Week 7

Linguistics landscapes and

English always in translation

May 7th -May 9th

Announcements

1. How are you doing?
2. Last presentation for project #2 today (linguistic landscapes by Eliza, Genna, Alessandro, Emmalee, and Alex)
3. Everyone should have feedback on project 2 by the end of the week - if not please remind me to share that.
4. On Thursday - a colleague will be in class observing us -mostly me. :)
5. I know how challenging this quarter is being for everyone, so I am planning to make Project #3 more manageable and equally interesting + meaningful
6. Questions/comments?

Agenda, Tuesday May 7th, 2024

1. Writing into the day and short discussion (10 mins)
2. Linguistic landscapes presentation by the last group and Q& A
3. Guidelines for an activity (10 mins)
4. What is next?
5. Off you go to complete the activity! At 11:30 am

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Writing into the day

Have you seen these signs? In what linguistic landscape (LL) are they found? What do these signs “index” (mean beyond the referential meaning)? What is meaningful about the LL?

Linguistic landscapes

Linguistic Landscapes include, but aren’t limited to; any printed, written, carved, sprayed, or tattooed language in a public space. Viewing public semiotic signs through these different media, we can understand the function and importance of language in any given environment.

More about linguistic landscapes with the group presentation

After the Q&A, I will share the instructions for an activity to do during the remaining of class time

Linguistic Landscape activity

Guidelines

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In lieu of annotations for Thursday - turn in your Padlet board before next class under the assignment on Canvas

What is next?

• Complete the activity and come prepared to talk in class
• English always in translation by Pennycook is optional
• We will talk about Project #3 on Thursday

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Agenda for Thursday May 9th, 2024

1. Checking in: How’s everyone doing? - project 2 is done!
2. Welcome Dr. Afolalu!
3. Writing into the Day
4. Linguistic landscapes activity
5. Short Break
6. About Project #3 - and time to share initial ideas
7. What is next?

Writing into the day

Please, post your answer to this question under the discussion board for the day on Canvas. Write while the song is playing!

Throughout the quarter, we have talked about how studying language is never “just about language.” One example is the post by scholar Jonathan Rosa on “everyday acts” of translation and complex language practices. What else do you think about when we say “it is never just about language”? Do you have other examples? Feel free to use examples from our class or other situations you have encountered.

Linguistic landscapes of Seattle

“All visible semiotic signs in public space. This not only includes printed, written, carved, sprayed or otherwise visible language that occurs in the physical world but also pictures, colors, logos, graphs and other meaningful signs. It’s the ensemble of such semiotic signs that constitutes the linguistic landscape of a given locality.” (Diggit Magazine)

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Signs that helps us to diagnose:

• Multilingualism/Heritage language presence
• Coast Salish presence
• Dominance of English
• Non-normative Englishes
• Unequal language dynamics

What we are trying to understand

• How would you describe the linguistic landscape of Seattle?
• What can we learn about language, and English in particular, by paying attention to the linguistic landscapes in Seattle?

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Steps

1. Each group has 5 mins to walk us through the signs they pick.
2. As they do so, please listen attentively and think about the questions above.
3. Take notes individually. Ask any questions you may have too!

In your groups (10 mins)

• Get together with your group
• Check out your Canvas group page and locate the Google doc “What the linguistic landscapes of Seattle tell us about English”
• Share your individual notes with one another and consolidate them into coherent ideas that you will add to the document
• When you finish, share ONE TAKE-AWAY on the poster-board

The “but” sentences

There is a lot of multilingualism but English dominates the linguistic landscape

English dominates the linguistic landscape but there is a lot of multilingualism

SHORT BREAK 5 MINS

PROJECT #3

1. Keep that document because you can use it to prepare for Project #3 - you will see why in a minute
2. Guidelines
3. In what is left of the quarter, we will take time during each class to check in, do some work together, and see what progress you are making and/or what questions you have
4. In your groups, take some time to strategize about the following questions:
1. What shape will your infographic/poster take? Will you craft one or create a digital version? Why?
2. Who will do what? How will you go about identifying the take-aways in the data and selecting examples? How about the sources?
3. What questions do you have?
5. Share and ask questions

What is next?

Let’s look at the syllabus