Linguistic Landscape of Vancouver: Multilingualism and Translanguaging

• In Event: Multimodal Mapping: Positioning, Representation, and Semiotic Cycles

Abstract

This ethnographic linguistic landscape study analyzes communication patterns and translanguaging practices in the linguistic landscape of an Iranian neighborhood in Vancouver, and how language choices and multilingual resources define the identity of the neighborhood. Walking down the street, I took photos of the linguistic landscape, including shops and business signs. Focus was on the overt manifestations of Iranian identity and language in the public sphere. I analyze linguistic landscape data from a multilingual and dynamic perspective with translanguaging perspective. There were mostly multilingual signs in English and Persian. The way Persian and English multilingual and multimodal resources were selected and combined in signage reflect the interests of their owner, their background, identity, culture. English words typically describe shops or services.

Author

• Aylar Adeh, Simon Fraser University
  Presenting Author