Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

6-2025

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Linguistics

Advisor

Cecelia Cutler

Committee Members

José del Valle

Daniel Kaufman

Subject Categories

Anthropological Linguistics and Sociolinguistics

Keywords

linguistic landscape, Tibetan, Jackson Heights, diversity, geosemiotics

Abstract

This dissertation critically examines neoliberal discourses of diversity surrounding the neighborhood of Jackson Heights in Queens, New York through a study of Tibetan in the linguistic landscape (LL). Neoliberal discourses of diversity view linguistic and cultural pluralism through a consumerist lens, centering the market value of minoritized languages and cultures and how they can be leveraged for economic benefit. Focusing on an exploration of Tibetan (in)visibility and hybridity in public spaces, this study contributes a view of diversity that is grounded in lived experiences and reflected in the linguistic and cultural exchanges of the Tibetan refugee population with other groups from the Indian subcontinent. The findings show that the Tibetan language and script both serve as symbols of Tibetan identity and religion and unite people from multiple ethnic backgrounds. Through a multimodal analysis of semi-structured interviews and photographic documentation, the study highlights how Tibetan and other languages are intricately woven into the neighborhood's semiotic fabric. Employing a geosemiotic framework, this research captures the multifaceted linguistic practices and semiotic assemblages evident in Tibetan-owned and frequented spaces. The analysis draws on the concept of heterotopia to convey how different places and times are brought together in the Tibetan LL. The study concludes with implications for language access policies in New York City, advocating for needs-based strategies that promote minoritized language visibility in public spaces.

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