Introduction:

How do the community’s cultural landscape and bilingual signs correlate?

Since it is a multiethnic, and multilingual society, my attention is on the Williamsburg (figure 1) neighborhood specifically: Grand Street Business Improvement District (BID).

In this neighborhood, there are Blacks, Whites, Asians, and unmistakably Hispanics/Latinos. Williamsburg is a community where you can find a wide range of races, cuisines, and other kinds of businesses that cater to their respective populations.

So, what type of demographics does the Grand Street Business Improvement District (BID) try to communicate with?

The linguistic landscape signs are supposed to be translated into Spanish for Hispanics. Hispanics have left a large swath of Williamsburg, especially in areas of yellow shade (Figure 2). The presence of a strong Puerto Rican populace, however other Spanish-speaking, continue to reside in this district.

Recurring Themes in the signs:

1. Grand Street Business Improvement District (BID) has a strong presence of religion structures
2. The signs in this neighborhood tell a story to the Grand Street Business Improvement District (BID) community

Theme 1:

The blue sign in (figure 3) below is in English, Spanish, and Polish stating the time mass is. This sign features a holy image of the cross, which represents the Catholic religion, which serves as another way for the church to communicate. And the big red bold letters that read “welcome” or other form of greeting in another language suggest that this space is open to new residents who looking to be part of the community.

Additionally, (figure 4) uses the same religious icon as (figure 3) by placing a cross in front of the eye. However, this sign varies in that it explicitly specifies the religious leaders’ names in addition to modifying the intent to interact in a single language. Therefore, it also has the same purpose as most religious institutions in the community. However, in comparison to (figure 3), they are approaching a smaller demographic. Additionally, the result of adding a name to the sign is that it becomes a personal identification for the building structure, making it more relatable to individuals.

 

Although (figures 4) and (3) did not specify an audience, (figure 5) specifies that they represent individuals who associate with Latin America’s experience. Additionally, it includes a religious icon, the previous figures along with the religious leader, but it chooses a particular religious symbol, specifically a script. This has a significant impact on how people interrupt the message.

A common theme among the signs in this district is their adherence to certain religious framework, especially more western faiths. The explanation for these signs is to help narrow, align, or even reach out to the audience being targeted. These signs serve as a means of communication with the outside world. Additionally, there is a strong correlation with the populations and communities that they target based on the signs, since the indicators correlate with the world that affects them to facilitate a two-way interaction.

Theme 2: (business story telling)

Moreover, a lot of these signs do business storytelling through narrative structure for, collaboration, and marketing purposes. For example, Tu Mundo Travel Inc seems to include English terms, but a closer look at the black and orange color reveals included mix of English and Spanish words of their services. Along on the signs there are travel symbols displaying imagery as a form of communication. Tu Mundo Travel Inc tell story to their clients to be Spanish speaker of who the business is and what they do.

Another example of a business doing story telling is figure 7. Stella Di Sicilia its name is ordinated from Italy. Since the signs are an Italian name Since the only English term is “Bakery and Cafe” stating it services.  Additionally, these languages in the signs are responsible for identifying the stories and advertising that are most likely to persuade the audience market.

Figure 8: The sign is “San German” and has Puerto Rican toad. Photo Credit: Google Map

Storytelling has been a requisite function of the business world, and it is becoming more so in order to keep the audience’s interest. The ability of business signs to say a story and communicate with customers is highly sought in Figures 6-8. Both signs make for more human interaction, whether it’s by words or symbols. A sign that demonstrates that is figure 8.  The words “San German” is Puerto Rico’s second-oldest town.  Along with the Puerto Rico flag and crested toad symbol are a consequence, is the language on the sign has been altered to fit the business storyline. It serves as a business advantage in luring customers: the initialization of the parameters.

