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Article published In: Linguistic Landscape
Vol. 11:4 (2025) ► pp.380–407

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Navigating the roads of language policy

A Linguistic Landscapes approach to digital and in situ representations of Spanish on public transportation

ORCiD logo with link | Georgetown University
ORCiD logo with link | Georgetown University
Published online: 18 April 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/ll.23081.var
Abstract
This study employs Critical Language Policy theory (Tollefson, James (2005). Critical theory in language policy. In Thomas Ricento (Ed.), An introduction to language policy: Theory and method. (pp. 42–59). Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) 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 in situ 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 in situ public transportation spaces. While digital spaces appear to fulfill the commitment to linguistic representation, the data in situ 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.
Resumen
Este estudio emplea la teoría crítica de la política lingüística (Tollefson, James (2005). Critical theory in language policy. In Thomas Ricento (Ed.), An introduction to language policy: Theory and method. (pp. 42–59). Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) y la metodología de paisajes lingüísticos para analizar el compromiso de una agencia de transporte con la representación del español en una ciudad metropolitana de EE. UU. Se comparan los espacios digitales, como el sitio web y la línea telefónica, con los espacios in situ, incluyendo autobuses y metro. Además, se evalúan los medios visuales y auditivos utilizados y los temas representados en inglés, español o de forma bilingüe. Los hallazgos revelan disparidades entre la representación del español en espacios digitales y físicos. Aunque los espacios digitales reflejan un compromiso lingüístico, los datos in situ muestran lo contrario. Estas diferencias afectan a personas con dominio limitado del inglés, ya que requieren recursos adicionales para acceder equitativamente al transporte público (Ruíz, Richard (1984). Orientations in language planning. NABE Journal, 81, 15–34. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar; Tollefson, James (2005). Critical theory in language policy. In Thomas Ricento (Ed.), An introduction to language policy: Theory and method. (pp. 42–59). Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar).
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Spanish in the US
  • 3.Language policy in transportation
    • 3.1Who uses public transportation?
    • 3.2Public transportation and language access
    • 3.3Language access plan (de jure policy)
  • 4.Critical language-policy and Linguistic Landscapes
  • 5.Research questions
  • 6.Methodology
    • 6.1Data collection
      • 6.1.1Digital spaces (webpages and hotline)
      • 6.1.2Bus spaces (vehicles and bus stops)
      • 6.1.3Metro spaces (vehicles and informational kiosks)
  • 7.Data codification
  • 8.Data analysis
    • 8.1Digital spaces
    • 8.2Bus (in situ) spaces
    • 8.3Metro (in situ) spaces
    • 8.4In situ spaces collectively
  • 9.Results
  • 10.Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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