NEIU's Linguistic Landscape for its Hispanic Students

Location

Poster #2

Start Date

2-5-2025 12:00 PM

Department

Linguistics

Abstract

Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) is classified as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), which implies a commitment to serving its Hispanic population. This commitment should be reflected in its Linguistic Landscape (LL)—the visible use of language in public spaces. My research involved collecting qualitative data across campus, focusing on bulletin boards, flyers, and high-traffic student areas, to assess the accessibility of the university’s LL for Spanish speakers. The study aimed to determine whether NEIU provides accessible information in Spanish, enabling students to feel included and navigate the campus with ease. The findings reveal that, despite its HSI designation, NEIU’s Linguistic Landscape is not as accessible to Spanish speakers as one might expect. While some Spanish-language information was present, the overall LL falls short of adequately serving the needs of Hispanic students. This study highlights the need for NEIU to improve its linguistic inclusivity to better align with its mission as an HSI and ensure that all students feel represented and supported.

Faculty Sponsor

Richard Hallett

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May 2nd, 12:00 PM

NEIU's Linguistic Landscape for its Hispanic Students

Poster #2

Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) is classified as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), which implies a commitment to serving its Hispanic population. This commitment should be reflected in its Linguistic Landscape (LL)—the visible use of language in public spaces. My research involved collecting qualitative data across campus, focusing on bulletin boards, flyers, and high-traffic student areas, to assess the accessibility of the university’s LL for Spanish speakers. The study aimed to determine whether NEIU provides accessible information in Spanish, enabling students to feel included and navigate the campus with ease. The findings reveal that, despite its HSI designation, NEIU’s Linguistic Landscape is not as accessible to Spanish speakers as one might expect. While some Spanish-language information was present, the overall LL falls short of adequately serving the needs of Hispanic students. This study highlights the need for NEIU to improve its linguistic inclusivity to better align with its mission as an HSI and ensure that all students feel represented and supported.