Analyzing the linguistic landscape of Japantown and Koreatown in Manhattan, New York

Abstract

Over time, Manhattan, New York has become home to thousands of Korean and Japanese people. These groups have brought their languages and cultures with them, along with a drive to be successful. To better understand the representation of these minority languages within the landscape, an analysis must be done on the landscape and on the representation of these minority groups. This study examines the linguistic landscape of Koreatown and Japantown in Manhattan, focusing on the representation of culture and identity in the landscape. In addition, language policies and linguistic boundaries are examined for insight into the formation and representation of signs in these linguistic landscapes. All signs in Koreatown and signs pertaining to Japanese establishments in the unofficially labeled Japantown were photographed and categorized. Surveys were randomly conducted with pedestrians and shop workers of Korean or Japanese ethnicity. Signs were examined for representation of the respective languages in their linguistic landscapes and surveys were studied to obtain attitudes about language, landscape and policy. The findings revealed that the linguistic landscape of Manhattan is English dominant, there is language and cultural representation in these linguistic landscapes. Yet, one linguistic landscape has suffered due to a small number of speakers and negative language attitudes. Overall, the linguistic landscapes in Koreatown and Japantown, to a lesser degree, does reflect the groups language and cultural identity. However, inconsistencies on language attitudes are found between the survey answers and photographs. Implications are discussed with regards to Korean ANALYZING THE LINGUISTIC LANDSCAPE and Japanese communities and the ethnolinguistic vitality they may have towards areas of Manhattan, NY's linguistic landscape. [from author's abstract]