Spanglish in Filadelfia: Patterns of representation in the Linguistic Landscape.

This study examines the semiotic realizations of Spanglish in relation to social, political, and cultural formations, analyzing the legitimation process in which a sign maker may (or may not) capitalize on symbolic production. Data gathered between 2021 and 2024 from South Philadelphia's Linguistic Landscape reveals a biased vindication of Spanglish through both institutionalized and non-institutionalized productions within the local linguistic market. These displays provide evidence of shifting symbolic capital, allowing privileged sectors to profit from the Spanglish signifier. Cultural 'otherness' appears to be negotiated by legitimizing agents and mechanisms enacted through popular culture, such as local marketing strategies and/or institutional communication aimed at Spanish/English-speaking populations. This suggests a process of objectifying Spanglish as a reification of 'Latinness.' These glocal processes interact with macrostructures found in academic debates and public opinion, positioning Spanglish as a commodity accessible only to the privileged within mainstream culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]