In many countries, the languages used on signs creates an association with nationalism and pride in one's heritage. For the case of the Welsh language, and for the people of Wales, language has held markers of cultural identity. Having English on their road signs has fostered a landscape of oppression. Rhys Jones and Peter Merriman discuss in their essay "Hot, banal and everyday nationalism: Bilingual road signs in Wales" the issue of nationalism as belonging to group identities rather than just extremists. The authors discuss the campaigns launched against the English-only signs in Wales and the "emancipatory quality of bilingual road signs" (Jones and Merriman 2009:168). "Road signs were viewed as everyday media of oppression" and "were also means of conveying governmental authority and state identities at a distance" (Jones and Merriman 2009:167-9).
 |
| http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A5-llwybrhanesyddol.JPG |
The issue of bilingual road signs was fought for over many years in Wales. Eventually the government allowed for this change, and the display of Welsh language in the public sphere contributed immensely to the revitalization of the language. The campaigns for bilingual road signs have followed along the same time lines as the campaigns for the revitalization of the Welsh language. Road signs have proven to be a key factor in the maintenance of the once endangered, now thriving Welsh language.
Jones, Rhys and Peter Merriman
2009 Hot, banal and everyday nationalism: Bilingual Road Signs in Wales. Political Geography 28(3): 164-173.
No comments:
Post a Comment