IT'S SPAIN! IT'S A JOKE: English as a Pathway to Empower Social & Political Movements in Lleida

"IT'S SPAIN! IT'S A JOKE"

English as a Pathway to Empower Social & Political Movements in Lleida

Enric Fernàndez - efp7@alumnes.udl.cat

Héctor Rubio - hrb4@alumnes.udl.cat

Figure 1: Close-up picture of our chosen Linguistic Landscape Token (LLT). Source: Enric Fernàndez, 18/03/2023.

· Introduction ·

This project aims to examine the use of English in the Linguistic Landscapes (LL) of Lleida and explore how the social context and language choice both affect and are affected by its localization. The primary goal of our research is to analyze and comprehend the process of "Englishation" in the city, as well as to gain insight into how local and global languages coexist, interact, and mix. Given the bilingual nature of Lleida (Catalan-Castilian), this project provides a unique opportunity to investigate how languages change meaning and usage upon contact. The rise of globalization has created a thriving linguistic ecosystem in Lleida and Catalonia, and our objective is to understand it, along with its potential social implications and the academic insights it could provide for future researchers on this topic.

· Contextualization ·

Our project began when we discovered a notable Language Landscape Token (LLT) on Carrer Governador Montacada 13, situated on the other side of Lleida's public library in the historic center of the city. The LLT in question is graffiti painted on a white-grey wall with the text ''It's Spain! It's A Joke'' (see Figure 1). The letters "AN" appear to be the signature of the presumed author, which in turn they form a rushed smiley face accomplished by a line serving as mouth and two dots serving as eyes. Upon analyzing the LLT, we noticed some key details. At first glance, it is a form of street art written in English. The text serves a clear political purpose and criticizes the current political establishment in Spain. However, the exact target(s) of the LLT could be interpreted in different ways depending on an individual's political beliefs. It was readable by local and non-local passers-by, so it was, at first sight, a public call/cry against perceived injustice. Furthermore, considering the neighborhood in which the LLT is located, we can identify the socio-economic factors that may have contributed to the creation of the LLT. Figures 2 and 3 provide additional context for the LLT's location.

Figures 2 and 3: LLT's direct surrounding area. Source: Héctor Rubio, 24/03/2023.

As previously mentioned, our Linguistic Token is located in the historic center of Lleida, a region that was once predominantly inhabited by native Catalan folk. However, the demographics of this area have shifted in recent decades, and now at least half of its residential census is comprised of individuals with immigrant backgrounds or ancestry (see Figure 4). This region has experienced and continues to experience high levels of criminal activity, resulting in heightened police surveillance and contributing to a left-leaning, socialist/anarchist political climate; in other words, a transgressive area filled with social issues. This political atmosphere is characterized by a significant anti-authoritarian ideological current prominent throughout the place.

Figure 4: Regional distribution of native and immigrant populations in Lleida. Zone of interest is highlighted. Source: Sabaté M. (2016) Collective project: Localising English in Lleida, p.6: https://www.paeria.cat/butlletieconomic/2012/03-juliol/06-poblacio.pdf

This aforementioned environment in Lleida creates social tension between native residents and immigrants, resulting in a politically charged atmosphere between community members and authorities. The city has witnessed multiple protests, including those in support of pro-independence political prisoners as reported in the article "Lleida surt al carrer en suport als presos polítics catalans" in 2017. Youth organizations have also been protesting for more rights and expressing their dissatisfaction with the socioeconomic and political conditions in the Spanish regime (see Figure 5). For instance, the Popular Youth Center organized a protest in 2021 to highlight the lack of youth organizations in Lleida and the challenging economic situation for young Catalan people.

Figure 5: MAI MÉS LLEIDA SENSE CASAL Source: https://www.facebook.com/casaljoveslleida/photos/a.431533637005625/2049955538496752?locale=ca_ES

Figure 6: Similar political graffiti written next to our LLT against the imprisonment of Catalan activists. "Casal Popular de Joves" painted on an adjacent wall. Source: Héctor Rubio, 24/03/2023.

