LL research as expanding language and language policy

TLDR

The framework considers visual, auditory, gestural, historical, political, locational, and bodily dimensions of space as defined by Lefebvre (1991). The paper theorizes languages in public spaces within a broad framework that extends beyond written texts. The authors frame Linguistic Landscape as a mechanism of Language Policy, situating it within engaged‑policy theories that view language practice as cultivated by communities. The study demonstrates that Linguistic Landscape broadens Language Policy theory and practice, evidencing its role in Hebrew revival, multilingual documentation, multimodal meaning‑making, contestation, local policy analysis, and that student documentation of LL enhances LP awareness and activism.

Abstract

The paper theorizes languages in public spaces in a broad framework consisting of multiple components beyond written texts in public spaces. These include among others, visuals, sounds, movements, gestures, history, politics, location, people, bodies, all embedded in the dimensions offered by Lefebvre (1991) of spaces as practiced, conceived and lived. Relating to Linguistic Landscape (LL) as a mechanism of Language Policy (LP), the paper frames LL within current theories of LP which focus on ‘engaged language policy’ (Davis, 2014) reflecting and cultivating language practice as used by communities. The paper shows how LL is instrumental in contributing to the broadening of the theory and practice of LP, a discipline that has been mostly overlooked by LP. The studies show how language in public space was used for the revival of Hebrew in Palestine, for documentation of multilingualism in specific areas where different groups reside, for realizing that LP in public spaces is broader than written language showing how multimodalities are essential for making meaning of spaces, for discovering the wealth of LL devices used for contestations in the city, and for examining local policies in neighborhoods. Finally, the engagement of high school students with documentation of LL in their neigborhoods was found to have a real impact on LP awareness and activism.