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Programme: accepted abstracts

Abstract ID: 218

Part of Session 132: Re-writing and Engaging with Urban Spaces via Linguistic Landscape (Other abstracts in this session)

Commercial discourses, gentrification and graffiti: The linguistic landscape of Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin

Authors: Papen, Uta
Submitted by: Papen, Uta (Lancaster University, United Kingdom)

Since reunification in 1990, Prenzlauer Berg, located in the former East Berlin, has turned from a cheap and neglected area into a popular middle class neighbourhood. The area’s new character is reflected in its linguistic landscape. These days the signs of posh shops and trendy bars adorn its streets. But alternative views are noticeable too. Graffiti is present even on the most expensively refurbished buildings, residents put up slogans to protest against their flats being refurbished and sold to new owners and citizens‘ groups use walls and lampposts to display posters expressing their disagreement with new development projects.This case study of the changing graphic environment of Prenzlauer Berg shows that despite the strong influence of commercial discourses the public space remains an area of contestation between civil society, private investors and the state. The particular approach to linguistic landscape I have developed combines textual and visual analysis with interviews with sign producers. It follows other linguistic landscape researchers in adopting a contextual approach to the study of the graphic environment. This has enabled me to show how the linguistic landscape both reflects as well as shapes social change and urban development in Berlin since reunification.