Politics events
Minoritized Languages and the Linguistic Landscape: Visibility, Identity, and Preservation
Wednesday 21 May 15:00 until 16:00
University of Sussex Campus : Arts A155
Speaker: Dr Alba Arias Álvarez
Part of the series: Language and Culture Series
Linguistic landscape (LL) studies have evolved into a prominent field, originating from research on public language displays and expanding to address the intersection of language, power, and social change. This talk examines the Asturian-Spanish LL, focusing on Asturian, a minoritized language in Spain that lacks official status. Several key findings are explored: a) the impact of language protection policies on the revitalization of Asturian; b) how the visual presence of Asturian and Spanish in public spaces influences perceptions of language prestige and affects linguistic practices; c) how migrant communities maintain Asturian identity through language and semiotic resources; and d) how graffiti, symbols, discourse, and spatial arrangements reflect identities, ideologies, and power relations in the context of urban transformation. The presentation concludes with educational applications, demonstrating how LL can be used as a pedagogical tool to explore language, identity, and social dynamics in the classroom.
Posted on behalf of: Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities
Last updated: Friday, 25 April 2025