Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Chapter 1. Language use and identity negotiation in the linguistic landscape of Chipilo, Mexico

2021; John Benjamins Publishing Company; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1075/ihll.35.01sbr

2213-3887

Lucia Sbrighi,

Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies

Abstract This is the first study exploring the characteristics of the Linguistic Landscape of Chipilo, a town of an immigrant community of Italian origin in Mexico, which has maintained its language and ethnic identity over six generations. The linguistic landscape (hereafter: LL) marks the geographical space inhabited by Chipileños and reflects the relation among the languages used (Spanish, Veneto, Italian and English). Its distinctive trait is the combination of textual items with the typical sounds, smells and tastes that can be perceived in the streets of the town. The multisensory LL creates a unique ambience and contributes to the symbolic construction of a distinct public space and the promotion of the collective ethnic identity within the community in relation to other groups.