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Chapter 12. London past and present

The Museum of London’s multi-faceted presentation of the city
  • Linda Pillière
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Language in Place
This chapter is in the book Language in Place

Abstract

Cities rely on their historical monuments and past cultural heritage to project their image, and city museums are one means used to achieve this goal. However, the city of the twenty-first century is socially and culturally heterogeneous. How then, can a city museum interact both with the heritage of the past and connect with its present-day multiracial, multilingual population? What are the linguistic tools used to achieve this goal? Using communication theory frameworks and discourse analysis, I will look at the use of exhibition texts at the Museum of London and demonstrate that exhibition texts seek to engage with the public and, in doing so, contribute to reflecting and communicating the city’s many voices.

Abstract

Cities rely on their historical monuments and past cultural heritage to project their image, and city museums are one means used to achieve this goal. However, the city of the twenty-first century is socially and culturally heterogeneous. How then, can a city museum interact both with the heritage of the past and connect with its present-day multiracial, multilingual population? What are the linguistic tools used to achieve this goal? Using communication theory frameworks and discourse analysis, I will look at the use of exhibition texts at the Museum of London and demonstrate that exhibition texts seek to engage with the public and, in doing so, contribute to reflecting and communicating the city’s many voices.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements vii
  4. Chapter 1. Introduction 1
  5. Chapter 2. Thematic adverbial adjuncts of place and direction and their relationship to conceptual metaphor in A. E. Housman’s A Shropshire Lad 17
  6. Chapter 3. Death by nature in two poems by Alden Nowlan 45
  7. Chapter 4. Liminal islands 65
  8. Chapter 5. Urban metaphors 85
  9. Chapter 6. The Arabic of Dune 105
  10. Chapter 7. (Re)mapping “authentic” London 125
  11. Chapter 8. “Boston Strong” 147
  12. Chapter 9. Naming as styling 167
  13. Chapter 10. “She enjoys being stroked”, “They are affectionate, lively and interactive boys” 189
  14. Chapter 11. “Your planet needs you” 209
  15. Chapter 12. London past and present 229
  16. Name Index 253
  17. Subject Index 255
https://doi.org/10.1075/lal.37.12pil

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements vii
  4. Chapter 1. Introduction 1
  5. Chapter 2. Thematic adverbial adjuncts of place and direction and their relationship to conceptual metaphor in A. E. Housman’s A Shropshire Lad 17
  6. Chapter 3. Death by nature in two poems by Alden Nowlan 45
  7. Chapter 4. Liminal islands 65
  8. Chapter 5. Urban metaphors 85
  9. Chapter 6. The Arabic of Dune 105
  10. Chapter 7. (Re)mapping “authentic” London 125
  11. Chapter 8. “Boston Strong” 147
  12. Chapter 9. Naming as styling 167
  13. Chapter 10. “She enjoys being stroked”, “They are affectionate, lively and interactive boys” 189
  14. Chapter 11. “Your planet needs you” 209
  15. Chapter 12. London past and present 229
  16. Name Index 253
  17. Subject Index 255
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