1887
  1. Home
  2. e-Journals
  3. Linguistic Landscape
  4. Volume 11, Issue 4
  5. Article
Volume 11, Issue 4
  • ISSN 2214-9953
  • E-ISSN: 2214-9961
USD
Buy:$35.00 + Taxes

Abstract

Abstract

This study employs Critical Language Policy theory (Tollefson, 2005) and a Linguistic Landscapes methodology to explore a transportation agency’s commitment to representing Spanish on public transportation in a major US metropolitan city. The research contrasts representation in digital spaces, such as the transportation agency’s website and telephone hotline, with spaces, including the bus and metro lines. It also evaluates visual and auditory means of presenting information and explores which specific themes are represented in English, Spanish, or bilingually. Findings reveal clear disparities between representations of Spanish in digital and public transportation spaces. While digital spaces appear to fulfill the commitment to linguistic representation, the data tell a different story. These discrepancies place individuals with limited or no proficiency in English at a disadvantage, requiring additional resources to obtain equal access to this public service.

© John Benjamins Publishing Company
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1075/ll.23081.var
2025-04-18
2025-11-11

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/10.1075/ll.23081.var
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Journal -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Abdel, Ahmed & Azim El Shiekh
    (2012) Google Translate Service: Transfer of Meaning, Distortion or Simply a New Creation? An Investigation into the Translation Process & Problems at Google. English Language and Literature Studies. 2(1). 10.5539/ells.v2n1p56
     https://doi.org/10.5539/ells.v2n1p56 [Google Scholar]
  2. Anderson, Monica
    (2016) WHO relies on public transit in the U.S. Pew Research Center. RetrievedNovember 20, 2022, fromhttps://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/04/07/who-relies-on-public-transit-in-the-u-s/
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Backhaus, Peter
    (2016) Attention, please: A linguistic soundscape/landscape analysis of ELF information provision in public transport in Tokyo. InKumiko Murata (Ed.), Exploring ELF in Japanese academic and business contexts: Conceptualization, research and pedagogic implications (pp.194–209). New York, NY: Routledge.
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Barni, Monica & Carla Bagna
    (2008) A mapping technique and the Linguistic Landscape. InElana Shohamy & Durk Gorter (Eds.), Linguistic Landscape: Expanding the Scenery (pp.166–180). New York, NY: Routledge.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Batalova, Jeanne
    (2023) Frequently requested statistics on immigrants and immigration in the United States. Migration Policy Institute. RetrievedNovember 10, 2023fromhttps://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/frequently-requested-statistics-immigrants-and-immigration-united-states-2024
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Belotto, Michael J.
    (2018) Data Analysis Methods for Qualitative Research: Managing the Challenges of Coding, Interrater Reliability, and Thematic Analysis. The Qualitative Report, 23(11), 2622–2633. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Nova Southeastern University. 10.46743/2160‑3715/2018.3492
     https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2018.3492 [Google Scholar]
  7. Blumenberg, Evelyn
    (2008) Immigrants and transport barriers to employment: The case of Southeast Asian welfare recipients in California. Transport Policy, 15(1), 33–42. (Online). 10.1016/j.tranpol.2007.10.008
     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2007.10.008 [Google Scholar]
  8. Budiharjo, Bayu
    (2018) Google, Translate This Website Page-Flipping through Google Translate’s Ability. InDjatmika Djatmika, Riyadi Santosa, Mangatur Nababan, Sumarlam Sumarlam, Mohammad Zain Sulaiman, Tri Wiratno, Havid Ardi, Bayu Budiharjo, Husniah Ramadani Pulungan & Sulaiman Ilham (Eds.), Fourth Prasasti International Seminar on Linguistics (Prasasti 2018) (pp.455–461). Dordrecht, Netherlands: Atlantis Press. 10.2991/prasasti‑18.2018.84
     https://doi.org/10.2991/prasasti-18.2018.84 [Google Scholar]
  9. Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG)
    Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) (2005, May25). Reducing Language Barriers Guidelines on making CRCOG transportation programs more accessible to those who don’t speak English well.
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Chen, Xuewei, Sandra Acosta & Adam E. Barry
    (2016) Evaluating the accuracy of Google translate for diabetes education material. JMIR diabetes, 1(1). 10.2196/diabetes.5848
     https://doi.org/10.2196/diabetes.5848 [Google Scholar]
  11. Department of Transportation
    Department of Transportation. (n.d.). U.S. Department of Transportation. https://www.transportation.gov/civil-rights/civil-rights-awareness-enforcement/dots-lep-guidance
  12. El Ayadi, Nesrin