· Methodology ·

To perform an effective analysis of our LLT, a series of steps and methods were undertaken. Our primary approach included conducting extensive ethnographic fieldwork of the region, gathering census data, and collecting information about the area. Additionally, we incorporated visual material into our research, and observers visited the LLT twice (18th and 24th of March), capturing photographs not only of the studied LLT but also of other LLTs in the same area to provide contextual information for the images. Carrer Governador Montacada is not a densely populated place in the Centre Històric; rather, it is a street that connects the Library of Lleida to Plaça Major (one of the city's main commercial areas) via a set of stairs by the end of it. In addition to the library, other services can be seen in the area, including a bakery, a dental clinic, and even a Linguistic Normalization center located adjacent to both the LLT and the Library of Lleida. In addition to its use as a connector between different parts of the city (including the nearby University, Library, and Caselles Bookstore), people also use this area for parking (see Figure 7), despite the fact that it is not typically a busy area.

Figure 7: Lleida's public library parking zone. Source: Héctor Rubio, 24/03/2023.

To fully comprehend the connection between the region and our LLT, some ethnographic observations of the LL were necessary. As previously stated, the researchers visited the area on two different occasions, with two objectives in mind: firstly, to gain a better understanding of the street and its other LLTs, and secondly, to verify if any modifications had been made to it. Fortunately, no noticeable changes were made, and our project could be continued without any further worries. To compile and classify all elements of interest in our LT, a series of parameters and values were formulated. These values include:

• Language variety level - identifying the number of languages present in the text and which languages these are.
• Activity domain - identifying the kind of LLT we are analyzing.
• Support or medium - identifying where the LLT is written on.
• Type of sign and level of production - identifying the type of sign and its level of production.

Three of these values were previously designed by the European Linguistic Landscape Observatory, and by adhering to them we cannot only gain a better understanding of our target LLT but also uncover valuable information about the larger linguistic and social context in which it is used. This will deepen our insights into these elements and how they interact with each other.

· Results & Discussion ·

Our research uncovered certain characteristics of our LLT. Firstly, the text is only in English, using a monolingual format. The Roman alphabet is employed, which is widely applied in the Western world, and the text is entirely in capital letters. This creates an attention-grabbing effect, not only because of these factors but also because the text is deliberately written in black ink against a white-grey wall and uses an exclamation mark, making this a case of intentional style usage (English & Marr, 2015, pp. 22-23). By analyzing its activity domain, we can determine that it is a form of street art, as mentioned earlier in the Contextualization section. The area where our LLT is located features several other graffiti and wall paintings, which can be seen in Figures 8 and 9.

Figures 8 and 9: Multiple instances of 'street art' in the area. Source: Héctor Rubio, 24/03/2023.

The choice of language in Linguistic Language Tokens (LLTs) can be transgressive in nature, and our LLT is no exception. In Lleida and the Catalan region, the use of Catalan and Castilian is typically top-down, with little room for alternative languages regarding policy regulations. English, however, provides a means to communicate political messages to a wider audience, particularly those who may feel marginalized or excluded. Since the end of World War II and the rise of the United States as a global power, English has become a cosmopolitan language that allows underrepresented groups to voice their opinions and promote their slogans not only to the local population but to anyone who encounters these LLTs. In the "Contextualization" section, we discussed the presence of various youth groups in not just the local area, but throughout Lleida. These youth groups have influenced some of the style choices in our LLT, and while the deliberate use of English in the LLT can be attributed to its worldwide usage, it can also create a certain impression on the reader. Due to its cosmopolitan nature and usage by marginalized communities, English has evolved from a simple communication tool to a medium that challenges conventional norms. Recent cultural shifts and trends have given the language a nonconformist spirit, making it a suitable choice for texts like ours and for those who produce them. In this case, we can say that the youth organizations in the area use these stylistic choices to break through traditional slogans and add deeper meaning to their message (see Martín-Rojo and Diaz De Frutos (2014) for similar findings).

When considering the Linguistic Landscapes (LLs) Lleida and Catalonia are filled with, we can observe how our own landscape compares. For example, the LL holds historical value as it provides insight into the human activity that has taken place in that location, and people who view this LL may reference it to ongoing protests in Catalonia. The LL also holds identity value as it represents the political identity of dissatisfied individuals regarding the political situation in Spain. Additionally, it has aesthetic value with its transgressive design as the LL comprises both visual and linguistic modes that can be interpreted linguistically. These include capital letters used to emphasize aggression in the message "IT'S SPAIN! IT'S A JOKE," which is intentional in displaying various forms of rage and sadness. This LL exemplifies multimodality as it combines multiple sensory and communicative modes.

