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Article published In: Linguistic Landscape
Vol. 10:2 (2024) ► pp.190–214

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Language contact, identity building and attitudes towards the use of a minoritized language in the public space

ORCiD logo with link | Universidad de Alcalá
 | Western Washington University
Published online: 20 November 2023
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/ll.23022.ari
Abstract
Recent sociolinguistic studies have emphasized the role of the Linguistic Landscape in analyzing language attitudes and identities in relation to minoritized languages. The present study examines language attitudes and perceptions of Asturian speakers towards the use of Asturian, a minoritized regional language spoken in Asturies, Spain, in the public space. Data was gathered through a survey questionnaire distributed amongst residents of Mieres, a municipality located in the center of Asturies. Through qualitative and quantitative analyses, results show that the presence of Asturian linguistic and semiotic resources reinforces participants’ Asturian identity. Findings reveal positive language attitudes: not only do participants believe that speaking Asturian is an essential part of being Asturian, but they want Asturians to continue learning and speaking the language. This study shows how the Linguistic Landscape is a valuable tool in uncovering language attitudes and perceptions, which are inextricably linked to one’s identity within a community.
Resumen
En estudios sociolingüísticos recientes, se ha resaltado la relevancia del paisaje lingüístico en el análisis de actitudes lingüísticas e identidades vinculadas a lenguas minorizadas. El presente artículo examina las actitudes y percepciones lingüísticas hacia el uso del asturiano, una lengua minorizada hablada en Asturias (España), en el espacio público. Los datos se recopilaron a través de un cuestionario distribuido entre los residentes de Mieres, un municipio ubicado en el centro de Asturias. Mediante análisis cualitativos y cuantitativos, los resultados muestran que la presencia de recursos lingüísticos y semióticos en asturiano refuerza la identidad asturiana de los participantes. Asimismo, los hallazgos revelan actitudes lingüísticas positivas: no solo creen los participantes que hablar asturiano es una parte esencial de ser asturiano, sino que también desean que se continúe aprendiendo y hablando esta lengua. Este estudio evidencia la utilidad del paisaje lingüístico en la identificación de actitudes y percepciones lingüísticas, las cuales guardan una estrecha relación con la identidad de los individuos en una comunidad.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Theoretical background: Language attitudes and perceptions through the LL
  • 3.The sociolinguistic situation of Asturian
    • 3.1General overview
    • 3.2Language attitudes towards Asturian
    • 3.3Previous studies on the use of Asturian in the public space
  • 4.Methodology
    • 4.1The municipality: Mieres
    • 4.2Online survey: Attitudes and perceptions towards Asturian using collected signs
    • 4.3Participants
    • 4.4Analysis
  • 5.Results and discussion
    • 5.1Language attitudes towards Asturian
    • 5.2Perceptions of Asturianness in the LL
  • 6.Conclusions
  • References
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