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Article published In: Linguistic Landscape
Vol. 12:1 (2026) ► pp.53–81

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Berlin tastes like Spain

The projection of Spain’s image through the outdoor signage on ethnic restaurants in Berlin’s culinary landscape

ORCiD logo with link | University of Salamanca
Published online: 11 July 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/ll.24072.egi
Abstract
This study considers the outdoor signage on Spanish restaurants in Berlin, focusing on the actual names of the establishments. The aim involves identifying possible patterns in terms of the projection of a supposedly Spanish image and the role of the Spanish language as a strategy for reflecting the establishment’s perceived authenticity. It begins with an analysis of the names of the restaurants according to the languages on the sign, combination of languages, and visual salience, symbolic function, and referential purpose. The results are then aligned with the diverse strategies for imbuing the signs with an exotic nature, followed by an analysis of the images and other features that may reinforce the names’ symbolic function, with the contribution thereof helping to project stereotypical image of the cultural community in which they are ascribed.
Resumen
El presente trabajo se ocupa de la señalización exterior de los restaurantes españoles en Berlín poniendo el foco en el nombre de los establecimientos. El objetivo consiste en identificar posibles patrones respecto a la proyección de la imagen de España, así como del papel de la lengua española como estrategias de autentificación de los establecimientos. El punto de partida es un análisis de los nombres de los restaurantes atendiendo a las lenguas del signo, la combinación de lenguas y prominencia visual, función simbólica y función referencial. Los resultados de este primer análisis se pondrán luego en consonancia con la existencia de diferentes estrategias de exotización de los signos y, posteriormente, con el análisis de símbolos, imágenes y otros elementos que puedan reforzar la función simbólica del nombre de los restaurantes y que, en cuya combinación, puedan contribuir a proyectar en distintos grados una imagen estereotipada de la comunidad cultural a la que se adscriben.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction and theoretical background
    • 1.1LL and ethnic restaurants in Germany
    • 1.2The languages of Berlin: A snapshot of the LL of the city
  • 2.Methodology and data gathering
  • 3.Results
    • 3.1Language, combination of languages, and visual salience
    • 3.2Function
    • 3.3Exoticising and symbols
  • 4.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
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