A4 Refereed article in a conference publication

Linguistic Landscapes im Ostseeraum: Transgressive Sticker in Greifswald und Turku




AuthorsLinnasaari, Sanni; Kolehmainen, Leena

EditorsPantermöller, Marko; Järventausta, Marja; Kolehmainen, Leena; Kujamäki, Pekka

Conference nameFI-DACH-Tagung

PublisherUusfilologinen yhdistys - Nyfilologiska föreningen ry

Publication year2025

Journal: Mémoires de la Société Néophilologique

Book title Kulturen, Konvergenzen und Kommunikation: Begegnungen zwischen Finnland und dem deutschsprachigen Raum

Issue114

First page 361

Last page394

eISBN951-9040-73-0

eISSN2984-0961

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.51814/8ctme436

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.51814/8ctme436

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/505282499


Abstract

This paper examines urban linguistic landscapes in two Baltic Sea cities, Greifswald in Germany and Turku in Finland. The focus is on transgressive stickers that appear on rubbish bins, lampposts, traffic signs, etc. Attached to diverse artifacts, the stickers serve various communicative purposes, such as promoting civil activism, taking a stand on current social issues, expressing identity and territory, and providing entertainment for passers-by. The data, consisting of over 800 stickers photographed in 2022–2023, were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively in terms of the languages and themes that appear on the stickers. The analysis shows that in both cities the discourses of the stickers are centered around the same themes, with the most popularthemes being anti-fascism, sport,and climate. However, the use of languages and the degree of multilingualism differ between the two cities. The choice of languages and their use on the stickers reflect the producers’attitudes towards different languages and the functions they consider them suitable for.

Keywords:linguisticlandscapes,transgressive stickers,Baltic Sea cities


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Last updated on 2025-12-11 at 10:12