What is it about?
This article uses a linguistic landscape approach to explore the representation of Spanish in Australian university websites. In particular, by using multimodality tools and socio-semiotic lens, it shows how these institutions depict Spanish programs. The results show there is an incipient use of multimodal resources while failing to represent Spanish as a pluricentric language. In addition, there is a hierarchy of languages in websites, in which Spanish is normally in a disadvantaged position on the promotional sites of universities.
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Why is it important?
This piece of research can inform policymakers and marketing specialists about the appropriateness of using languages other than English in the university context. It can also raise awareness about multilingualism and respect for linguistic diversity.
Perspectives
This piece takes a novel approach by utilising photographic data from publicly available sources. In addition, by employing linguistic landscapes research as the lens of the study, it offers a more comprehensive and contemporary view of language in the public domain.
Rodrigo Arellano
Universidad de La Frontera
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Representation of the Spanish language in the virtual linguistic landscape of university websites in
Australia, Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, March 2025, John Benjamins,
DOI: 10.1075/aral.24074.tor.
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