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Power, affect and identity in the linguistic landscape: Chinese communities in Australia and beyond
School of Chinese Scholar Book Talk
Power, affect and identity in the linguistic landscape:
Chinese communities in Australia and beyond
Abstract:
Uncovering the complexity of linguistic diversity and semiotic creativity, this book examines the issues of power, affect, and identity in both physical and digital linguistic landscapes. Based on fieldwork with various Chinese communities in Australia, the book offers unique insights into the uses of languages, semiotic resources, and material objects in public spaces, and discusses the motives and ideologies that underline these linguistic and semiotic practices. Each chapter frames the sociolinguistic issue emerging from the linguistic landscape under investigation and shows readers how the personal trajectories of individuals, the availability of semiotic resources, and the historicity of spaces collectively shape the meanings of publicly displayed language items in offline and online spaces.
In this seminar, Prof. Xiaofang Yao will share her motivations for writing the book, some intriguing findings from her research, and her inspirations for future studies. The event will include a lively discussion with the invited guest speaker Prof. Paul Gruba, offering deeper insights into the fascinating world of linguistic landscapes.
This seminar is an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas of the sociolinguistics and social semiotics concerning Chinese languages, cultures and identities. Join us for an intellectual exploration and stimulating dialogue in this hybrid event. Please feel free to bring along your lunch. Light refreshments will also be provided.
To read more about the book, please visit here.
About the Speaker:
Xiaofang YAO is the author of the research monograph ‘Power, Affect and Identity in the Linguistic Landscape: Chinese Communities in Australia and Beyond’ (2024, Routledge). She received her PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Melbourne and currently works as Assistant Professor in the School of Chinese, the University of Hong Kong. Her research focuses on sociolinguistic studies of Chinese diaspora and minority communities in the context of urban multilingualism. She has particular interests in the relationship between language and space. Her current projects explore minority languages in the linguistic and semiotic landscapes of Hong Kong and Southwest China using ethnographic and diachronic approaches.
About the Discussant:
Paul GRUBA is Associate Professor (Honorary) of the School of Languages and Linguistics, the University of Melbourne, Australia. Initially trained as a journalist, he was a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali (1983-85) before working as an English teacher in rural Japan for several years. He earned a MA(TESOL) from the University of California, Los Angeles with a focus on language assessment. After graduation, he developed language tests at Kanda University of International Studies. While at the University of Melbourne, Paul had a range of academic interests including language assessment, second language listening, educational technology, and language program evaluation. He is author on ‘How to Write a Better Thesis’ (Springer, 2014), ‘Sustainability of Blended Language Programs’ (Routledge, 2022) and ‘Designs in Language Program Evaluation’ (Springer, 2024). He is currently working on a series of poems, short stories, and novels.
