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Part of
Language in Place: Stylistic perspectives on landscape, place and environment
Edited by Daniela Francesca Virdis, Elisabetta Zurru and Ernestine Lahey
[Linguistic Approaches to Literature 37] 2021
► pp. 229–252

Chapter 12
London past and present

The Museum of London’s multi-faceted presentation of the city

ORCID logo | Aix Marseille Université, LERMA |

Cities rely on their historical monuments and past cultural heritage to project their image, and city museums are one means used to achieve this goal. However, the city of the twenty-first century is socially and culturally heterogeneous. How then, can a city museum interact both with the heritage of the past and connect with its present-day multiracial, multilingual population? What are the linguistic tools used to achieve this goal? Using communication theory frameworks and discourse analysis, I will look at the use of exhibition texts at the Museum of London and demonstrate that exhibition texts seek to engage with the public and, in doing so, contribute to reflecting and communicating the city’s many voices.

Keywords: museum, city, interpersonal, voice, communication
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Curatorial voice and communication frameworks
  • 3.The conversational voice: Interacting with the visitor
  • 6.A case study: The London, Sugar and Slavery gallery at Docklands
  • 7.Conclusion
  • References
Published online: 15 April 2021
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/lal.37.12pil
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