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Article published In: Linguistic Landscape
Vol. 5:3 (2019) ► pp.281–301

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The linguistic landscape of multilingual picturebooks

 | University of Waikato
Published online: 12 November 2019
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https://doi.org/10.1075/ll.18014.dal
Abstract
We often talk about ‘entering another world’ when we read a book. In this article it is argued that the way in which languages are presented in a picturebook can be seen as a linguistic landscape within the wider linguistic landscape of the world we are in. Previous studies of the linguistic landscape of bilingual picturebooks have shown that minority languages are afforded less space. In this article the linguistic landscape of 24 multilingual picturebooks from the Internationale Jugendbibliothek (Munich, Germany) are analysed. Findings show that languages given dominance in terms of order, size, and information mostly reflect the sociolinguistic setting in which these books are published, replicating power structures and potentially having negative implications for the ethnolinguistic vitality of minority language groups and their language maintenance or revitalisation. The potential effect on readers’ developing language attitudes is also explored.
Whānui (translated by Katarina Edmonds)
Kia pānui pukapuka tatou he nui ngā wā ka kī tatou ‘e uru atu ana tatou ki tētahi atu ao’. E āki ana tēnei ātikara, whakaatu ai te te pukapuka-pikitia i tēnei me te reo pēnei i te aroaro whenua reo o te aroaro whenua whānui o ō tatou ao. Kua whakaaturia e ngā rangahau o mua, e pā ana ki te aroaro whenua pukapuka-pikitia reorua, he iti iho te wāhi ka tukua ki ngā reo tokoiti. I tēnei ātikara, kua tātaritia te aroaro whenua reo o te 24 pukapuka-pikitia reo tokomaha o te Internationale Jugenbibliothek (Munich, Germany). E whakaatu mai ana ngā kitenga, ko ngā reo ka kite whānuitia i runga i ngā āhuatanga o te raupapa, te rahi me ngā mōhiohio, i te nuinga o te wā e whakaata mai ana i te horopaki pāpori-reo i whakaputaina ēnei pukapuka, otirā, e tāwhai ana i ngā whakatakotoranga whai mana; waihoki, kāore e kore ka tikanga huakore mō te orange reo-ā-iwi, ā hapori o ngā rōpū reo tokoiti me a rātou mahi whakapūmau, whakarauoroa reo. Tūhuratia ai hoki te whai pānga ki ngā waiaro whakawhanake reo o ngā kaipānui.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.The International Jugendbibliothek
  • 3.Method
  • 4.Analysis and discussion
    • 4.1Concept and rhyme multilingual picturebooks
    • 4.2Multilingual story picturebooks
    • 4.3Implications for readers
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
  • Primary sources
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