University of Richmond senior studies linguistics in Barcelona for international research project
December 2, 2008
University of Richmond senior Ethan Long of Medford, N.J., recently traveled to Spain to conduct research on the impact of laws regulating the use of the Catalan and Spanish languages in public places in Catalonia, Spain.
Funded by the C. Weinstein Grants for Summer International Projects and Study, Long went to Barcelona to investigate three demographically distinct areas of the city with large populations. One is historically Catalan-speaking, another contains a large number of immigrants from Latin America and Spain, and a third has many immigrants from North Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Long took photos of street and store signs and observed language use preferences in each area to find links between demographics, language policy and visibility of Catalan or Spanish on the streets.
Long plans to continue his research and is applying for a Fulbright research grant to return to Barcelona next year before attending graduate school to study international relations or linguistics in Barcelona.