Resumen de Urban Wall Languaging

J. Normann Jørgensen

• Graffiti constitutes a medium through which the youth express opposition to authorities, as well as desires, dreams, and hopes. Graffiti shows many of the linguistic characteristics of youth language, including playfulness and, first and foremost, polylingual languaging. Graffiti in almost every city, at least in Europe, uses English and one or more local language, and almost everywhere additional languages are involved. The relationship to North American urban graffiti culture is obvious, but at the same time there is clear evidence of the graffiti writers’ affinity to their locality. Examples are included from Estonia, Greenland, Denmark, Catalonia, Germany, Turkey and elsewhere.