The Linguistic Landscapes of Contemporary Catalan Theatre (2008-2021)

Abstract

The concept of linguistic landscape emerged from ethno- and sociolinguistics to refer to the visibility of the diverse languages that co-exist in a defined territory and the necessity to map the changing relationship between them. Within the field of Translation Studies, it has been combined with eco-critical approaches to rethink the complex connections between languages,
cultures, and territories, always recognising the vulnerability of minority languages in the context of globalization. In this initial contribution, I want to explore the changes in the linguistic landscapes of contemporary Catalan theatre, linking them to the triple crisis — socioeconomic, political, and environmental — which has been experienced with particular intensity between 2008 and 2021. I will look at three aspects of these ecolinguistic changes: 1. The presence and visibility of plurilingual dramaturgies; 2. The treatment and recovery of invisible or marginal figures from Catalan theatrical tradition (above all as relates to dialectal diversity); 3. The role of translation from other traditions (especially as regards the representation of linguistic conflict and minority cultural identities).