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Article published In:
Spanish in Context
Vol. 14:3 (2017) ► pp.329–362

Quantifying the Linguistic Landscape

A study of Spanish-English variation in Pilsen, Chicago

| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Study of speech and written texts has provided significant insight regarding linguistic variation and its social correlates. Variation in the representation or display of language, however, remains a relatively understudied phenomenon. With this in mind, we present a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the variation observed in the Linguistic Landscape (LL) of Pilsen, Chicago. A community undergoing perceived processes of gentrification, Pilsen is an active site of economic, sociocultural change as well as newly intensified language contact. To investigate Pilsen’s displayed language variation, we implement a series of logistic regression models that analyze the distribution of both language and contextual framing observed on signs in four key areas in Pilsen. In doing so, we present an informed means with which to understand the sociolinguistic context of Pilsen as a community undergoing change and provide a replicable framework for future study of LLs that experience similar dynamics.

Keywords: Linguistic Landscapes, gentrification, frame analysis, authenticy, quantitative methods, Chicago
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Pilsen, Chicago
  • 3.The study
  • 4.Linguistic Landscapes and frame analysis
  • 5.Frames of authentication
  • 6.Languages of Pilsen
  • 7.Location
  • 8.Results and analysis
    • 8.1Overview
    • 8.2Location and language
    • 8.3Location and frames
  • 9.Discussion
  • 10.Concluding remarks
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 30 December 2017
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/sic.14.3.01lyo
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