    (2022) Linguistic sound walks: Setting out ways to explore the relationship between linguistic soundscapes and experiences of social diversity. Social & Cultural Geography, 23(2), 227–249. 10.1080/14649365.2019.1707861
     https://doi.org/10.1080/14649365.2019.1707861 [Google Scholar]
  13. Fuller, Janet & Jennifer Leeman
    (2020) Speaking Spanish in the US: The Sociopolitics of Language. Bristol: Multilingual Matters. 10.21832/9781788928298
     https://doi.org/10.21832/9781788928298 [Google Scholar]
  14. Gorter, Durk
    (2018) Linguistic Landscapes and trends in the study of schoolscapes. Linguistics and Education, 441, 80–85. 10.1016/j.linged.2017.10.001
     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.linged.2017.10.001 [Google Scholar]
  15. (2021) Multilingual inequality in public spaces: Towards an inclusive model of linguistic landscapes. InRobert Blackwood and Dierdre Dunlevy (Eds.) Multilingualism in the Public Spaces: Empowering and Transforming Communities (pp.13–30). London: Bloomsbury. 10.5040/9781350186620.ch‑001
     https://doi.org/10.5040/9781350186620.ch-001 [Google Scholar]
  16. Gorter, Durk & Jasone Cenoz
    (2017) Linguistic Landscape and multilingualism. Language Awareness and Multilingualism, 31, 233–245. 10.1007/978‑3‑319‑02240‑6_27
     https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02240-6_27 [Google Scholar]
  17. (2020) Theoretical development of Linguistic Landscape studies. Linguistic Landscape6(1), 16–22. 10.1075/ll.00020.gor
     https://doi.org/10.1075/ll.00020.gor [Google Scholar]
  18. Gorter, Durk & Cenoz, Jasone
    (2023) A Panorama of Linguistic Landscape Studies. Bristol, UK: Multilingual Matters. 10.21832/9781800417151
     https://doi.org/10.21832/9781800417151 [Google Scholar]
  19. Hiippala, Tuomo, Tuomas Väisänen, & Hanna-Mari Pienimäki
    (2023) A multimodal approach to physical and virtual Linguistic Landscapes across different spatial scales. InSofie Henricson, Väinö Syrjälä, Carla Bagna & Martina Bellinzona (Eds.), Sociolinguistic variation in urban Linguistic Landscapes (pp.158–178). Helsinki: Finnish Literature Society.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Hornberger, Nancy H. & David Cassels Johnson
    (2007) Slicing the onion ethnographically: Layers and spaces in multilingual language education policy and practice. TESOL Quarterly, 41(3), 509–532. 10.1002/j.1545‑7249.2007.tb00083.x
     https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1545-7249.2007.tb00083.x [Google Scholar]
  21. Hult, Francis M. & Nancy H. Hornberger
    (2016) Revisiting Orientations in Language Planning: Problem, Right, and Resource as an Analytical Heuristic. The Bilingual Review/La Revista Bilingüe, 33(3), 30–49.
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Ivković, Dejan & Heather Lotherington
    (2009) Multilingualism in cyberspace: Conceptualising the virtual Linguistic Landscape. International Journal of Multilingualism, 6(1), 17–36. (Online: Routledge). 10.1080/14790710802582436
     https://doi.org/10.1080/14790710802582436 [Google Scholar]
  23. Johnson, David Cassels
    (2011) Critical discourse analysis and the ethnography of language policy. Critical discourse studies, 8(4), 267–279. 10.1080/17405904.2011.601636
     https://doi.org/10.1080/17405904.2011.601636 [Google Scholar]
  24. (2013) Language Policy. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. 10.1057/9781137316202
     https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137316202 [Google Scholar]
  25. Lee, Richard J. & Ipek N. Sener
    (2016) Transportation Planning and quality of life: Where do they intersect?Transport Policy, 481, 146–155. 10.1016/j.tranpol.2016.03.004
     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2016.03.004 [Google Scholar]
  26. Manville, Michael & Adam Seth Levine
    (2018) What motivates public support for public transit?Transportation Research. Part A, Policy and Practice, 1181, 567–580. 10.1016/j.tra.2018.10.001
     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2018.10.001 [Google Scholar]
  27. Mar-Molinero, Clare
    (2000) The Politics of language in the Spanish-speaking world : from colonisation to globalisation. New York: Routledge.
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Migration Policy Institute
    Migration Policy Institute (2022) State Immigration Data Profiles. RetrievedOctober 5, 2022from MPI athttps://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/state-profiles/state/language/DC
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Pappenhagen, Ruth, Claudio Scarvaglieri & Angelika Redder
    (2016) Expanding the Linguistic Landscape scenery? Action theory and ‘Linguistic Soundscaping’. InRobert Blackwood, Hirut Woldemariam & Elizabeth Lanza (Eds.), Negotiating and contesting identities in Linguistic Landscapes, (pp.147–162). London: Bloomsbury. 10.5040/9781474295352.ch‑010
     https://doi.org/10.5040/9781474295352.ch-010 [Google Scholar]
  30. Piller, Ingrid
    (2016) Linguistic diversity and social justice: An introduction to applied sociolinguistics. New York: Oxford University Press. 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199937240.001.0001
