Jaworski & Thurlow Discussion Questions

  1. Although of the discussion of linguistic landscapes focuses on how they highlight what languages are valued in multilingual spaces, semiotic landscapes have significance beyond these factors. One example is the significance of grafitti in transforming spaces into zones of class conflict. What are some other examples of semiotics displaying social meaning beyond language ideology?
  2. How visible does something have to be to be part of the semiotic landscape? The front page of a newspaper displayed in a newstand is part of the landscape, but what about the rest of the paper, which is only visible if one purchases a copy and reads it?
  3. To what extent is the social meaning embedded in semiotic landscapes inherently implicit? What role do explicit declarations of social reality have in the landscape?