like qualitative research procedures, aims at describing, analyzing, and interpreting a culture-sharing group’s patterns of behavior, beliefs, and language. Semi-structured interviews were carried out in 2014 with a sample of 15 pedestrians, males and females, of different ages and educational categories who were standing in front of the monuments waiting for buses. The interviewers wanted to know what people think of the significance and relevance of location of the monuments in the public space. Most of the interviewees tended to support the views of the prevailing popular interpretations. They strongly relate the monuments with memories of brutality of Italian invaders on the one hand, and the strong resistance, patriotism and heroism of the Ethiopian people. The interviews agree that this unique victory needs to keep being celebrated and glorified as part of the history of Ethiopia.

scholarly journals Multilingualism in the Linguistic Landscape of the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

MANUSYA ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 12-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aroonrung Siricharoen
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Linguistic Landscape ◽  
The Public ◽  
Language Courses ◽  
Landscape Research ◽  
The Common ◽  
Thai English ◽  
The University ◽  
University Community

This paper is an examination of multilingual signage in the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, where a number of language courses are offered not only to the university community but also to outsiders who are interested in learning foreign languages. Special attention is given to the distinction between signs made by the university and those by students and outsiders. By focusing on the multilingual signs in public space, the aim of the study is to investigate the extent to which multilingualism is promoted through the linguistic landscape in the common areas of the Faculty of Arts. The study reveals that Thai-English bilingualism is promoted within the Faculty of Arts. A few language departments have made attempts to establish their language in the public space while some languages appeared only on outsiders’ signs. The paper contributes to our understanding of linguistic landscape research by investigating the degree to which multilingualism is promoted via the linguistic landscape within the Faculty of Arts.

Race, space and commerce in multi-ethnic Costa Rica: a linguistic landscape inquiry

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (254) ◽  
pp. 1-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louisa Buckingham
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Ethnically Diverse ◽  
Costa Rican ◽  
Constitutional Amendment ◽  
Linguistic Landscape ◽  
The Public ◽  
Tourism Sector

Abstract Costa Rica officially became a multi-ethnic, pluricultural nation in 2015. Representatives from the principal minorities, in particular Afro-Costa Ricans and indigenous peoples, played an important role in contesting the erstwhile dominant narrative of Costa Rican’s white European settler heritage. One of the intended consequences of the constitutional amendment was to ensure greater salience of ethnic minorities in public policy and social life. This study investigates the public display of linguistic and cultural diversity on commercial and community signage in six urban centres of Limón, the most ethnically diverse province. Undertaken in the same year as the constitutional amendment, the study examines the inclusion of languages and cultural references attributable to three main minority groups (Afro-Caribbean, Chinese and indigenous), and more recent migrant settlers, in public space. Greater salience was found in locations appearing to target a local readership; references to indigenous cultures were almost completely absent, however. Changes in the public narrative on Costa Rican identity may gradually encourage greater salience of official minority groups on public signage. An immediate challenge entails the effects of the expanding tourism sector, as this appears to favour a proliferation of decontextualized international cultural references rather than an appreciation of locality and historical rootedness.

Ruler Visibility and Popular Belonging in the Ottoman Empire, 1808-1908

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darin Stephanov
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Ottoman Empire ◽  
The Other ◽  
Group Consciousness ◽  
Central Question ◽  
Point Model ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
National Movements ◽  
Tanzimat Reforms ◽  
The One

‘What do we really speak of when we speak of the modern ethno-national mindset and where shall we search for its roots?’ This is the central question of a book arguing that the periodic ceremonial intrusion into the everyday lives of people across the Ottoman Empire, which the annual royal birthday and accession-day celebrations constituted, had multiple, far-reaching, and largely unexplored consequences. On the one hand, it brought ordinary subjects into symbolic contact with the monarch and forged lasting vertical ties of loyalty to him, irrespective of language, location, creed or class. On the other hand, the rounds of royal celebration played a key role in the creation of new types of horizontal ties and ethnic group consciousness that crystallized into national movements, and, after the empire’s demise, national monarchies. The book discusses the themes of public space/sphere, the Tanzimat reforms, millet, modernity, nationalism, governmentality, and the modern state, among others. It offers a new, thirteen-point model of modern belonging based on the concept of ruler visibility.

Mocking Parades and the Place of Pagan Statuary in Late Antique Alexandria

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 270-288
Author(s):  
Jonathan Stutz
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Late Antique ◽  
Mob Violence ◽  
Visual Contact ◽  
The Public ◽  
Sacred Objects ◽  
The One ◽  
The City

AbstractWith the present paper I would like to discuss a particular form of procession which we may term mocking parades, a collective ritual aimed at ridiculing cultic objects from competing religious communities. The cases presented here are contextualized within incidents of pagan/Christian violence in Alexandria between the 4th and 5th centuries, entailing in one case the destruction of the Serapeum and in another the pillaging of the Isis shrine at Menouthis on the outskirts of Alexandria. As the literary accounts on these events suggest, such collective forms of mockery played an important role in the context of mob violence in general and of violence against sacred objects in particular. However, while historiographical and hagiographical sources from the period suggest that pagan statues underwent systematic destruction and mutilation, we can infer from the archaeological evidence a vast range of uses and re-adaptation of pagan statuary in the urban space, assuming among other functions that of decorating public spaces. I would like to build on the thesis that the parading of sacred images played a prominent role in the discourse on the value of pagan statuary in the public space. On the one hand, the statues carried through the streets became themselves objects of mockery and violence, involving the population of the city in a collective ritual of exorcism. On the other hand, the images paraded in the mocking parades could also become a means through which the urban space could become subject to new interpretations. Entering in visual contact with the still visible vestiges of the pagan past, with the temples and the statuary of the city, the “image of the city” became affected itself by the images paraded through the streets, as though to remind the inhabitants that the still-visible elements of Alexandria’s pagan topography now stood as defeated witnesses to Christianity’s victory.

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