Business storytelling gives a compelling reason for consumers to buy from you.  It has begun in the signs by providing an immediate explanation of the sign’s significance or intent (figure 9). However, the whole sign is written in English, ensuring that it is understandable to all who do not speak English. Bilingual market signs are another common factor in this district when it purpose is to story tell. Figure 10 Parameters will assist figure 8 and 10 in developing a good brand can inspire trust between your business and customers, employees, Figure 10, establish telling them this story through comprehensible narrative with the words “the farm”. This is the most common context in which the Spanish language is used to establish a brand for this business along with the values.

Theme 2: (Art story telling)

The vibrant colors used and the animals on the wall was influenced by Puerto Rican culture. These murals honor the Puerto Rican community as a way of bridging the cultural gap between Puerto Ricans on the island and Puerto Ricans in NYC. Figure 11 symbol tries to tell a story as a visual representation of the entire society that lives and works in the Grand Street district. The wall incorporates cultural components from both Puerto Rico and New York City in an attempt to bind immigrants in the city with residents back home. Figure 12 symbols of the Toad,Flag, Spindalis the mural offers a sense of belonging. Along with the religious structure in the mural shows the strong presence religion plays in this community’s culture.

Williamsburg, especially Grand Street, is important to the Puerto Rican community since the neighborhood’s majority of businesses are for boricuas. Both figures tell a story via the mural, to provide a connection between the two communities in NYC. However all these figures tell a story with this community while branding themselves too. The sign in this community address these questions to maintain it communication:

• What’s the purpose of the sign?

These signs of course are unique in symbol, diction and languages it choose to use. This district most of the figures above serve to be informative to the community in this district through maintaining it connection through these signs.

Grand Street Business Improvement District (BID)

How do the community’s cultural landscape and bilingual signs correlate, and what conclusions should we draw from the power differentials between English and Spanish? Since it is a multiethnic, transient, and multilingual society, my attention is on the Williamsburg neighborhood. Text is used in store windows, promotional signage, flags, official notices, road signals, among other locations. Much of the time, people are unconcerned about their surroundings “linguistic environment.’ However, in recent years, the position of linguistic and cultural authority in Williamsburg has shifted. I decided to investigate the impact of gentrification on literacy practice and language experience in a specific location. Several general trends that arose from expanding on one symbol and term included the following ideas in

1) Broad readings of bilingual neighborhood-based businesses/services are method to connect with its community

2) Issues with the area are depicted in street art.

This study focuses on the linguistic geography of the Williamsburg neighborhood.

In this neighborhood, there are Blacks, Whites, Asians, and unmistakably Hispanics/Latinos.

Williamsburg is recognized as the North vs. South side due to cultural traditions/religion such as artistic rituals, diverse activity, small industries that support their neighborhoods, and events created by all people. Williamsburg is in Brooklyn, but it also surrounds Queen and other communities (Figure of image 1). Specifically, I will focus on the Grand Street Business Improvement District (BID)

Figure 1: Williamsburg is located in Brooklyn, New York, and is surrounded by Queens and other communities. Photo Credit: Maps Brooklyn

Nearby neighborhoods include Greenpoint, Bushwick, Fresh Pond, and Bedford-Stuyvesant (figure 1). The majority of the country is made up of Hispanics. The linguistic landscape signs are supposed to be translated into Spanish for Hispanics.  Polish is spoken north of Williamsburg, while Spanish and Yiddish are spoken south of Williamsburg. Also in these neighborhoods, the Spanish language will vary based on the various lingos’ cultures, and the place I will be concentrating on has Puerto Rican lingo mixed with Spanish. After English, Spanish is the second most spoken language in this New York City block. The primary information are photos from small enterprises, real estate, supermarkets, temples, and restaurants in Williamsburg. Hispanics have left a large swath of Williamsburg, especially in areas of yellow shade (Figure 2). (South side). This study reflects on four main themes found in the signs of Williamsburg: bilingual signs, sign specifics, the proliferation of languages in the city, and vibrant signs.

