This paper provides a short exploration of the possibilities offered by the Linguistic Landscape to enhance students’ language awareness and to act as a tool for language teachers. After briefly introducing the main features that characterize the Linguistic Landscape in urban spaces, namely its multilingual aspect, the informational and symbolic functions and the differences between top-down and bottom-up messages, the article describes the roles of English both as a lingua franca and as a symbol of prestige. A review of studies on the use of the Linguistic Landscape for teaching English is then presented. What is argued is that the Linguistic Landscape can be fruitfully employed to teach English – or another foreign language – at the university level. The proposed teaching approach will help students both to become more aware and also to be more active language learners.

The linguistic landscape and its potential for english language teaching / Ferrarotti, Laura. - In: JOURNAL FOR EUROLINGUISTIX. - ISSN 2197-6929. - ELETTRONICO. - 14:(2017), pp. 63-68.

The linguistic landscape and its potential for english language teaching

Laura Ferrarotti
Primo
2017

Abstract

This paper provides a short exploration of the possibilities offered by the Linguistic Landscape to enhance students’ language awareness and to act as a tool for language teachers. After briefly introducing the main features that characterize the Linguistic Landscape in urban spaces, namely its multilingual aspect, the informational and symbolic functions and the differences between top-down and bottom-up messages, the article describes the roles of English both as a lingua franca and as a symbol of prestige. A review of studies on the use of the Linguistic Landscape for teaching English is then presented. What is argued is that the Linguistic Landscape can be fruitfully employed to teach English – or another foreign language – at the university level. The proposed teaching approach will help students both to become more aware and also to be more active language learners.
2017
Sommaire Cet article présente une brève exploration des chances de la notion du paysage linguistique (Linguistic Landscape) afin d’améliorer la conscience linguistique des étudiants et de servir d’instrument pour les enseignants de langues. Après une introduction des traits caractéristiques du paysage linguistique urbain, à savoir son aspect polyglot, les fonctions informationnelles et symboliques ainsi que les différences parmi les messages top-down et bottom-up, l’article décrit les rôles de l’anglais comme lingua franca aussi bien que comme symbole de prestige. Suit un compte-rendu des études sur le paysage linguistique pour l’enseignement de l’anglais. La contribution suggère que l’on emploie, au niveau universitaire, le paysage linguistique pour enseigner l’anglais – ou bien une autre langue. La technique proposée aidera les étudiants à devenir des apprenants plus conscieux et plus actifs.
Zusammenfassung Dieser Beitrag bietet eine kurze Erörterung der Möglichkeiten des Konzepts der Sprachlandschaft (Linguistic Landscape) bietet, um das Bewusstsein von Sprachlerner zu steigern und als Instrument in den Sprachunterricht integriert zu werden. Nach einer Einführun in die Merkmale der Sprachlandschaft, nämlich der Aspekt der Mehrsprachigkeit, die Informations- und Symbolfunktionen sowie die Unterschiede zwischen Top-Down- und Bottom- Up-Nachrichten, beschreibt der Artikel die Rolle des Englischen als Lingua Franca und als Prestige-Symbol. Hierauf folgt ein Blick auf die Studien zum Nutzen der Sprachlandschaft im Englischunterricht. Es wird argumentiert, dass man im universitären Bereich die Sprachlandschaft fruchtbringend in das Englisch-Lehren – oder das Lehren jeder anderen Fremdsprache – einbauen kann. Der vorgeschlagene Lehransatz wird Lernern helfen, sowohl bewusstere als auch aktivere Sprachlerner zu werden.
Linguistic landscape, English language teaching, top-down and bottom-up messages
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
The linguistic landscape and its potential for english language teaching / Ferrarotti, Laura. - In: JOURNAL FOR EUROLINGUISTIX. - ISSN 2197-6929. - ELETTRONICO. - 14:(2017), pp. 63-68.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1079723
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