Linguistic landscapes in our neighborhoods can tell us what a neighborhood is like. Linguistic landscapes can be as simple as a sign saying trash. The way that the signs are presented and the languages on them can give you can insight of the community.
The linguistic landscape I chose was of the entrance of a church. This church is located in Astoria, Queens on Crescent Street. There are many bilingual signs that surround the doors of the church. There are two banners that take up the glass panels on the doors in big white writing saying “Good Shepherd” “United Methodist Church” and on the bottom, the name of the Reverend, the times and the phone number. On the left side of the panel, all of the writing is in Korean. On the right side of the panel, it is translated all into English. On the top of the double doors are two huge signs. One sign states again “Good Shepherd” in bold white font with the Korean on top and the English on the bottom. The other sign is in a framed white background with the words “Heaven & Hell Are Real! Be Prepared” in red and the Korean translation beneath it in blue. On the side of the doors there is a little sign in blue indicating where the church parking is, in both English and Korean.
This linguistic landscape is showing the presence of a religious community. This church shows that there are people in the community that share the same religious background within the same general location. Not only does the church inform us about the community but the languages displayed outside on the signs also inform us. The signs show us that there is a large enough group of Korean speakers in the community for them to have a place of worship in the comfort of their own language. It also shows us that the Korean speaking and the English speaking communities come together in this place to express their religious practices.
In this area of the neighborhood there are mostly tall apartment building around it. Across the street there is another church. There is also a hospital diagonally across from the “Good Shepherd” church. The neighborhood is not predominantly Korean so I found it interesting to learn that the language was Korean.
Questions:
1) Did i provide a good visual?
2) What can I expand on further?
The visual is actually informative in many ways as to the languages those speak in the neighborhood. I don’t see anything you will have to expand on.
Alisia, your draft is in good shape – you have identifies the languages, but make sure check the site in order to be able to use more technical and linguistic terminology, it will also help you to think about the different layers of meaning connected to the sign (I added some possible connections/questions on my comments).