Linguistic LandscapeLinguistic Landscape

Main Corridor ofMain Corridor of

Penn StationPenn Station

Functional SpacesFunctional Spaces Ticket, Track and Ticket, Track and

Railroad Railroad Information StandsInformation Stands

Food and Shopping Food and Shopping

CorridorsCorridors

Waiting AreaWaiting Area

Genre’s Within Functional Genre’s Within Functional SpaceSpace

Storefront SignsStorefront Signs

Posters or AdvertisementsPosters or Advertisements

Directions or Informational SignsDirections or Informational Signs

Languages HeardLanguages Heard

Storefront SignsStorefront Signs ThirtyThirty storefront signs total were found. storefront signs total were found. NineteenNineteen of these were Monolingual. of these were Monolingual. ThreeThree were were

totally not English and totally not English and SixteenSixteen were English only. were English only. Eight of these signs were names.Eight of these signs were names. ThreeThree were abbreviations. were abbreviations. NONENONE were multilingual! were multilingual!

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Mono- English Mono- Other Multilingual Name Abbriviation

Language Occurance on Storefront Signs

Posters and AdvertisementsPosters and Advertisements

There were There were SixSix advertisements advertisements found.found.

ALLALL were monolinguistic featuring were monolinguistic featuring English Only.English Only.

Taken From lirrhistory.com

Directions and InformationDirections and Information

This genre includes: Restrooms, exits, ticket This genre includes: Restrooms, exits, ticket information, safety information, and directions.information, safety information, and directions.

Many of the signs were icons that can be Many of the signs were icons that can be recognized cross-culturally.recognized cross-culturally.

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English Only Icon Only Multilingual Icon and English

English OnlyEnglish OnlyThis sign may apply to all This sign may apply to all

passengers, but only the passengers, but only the English speaking ones English speaking ones will know that the train will know that the train schedule has changed.schedule has changed.

I hope you don’t get I hope you don’t get stuck in an elevator!stuck in an elevator!

This sign has directions This sign has directions for help in English for help in English only (and the only (and the elevator numbers are elevator numbers are worn off)worn off)

If a person cannot If a person cannot read English, this read English, this sign has a map sign has a map that shows them that shows them how to get to the how to get to the new location of new location of the customer the customer service desk.service desk.

English and IconsEnglish and Icons

MultilingualMultilingual

These “passenger These “passenger welfare” posters welfare” posters are written in are written in more then one more then one language. Is it language. Is it because the because the MTA cares, or MTA cares, or because they because they want to “cover want to “cover their bases”?their bases”?

Languages HeardLanguages HeardAmerican English

Latin American Spanish

Hindu (?)

Korean