Detecting social changes in times of superdiversity: an ethnographic linguistic landscape analysis of Ostend in Belgium. Issue 5 (8th April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maly, Ico
• Is Part Of: Journal of ethnic and migration studies. Volume 42:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 703
• Page End: 723
• Publication Date: 2016-04-08
• Subjects: Superdiversity -- ethnographic linguistic landscape analysis -- globalisation -- rapid changes -- ethnography; Ethnic relations -- Periodicals; Race relations -- Periodicals; Emigration and immigration -- Periodicals; Assimilation (Sociology) -- Periodicals; 305.8005
• DOI: 10.1080/1369183X.2015.1131149
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-183X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Superdiversity, on the one hand, calls for new frames, concepts, and methodologies to deal with a fluid reality characterised by rapid (social) changes. On the other hand, we also have a need to broaden our scope beyond the heavy focus on the urban metropolis as the locus of superdiversity. With this paper I want to contribute to the research addressing these challenges by infusing existing research within Linguistic Landscape Studies with a semiotic and ethnographic perspective and add to our existing knowledge of superdiversity by focusing on a 'small' Belgian city called Ostend instead of a cosmopolitan world city with millions of inhabitants. I argue that ethnographic linguistic landscape analysis (ELLA) enables us to describe, quite accurately, rapid social changes in complex superdiverse neighbourhoods. Moreover, ELLA enables us to move beyond a mere synchronic picture of superdiverse neighbourhoods and sketch a 'stratigraphy' and a historical perspective on them.