The Linguistic Landscape Token we're analyzing uses punctuation marks to emphasize the message it conveys. In particular, the use of exclamation points can communicate energy, aggression, and excitement, as Misha Aminoff (2020) has pointed out. Aminoff provides an example of two contrasting messages that both use exclamation points to emphasize their points: "Stop Abusing Women!!!" and "More Pokemon!". Although the tone of these messages is different, both use exclamation points to draw attention to their respective ideas. The former message is a form of protest, while the latter conveys enthusiasm. In our case, the LLT we're examining uses exclamation points as a form of protest, similar to "Stop Abusing Women!!!", rather than conveying excitement, like "More Pokemon!!!". By using punctuation to emphasize their message, these Linguistic Landscape Tokens are able to effectively convey their intended meaning.

Figure 10: "Stop Abusing Women!!!!" and "More Pokemon!". Source: Misha Aminoff (24/07/2020). Retrieved March 24th, 2023, from: https://www.mishaminoff.com/multiple-exclamation-marks-in-graffiti-signs-stickers/

 

Graffiti can be a way for people to express not only their artistic style but also their personal and political identity. In many cases, graffiti is used as a form of protest against the current social and political system, and it reflects the desire for social justice. Graffiti can be found all over the world, highlighting the global nature of civil protests. More and more people are using English as a way to communicate their message and make it accessible to a wider audience, as this language is seen as a tool to empower social and political movements in Lleida and the whole globe.

· Concluding Thoughts ·

This project has fundamentally shifted our perspective of Lleida. Not only we have come to realize that even in a small city like Lleida, the globalization of English is becoming increasingly prevalent, but we have discovered that the use of new technologies in the classroom can greatly enhance our learning experience as well. Specifically, tools like TKA and TEP, which are commonly used in classrooms, are particularly useful. By taking a more practical, hands-on approach to the Linguistic Landscapes the city has to offer, we have found how better we are able to grasp the concepts being taught in this subject. This project has greatly helped us understand the extent to which we interact with languages on a daily basis. Specifically, we have observed how English is being used to empower social and political movements and to make them more global in scope. This realization has been eye-opening, and we are eager to continue discovering the many ways in which language shapes our society and world.

· References ·

1. Aminoff, M. (24/07/2020). Multiple Exclamation Marks in Graffiti, Signs & Stickers. Retrieved March 24th, 2023, from: https://www.mishaminoff.com/multiple-exclamation-marks-in-graffiti-signs-stickers/
2. Casal Popular de Joves de Lleida (21/10/2021). Davant un present i un futur de misèria, el jovent de Lleida ens hem d'alçar. Retrieved March 18th, 2023, from: https://www.facebook.com/casaljoveslleida/photos/a.431533637005625/2049955538496752?locale=ca_ES
3. English, F., & Marr, T. (2015). Why Do Linguistics? Reflective Linguistics and the Study of Language, pp. 22-23. Bloomsbury Academic. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404516000956
4. Sabaté-Dalmau, M. (2022). Localizing English in town: A linguistic landscape project for a Critical Linguistics Education on multilingualism.
5. Martín-Rojo, L., & Díaz de Frutos (2014). En #Sol, revolución: paisajes lingüísticos para tomar las plazas, Journal of Spanish Cultural Studies, 15(1-2), pp. 163-186. https://doi.org/10.1080/14636204.2014.982889
6. Martín-Rojo, L., & Díaz de Frutos, M. E. (2014). The role of English in the discursive construction of social actors and their practices in times of crisis. Journal of Language and Politics, 13(3), pp. 431-456. https://doi.org/10.1075/jlp.13.3.04mar
7. Observatori del Paisatge. (n.d.). The landscape observatory: Glossary. Documentation Centre: Glossary. Retrieved March 18th, 2023, from: http://www.catpaisatge.net/eng/glossari.php
8. RAC1 (05/11/2017). Lleida surt al carrer en suport als presos polítics catalans. Retrived March 18th , 2023, from: https://www.rac1.cat/info-rac1/20171105/432661771237/lleida-surt-al-carrer-en-suport-als-presos-politics-catalans.html
9. Sabaté-Dalmau, M. (2016). Collective project: Localising English in Lleida: p.6: https://www.paeria.cat/butlletieconomic/2012/03-juliol/06-poblacio.pdf