Figure 2: The map above shows the Hispanic race in each block for New York, NY in shade yellow. Photo Credit: Best Neighborhood Network Sites

The presence of a strong Puerto Rican populace, however other Spanish-speaking minorities, such as Cuban immigrants, Mexicans, and speakers from other South American countries, continue to reside in these regions. The Bronx has the city’s largest concentration of Puerto Ricans, yet Puerto Ricans can be found all over the city, like Williamsburg. In a neighborhood where deconsecrated Catholic churches have been sold for millions of dollars to be converted into lofts and condos for the creative class. Even though gentrification in Williamsburg started in the 1980s and 1990s, since the 2005 rezoning, new structures have increasingly encircled the church.  Under Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s tenure, Williamsburg became the epicenter of the city’s largest rezoning project, which spanned nearly 200 blocks. As a result, the once-dusty neighborhood has become some of the most coveted real estate for luxury growth. Because of the rezoning hastened gentrification and founded Williamsburg as the epicenter of Brooklyn cool, with waterfront condominiums, coffee shops, and high-end boutiques.

Figure 3: The attached signs serve the function of schedule and information to the Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church near East Williamsburg. Photo Credit: Google Maps

Figure 8: This Pentecostal church: Iglesia Pentecostal El Buen Pastor signs states its services. Photo Credit: Google Maps

Figure 11: The program, known as La Nueva Esperanza, provides effective comprehensive services to HIV positive Latino and African American residents living in Brooklyn. Photo Credit: Google Maps

Gentrification may appear to be an urbanizing force, hastening parish declines and mergers, as well as dissolving or displacing aging ethnic groups. However, we can see how, in relation to and in conversation with wider trends of urban regeneration and gentrification, religion and culture offer spaces in Williamsburg for people to maintain their neighborhood identities, mosques, and ethnic identities. Figures 3 and 8 show the mass schedule in two languages since it serves different cultures. Churches and other religious buildings were runed by it, encircling the city. Consequently, through these reforms, the church has chosen to maintain its connections with these cultures by language. As a result, this language is a symbol of welcome to individuals since it communicates with them in a type of language that they understand.. When debating urbanism, we should be less concerned about faith as it is synonymous with church buildings and what happens beyond those walls. Instead, we should look beyond these signs and see how religious communities cope with gentrification and development. As a result of this development, the sign’s function of connecting societies through language and other factors has been strengthened. Figure 11 has the same function as Figures 3 and 8, except that it is fueled by the culture it serves. However, this is not a religious space, but another resemblance is that the sign suggests an unspoken law that is given in English and Spanish. Bilingual signs are widely used in Williamsburg for a variety of reasons and in a variety of languages, depending on the audience you’re trying to reach in Williamsburg.

The pattern of bilingual signs in local business is the first to be discovered in Williamsburg (Figure 4): The map above shows the Hispanic race in each block for New York, NY in shade yellow.  Gentrification becomes a component of sacred tales that cultures tell themselves, as well as generational memory. Furthermore, community planning influences one’s sense of commitmentFigure 4: The travel agency Tu Mundo Travel Inc decides to include English and Spanish; however, the majority of their services are directed at the Hispanic population. Photo Credit: Google Map

Tu Mundo Travel Inc seems to include English terms, but a closer look in at the black and orange color reveals the world travel. They included mix of English and Spanish words “Pasajes tour cruises envios de dinero notary public income tax llamadas Internacionales ,” which means they have offer services for calls outside the US, Wiring money, plane passes, notary and mobile phone recharges. Tu Mundo Travel Inc gives their Hispanic clients all of the details they need. Stella Di Sicilia Bakery is another example of a bilingual sign. This attracts a large number of non-native English speakers; it might be a smart idea to post bilingual signs to help them feel more at ease.

Figure 5: Stella Di Sicilia Bakery decides to include one English word and has a foreign name attached to the sign. Photo Credit: Google Map

Stella Di Sicilia represents a family business but it name is ordinated from Italy. Yet the family is from South America specially Argentina. This bakery also offers Spanish family as brand but an Italian name Since the only English term is “Bakery,” the owner is likely to expect more Hispanic buyers. The laundromat sign allows the same trend (Figure 5). If a customer believes that a business went out of their way to make things easy for them to handle, through the use of inclusivity they are more inclined to inform their friends and family members. Since immigrant communities are always close-knit, if one individual becomes a customer of your shop, several others in their circle will follow.

