Claiming the Central Valley: An Exploration of Language Ecology and Representation Through a Linguistic Landscape Project as a Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 5:25 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Student Learning and Outcomes: Language, Mobility, and Coping (Table 5)

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive qualitative research project exploring the sociolinguistic and spatial dynamics within California's Central Valley, focusing on language visibility in public spaces. The research centers on Stanislaus State University and leverages the perspectives of students in an Introduction to Language class who participated in a Linguistic Landscape (LL) project. By analyzing 200 reports, the study identifies the language ecology of the Central Valley, creates visual representations of linguistic environments, understands students' perceptions of linguistic representation, and discusses the role of culturally responsive teaching in enhancing linguistic inclusivity. The findings reveal the significant impact of LL projects in fostering students' understanding of linguistic diversity and its implications for social, cultural, and educational contexts.

Author

• Mirta Maldonado-Valentín, California State University - Stanislaus