LINGUISTIC LANDSCAPES: SPANISH IN PUBLIC SPACE

Catalog description

This seminar examines the topic of language in public space with a focus on linguistic landscapes (LL), which refer to representations of languages displayed in public spaces such as signs, billboards, graffiti, and moving objects. The presence of Spanish and lived experiences of Spanish speakers in the local community will be of particular focus, with special attention given to the role that the LL plays in issues of ethnolinguistic vitality, access, and sustainability. As part of this course, students will hear from local policy makers and activists and participate in fieldwork documenting LL in the Omaha area. Through this process, students will gain experience with a variety of methods of ethnographic data collection (photographic methods, interviews, field notes), sociolinguistic analysis, and how to turn research findings into policy recommendations. (Cross-listed with SPAN 8576 )