Linguistic Landscape:

An Analysis of the Visual and Written Perception of Language use in the Gay

Community

•How do the signs express and represent language and culture in the Gay Community?•What do the signs say about the society and communities within where they appear?•How do the signs reflect public perception of the community?

Pride-represents the gay communities correct level of respect for the importance and value of their personal identities.

Solidarity-represents a harmony of interests, responsibilities, and unanimous support amongst the gay community.

•The importance of headlines are outweighed by visual images on Christopher St. where as on 23rd St & 8th Ave the establishments heavily rely on both the text and visual language.

•Majority of the establishments within both communities support the gay culture with visual language such as the rainbow flag.

•Through our findings we conclude that 23rd St. & 8th Ave exhibits stronger sense of solidarity with the use of both text and visual language and Christopher Stexhibits a stronger sense of pride through visual language.

•The demographics plays a role in language use within both communities.