Linguistic Transgression in Society as Seen Through Spanish Linguistic Landscapes

Abstract

The term “transgression” is traditionally associated with the infringement of what is prescribed. However, a closer look at its nature suggests that it is an integral part of the norm, as well as a starting point for innovation, in this case linguistic. The study focuses on the linguistic landscape (LL) of Spain, where five official languages share regional official status with Castilian Spanish. Further, these languages coexist in the LL with immigrant ones and English as an international language. In this environment, the article explores how linguistic transgression is reflected in the LL and what motivations underlie such non-normative uses. Given the spatial and grammatical limitations of the texts in the LL, the study focuses on aspects of code preference and orthography. To this end, we work on photographs taken in different Spanish regions which reflect the range of transgressive linguistic practices present in the public space. The evidence gathered allows us to suggest the grouping of these techniques under the categories of code (or variant) choice/elimination, exoticisation, re-representation and re-signification. The subsequent analysis presents linguistic transgression in LL as a voluntary, motivated and intentional social act that reflects identity, socio-cultural, but also commercial motivations. These motivations lead street-text authors to force the linguistic norm in their texts in order to claim their identity, show their solidarity with ideologies, resist linguistic policies or seek identification with their audience’s sensitivities for trade purposes.