The heritage language and graphic landscape of London’s Chinatown
The heritage language and graphic landscape of London’s Chinatown
The preservation of minority heritage through language is widely recognised as an important means for safeguarding ethnic identity within multicultural settings. This paper investigates the visibility of "heritage language" through the lens of graphic heritage within the distinctive ethnic enclave of London's Chinatown. Located in the City of Westminster, Chinese identity is officially designated on street nameplates that demarcate geographic boundaries as well as depict a shift in the cultural influence of this migrant community. In this study, the visual analysis of 209 retail signs displays 313 instances of language. The research findings indicate the extent of retention of heritage languages within the area, providing the basis for a case study that maps the linguistic codes and spatial distribution of graphic devices. From this, new insights are gained into the design literacy of Chinese migrants in London to provide a framework for thinking about how Chinese ‘designscapes’ have developed worldwide.
Harland, Robert George
4858159f-b79f-4af1-a1a1-c1cd96ff22c9
Pan, Angelina Hang
ebd649ee-ebe8-4b6f-a4ec-9201a65fe707
Barnes, Alison
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June 2024
Harland, Robert George
4858159f-b79f-4af1-a1a1-c1cd96ff22c9
Pan, Angelina Hang
ebd649ee-ebe8-4b6f-a4ec-9201a65fe707
Barnes, Alison
0b78e9cb-d002-437d-9144-b8930188a732
Harland, Robert George, Pan, Angelina Hang and Barnes, Alison
(2024)
The heritage language and graphic landscape of London’s Chinatown.
Gray, C., Ciliotta Chehade, E., Hekkert, P., Forlano, L., Ciuccerelli, P. and Lloyd, P.
(eds.)
In DRS2024.
Design Research Society.
22 pp
.
(doi:10.21606/drs.2024.885).
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
The preservation of minority heritage through language is widely recognised as an important means for safeguarding ethnic identity within multicultural settings. This paper investigates the visibility of "heritage language" through the lens of graphic heritage within the distinctive ethnic enclave of London's Chinatown. Located in the City of Westminster, Chinese identity is officially designated on street nameplates that demarcate geographic boundaries as well as depict a shift in the cultural influence of this migrant community. In this study, the visual analysis of 209 retail signs displays 313 instances of language. The research findings indicate the extent of retention of heritage languages within the area, providing the basis for a case study that maps the linguistic codes and spatial distribution of graphic devices. From this, new insights are gained into the design literacy of Chinese migrants in London to provide a framework for thinking about how Chinese ‘designscapes’ have developed worldwide.
Text
The heritage language and graphic landscape of Londons Chinatown
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Published date: June 2024
Venue - Dates:
Design Research Society, , Boston, United States, 2024-06-23 - 2024-06-28
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Local EPrints ID: 493366
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/493366
PURE UUID: 62a7b8dd-71e6-4e53-8515-e3fce0b7ce7d
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Date deposited: 30 Aug 2024 16:47
Last modified: 31 Aug 2024 02:13
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Contributors
Author:
Robert George Harland
Author:
Angelina Hang Pan
Author:
Alison Barnes
Editor:
C. Gray
Editor:
E. Ciliotta Chehade
Editor:
P. Hekkert
Editor:
L. Forlano
Editor:
P. Ciuccerelli
Editor:
P. Lloyd
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