Figure 6: Lavanderia laundromat sign keeps it simple by translating their services Photo Credit: Google Map

Figure 7: Win Son Bakery sign there’s is an Asin language and an English language making this sign bilingual. Photo Credit: Google Map

Win Son Bakery sign(figure 7) follows the same trend (Figure 6). They have the name in English, but there is an Asian language in the corner. However, the whole sign is written in English, so people speaking other languages can understand it.to be a rare name at first glance, but it has a real meaning. Bilingual business signs will play a bigger part in helping to build a more inclusive and egalitarian society. Customers can expect employees that are bilingual, or multilingual can improve their satisfaction while helping business to remain competitive. Resulting bilingual workers that their overall listening and speech skills have increased as a result of their ability to do so. Getting someone who can relate to and appreciate what customers and other organizations want can be very helpful to a business all through the use of a Bilingual sign.

Posters and signs in a variety of languages reflecting the area’s different communities can be seen in the neighborhood. Languages published in Williamsburg play an important role in representing diversity. The cultural ecosystem of Williamsburg is diverse, but owing to its position in Brooklyn, one of New York City’s most diverse boroughs, not all languages are represented. Finally, linguistic landscape signs are continually evolving, and this will ideally be the next phase in the development of Willenburg’s linguistic ecosystems. There has been a change in the demographics of neighborhoods in New York City. As a consequence, Williamsburg languages have clogged up the neighborhoods it serves

Figure Image 10: Photo Credit: Google Map

Figure Image 9: Photo Credit: Google Map

Providing multilingual is advantageous and may have a profound effect on individuals. It has benefited figures (8,9,10,11) personally because I am able to understand others and others can understand me while we are speaking languages other than English. Nothing beats being able to assist people who are unable to communicate in a foreign language. In terms of dialects, I think I know many. Some are in English, while others are in Spanish. This is where the Spanish language is most likely to be used in the linguistic community. In Williamsburg, the Puerto Rican population is likely to speak both English and Spanish. Spanish and Spanglish (a combination of Spanish and English) are often used to interact within the Puerto Rican community. Yanguas study showed that English-only official street signs in Spanish suburbs advertised English as an impact language in the United States conducted in Washington, D.C. Despite the fact that there are large Spanish-speaking cultures and groups in the United States, Spanish language signs are seldom seen in the landscape. Why do these commercial signs change languages? It is necessary for their company to thrive. Adopting is a kind of language. And American advertisers, whose aims should be to attract all prospective buyers, have just recently started to advertise in minority languages, as if the populations that speak these languages have simply arrived in the United States, according to Spolsky study in 2009.

Figure Image 13: Photo Credit: Google Map

Figure Image 12: Photo Credit: Google Map

Williamsburg’s neighborhood is known for displaying the culture of its residents. Many of them mirror tags, murals, political statements, and advertising, and they begin on Meserole Street in the direction of (Figure 13 and 12). Puerto Rican culture has inspired the various vivid colors that is use and the animals on the wall. Theses mural celebrates the Puerto Rican Community is a means of bridging the cultural divide between Puerto Ricans on the island and Puerto Ricans in Brooklyn, many of whom operate small businesses in the Grand Street community in Williamsburg. Even though Puerto Ricans in New York who see the mural will never be able to reach Puerto Rico, the mural creates a feeling of belonging. This invites more people to see our culture and how we respond to other cultures. The mural will elicit in-person conversations in the area, especially among strangers, which is a common way of fostering community and sparking creativity.  And these works are statements about making your mark as a group in a neighborhood where gentrification is taking place and your community is being driven out.

Williamsburg is a community where you can find a wide range of races, cuisines, and other kinds of businesses that cater to their respective populations. These changes are just breif exmaples of various way  genrtifction has affect the Grand Street Business Improvement District (BID) community regarding it Linguistic Landscape.