In search of Polish in the multilingual cityscape: analysing the urban spaces of Ealing, London

Abstract

This paper examines Polish in the public space of the Borough of Ealing, London. The area has been known for a high concentration of the Polish diaspora since the end of World War II, with the highest proportion of Polish speakers at 7 % according to the most recent statistics. In this study, the focus is on the presence of Polish, its relative prestige, power of conveying a meaning, as well as its relevance in a text. It also considers the status and dominance of English above Polish and answers the question how languages are combined in bi-/multilingual signage. A methodological framework encompassing the aspects of semiotic and linguistic analysis, such as: contexts, domains, language dominance, genre and function, has been adopted to analyse a corpus of 368 signs. It has been argued that Polish indexes and constructs public spaces in different areas of Ealing as places of identity and belonging, since Poles have been very active in their efforts to construct their own space where they could function in their mother tongue and organise social life.