     https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199937240.001.0001 [Google Scholar]
  31. Reh, Mechthild
    (2004) Multilingual writing: A reader-oriented typology — with examples from Lira Municipality (Uganda). International Journal Sociology of Language, 1701, 1–41. 10.1515/ijsl.2004.2004.170.1
     https://doi.org/10.1515/ijsl.2004.2004.170.1 [Google Scholar]
  32. Riadi, Agus & Yovita Angelina
    (2020) An analysis of the literalness aspect of Google Translate in translating business correspondence. ELSA, 1(1), 1–14.
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Ruíz, Richard
    (1984) Orientations in language planning. NABE Journal, 81, 15–34. 10.1080/08855072.1984.10668464
     https://doi.org/10.1080/08855072.1984.10668464 [Google Scholar]
  34. Schmidt, Ronald
    (2000) Language policy and identity politics in the United States. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  35. Sebba, Mark
    (2010) Discourses in transit. InAdam Jaworski & Crispin Thurlow (Eds.), Semiotic landscapes: Language, image, space. (pp.59–76). London: Bloomsbury.
     [Google Scholar]
  36. Stanley, Janet & Karen Lucas
    (2008) Social exclusion: What can public transport offer?Research in Transportation Economics, 22(1), 36–40. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. 10.1016/j.retrec.2008.05.009
     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2008.05.009 [Google Scholar]
  37. Shohamy, Elana
    (2019) Linguistic Landscape after a decade: An overview of themes, debates and future directions. InMartin Pütz & Neele Mundt (Eds.), Expanding the Linguistic Landscape: Linguistic Diversity, Multimodality and the Use of Space as a Semiotic Resource (pp.25–37). Bristol, UK: Multilingual Matters.
     [Google Scholar]
  38. Terantino, Joe
    (2022) Communicating with Parents of Latino English Language Learners: Is Google Translate an Accurate Option?Journal of Latinos and Education, 23(1), 46–58. 10.1080/15348431.2022.2104849
     https://doi.org/10.1080/15348431.2022.2104849 [Google Scholar]
  39. Tollefson, James
    (2005) Critical theory in language policy. InThomas Ricento (Ed.), An introduction to language policy: Theory and method. (pp.42–59). Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
     [Google Scholar]
  40. Troyer, Robert A.
    (2023) Agency and Policy: Who Controls the Linguistic Landscape of a School?InSébastien Dubreil, David Malinowski & Hiram H. Maxim, (Eds.), Spatializing language studies: Pedagogical approaches in the linguistic landscape (pp.89–119). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. 10.1007/978‑3‑031‑39578‑9_5
     https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39578-9_5 [Google Scholar]
  41. Tsai, Shu-Chiao
    (2019) Using Google translate in EFL drafts: a preliminary investigation. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 32(5–6), 510–526. 10.1080/09588221.2018.1527361
     https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2018.1527361 [Google Scholar]
  42. United States Department of Justice
    United States Department of Justice (2011) Language access assessment and planning tool for federally conducted and federally assisted programs. Language Access Planning. https://www.lep.gov/sites/lep/files/resources/2011_Language_Access_Assessment_and_Planning_Tool.pdf
     [Google Scholar]
  43. Watanabe, Yukinori, Haruo Orito & Ryotaro Suzuki
    (2014) Young Korean Tourists in Japan: Experiencing Language Barrier for Travel Satisfaction, 어문학논총, 331, 211–240.
     [Google Scholar]
  44. Wiley, Terrence G. & Haley De Korne
    (2014) Historical Orientations to Language Policy in the United States. Language Policy Research Network Brief (LPREN). RetrievedOctober 5, 2022fromCenter of Applied Linguisticsathttps://www.cal.org/lpren/pdfs/briefs/historical-orientations-to-language-policy-in-the-united-states.pdf
     [Google Scholar]
  45. Yusuf, Kamal & Yulia Eka Putrie
    (2022) The Linguistic Landscape of mosques in Indonesia: Materiality and identity representation. International Journal of Society, Culture & Language, 10(3). 10.22034/ijscl.2022.550006.2570
     https://doi.org/10.22034/ijscl.2022.550006.2570 [Google Scholar]
  46. Zentella, Ana Celia
    (1997) The Hispanophobia of the Official English movement in the US. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 127(127), 71–86. 10.1515/ijsl.1997.127.71
     https://doi.org/10.1515/ijsl.1997.127.71 [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1075/ll.23081.var
Loading
Navigating the roads of language policy
Linguistic Landscape 11, 380 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1075/ll.23081.var
/content/journals/10.1075/ll.23081.var
/content/journals/10.1075/ll.23081.var
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): language policy; Linguistic Landscapes; public transit; urban linguistics

Most Cited

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was successful
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error