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Linguistic Landscape
Linguistic Landscape
My Linguistic Landscape research seeks to identify thematic patterns by language in public signage throughout Catalonia, primarily in transgressive artifacts for which no legal mandate dictates language choice. I also examine geosemiotics in educational spaces and the incorporation of cultural symbols to enhance affect in mobile signage displayed during marches.
Dissertation (in progress): "The Writing’s on the Wall: Interpreting Language Choice in Catalonia’s Linguistic Landscape."
Abstract: This dissertation examines how language choice varies by topic in Catalonia’s transgressive linguistic landscape and how informants’ explanations of these patterns reflect prevailing language ideologies. A systematically collected corpus of 10,221 unauthorized graffiti, stickers, and posters across 21 survey areas reveals clear domain divergence: Catalan predominates in signs about politics, social causes, and community issues, whereas Spanish and English prevail in sentimental and vulgar/taboo artifacts. Patterns are broadly consistent across sites. Interviews with sixty Catalan sign creators and observers illuminate the ideologies underpinning these distributions. Their metalinguistic evaluations indicate that Catalan indexes local belonging, serves as the vehicular language of community organizations and progressive groups, and aligns with pro-independence stances. Spanish is perceived as impactful for vulgar discourse and preferred among immigrants, while Spanish and English are cast as global languages dominant in popular culture and prestigious among youth. Participants also link the L1 to intense emotion and foreign languages to attention-seeking. Key implications include the value of collaborative approaches in linguistic landscape research and the importance of Catalan use in socialization spaces frequented by youth and newcomers. Catalonia offers a salient case for examining the interplay of minoritized and hegemonic languages amid demographic change and political tension.
Morlan, Marguerite. 2025. Voces locales, ojos extranjeros: Enfoques participativos en investigaciones sobre el paisaje lingüístico. Talk presented as a part of the series Linguistic Landscape Lectures en español, hosted by the University of California, Berkeley. [Slides]
Morlan, Marguerite, and Steven Byrne. 2024. "Language Choice and Identity in the Linguistic Landscape of Barcelona." Social Semiotics 34 (5): 892-918. [Manuscript]
Morlan, Marguerite. 2023. "Botiflers and Betrayal: Heraldic Semiotics and the Linguistic Landscape of Catalonia's National Day Celebration." Mester 52 (1): 90-110. [Manuscript]
Morlan, Marguerite. 2024. « Calen més referents »: Teories locals sobre la baixa presència del català en les pintades vulgars i sentimentals a Catalunya. Talk presented at the 9th session of the 2023/2024 Seminar on Sociolinguistics and Language Policy, hosted by Universitat de Barcelona Centre de recerca en sociolingüística i comunicació. [Recording] [Slides]
Morlan, Marguerite. 2024. "'All we do has humans at its heart': Linguistic Landscape's Value in Scholarship and Pedagogy." Bella Terra Journal of Teaching & Learning Languages & Literature 17 (1): 1-10. [Manuscript]
Morlan, Marguerite. In press. “La identidad en los muros públicos: Análisis lingüístico y temático del paisaje lingüístico transgresor en dos ciudades catalanas.” Lucero.
Morlan, Marguerite. Under review. "Metalinguistic Evaluations of Language Choice in the Linguistic Landscape of Catalonia." International Journal of Multilingualism. [Manuscript]
Morlan, Marguerite, and Steven Byrne. 2023. A Different Utopia in Every Language: Metalinguistic Evaluations of Transgressive Public Messages in 40 Catalan Municipalities. Talk presented at the 14th Linguistic Landscape Workshop: Utopia and Dystopia, hosted by the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the Universidad Complutense Madrid. [Slides]
Morlan, Marguerite. 2023. Lluito en català pero amo en castellano: Language Ideologies and Registerial Repertoire in the Linguistic Landscape of Barcelona. Talk presented at the 53rd Linguistic Symposium on Romance Languages, hosted by the Université Paris Cité, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, and Université Paris Saclay. [Slides]
Morlan, Marguerite. 2022. Elección de idioma y proyección de identidad en el paisaje lingüístico transgresor de Cataluña. Talk presented at I Congreso Internacional sobre Paisaje Lingüístico, hosted by la Universidad Pablo de Olavide. [Slides]
Morlan, Marguerite, and Steven Byrne. 2022. Ideological Representations and Language Choice in Catalan School Graffiti. Talk presented at the 13th Linguistic Landscape Workshop: Semiotic Landscapes in Educational Spaces, hosted by the Universität Hamburg. [Slides]
Language Attitudes and Ideologies
Language Attitudes and Ideologies
In the years subsequent to a polemical independence referendum, what are the prevailing language ideologies that Catalans associate with Catalan, Spanish, and other languages? Do they sense a connection between linguistic behaviors and political sentiment? What is the role of English in an increasingly international Catalonia? These are some of the key questions that I explore in my language attitudes and ideologies research, which blends experimental methods such as matched-guise, exploratory factor analysis, Implicit Association Test, and sociophonetic perception tasks with qualitative survey and interview data.
Morlan, Marguerite. Under review. "The Politeness Paradox: Experimental Insights into Language Ideologies in Catalonia." Language and Society.
Morlan, Marguerite. 2024. "The Importance of Catalan-Medium Instruction for Language Attitudes in Catalonia." In Language Attitudes toward Spanish and Related Languages and the Pursuit of Social Justice, edited by Mara Barbosa and Talia Bugel. Oxfordshire: Routledge. [Manuscript]
Morlan, Marguerite. 2022. Language Attitudes and Ideologies of Native and International Residents in Catalonia: A Comparative Approach. Talk presented virtually at the 3rd International Symposium on Language Attitudes toward Portuguese, Spanish, and Related Languages, hosted by Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi. [Slides]
Morlan, Marguerite. 2021. "Because I've grown up with it, because I love it, because I support independence": Language Choice and Identity in the Catalan Countries. Talk presented virtually at l'Escola d'Estiu de Lingüística Catalana, hosted by la Universitat de les Illes Balears. [Slides]
Language of Identity and Moral Decision Making
Language of Identity and Moral Decision Making
After finding exploratory evidence that balanced bilinguals assess moral dilemmas differently in their Language of Identity (LOI), I seek to investigate the affective, cognitive, and demographic factors that may contribute to this phenomenon.
Morlan, Marguerite, and Carmen Pérez Vidal. 2024. "Effects of Language of Identity and Education Level on Moral Decision Making." TROPOS 42 (1): 57-82. [Manuscript]
Morlan, Marguerite, and Carmen Pérez Vidal. 2022. Effects of Age and Language of Identity on Moral Cognition. Talk presented at the X Congreso Internacional de Adquisicón del Lenguaje, hosted by the Universitat de Girona. [Slides]
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