PALRA | Documenting Living Languages in Western Iberia
SM | San Martín de Trevejo Corpus ID : 012 - 155753
Semiotic Resources (TS) / Composition (LL) : image+symbol+text (heraldic image + text : “ALVIS – MARTIN”)
Translational Agency (TS) / Directedness (LL) : bottom-up
Discursive Framing (TS) / Discourse (LL) : artistic, commemorative, private (historical, symbolic, identity)
Translation Strategy (TS) / Distribution (LL) : monolingual
Visibility / Linguistic Hierarchy (TS) / Dominance (LL) : typeface (Latin script in central ribbon, high prominence) + colour+positioning+size
Mobility (TS) / Dynamics (LL) : fixed (fixed wall display)
Sign Type (TS) / Form (LL) : plaque (ceramic tile mural)
Textual Integrity (TS) / Integrity (LL) : complete (intact and legible, fully preserved)
Intertextuality (TS) / Layering (LL) : historical+cultural
Multilingualism (TS) / Linguality (LL) : monolingual
Material (TS) / Material (LL) : paint+other (ceramic tiles)
Inscription (TS) / Mode (LL) : enamelled (hand-painted ceramic design)
Agents (TS) / Name (LL) : artist (signed “Javier Cebles”)
Placement (TS) / Placement (LL) : wall (building façade, likely public)
Size (TS) / Size (LL) : 3-1m² (composed of 9 tiles)
Status (TS) / Status (LL) : recognised(heritage-oriented decorative signage)
Paratext (TS) / Supplement (LL) : decorative heraldic flourishes, artist’s signature
Temporality (TS) / Temporality (LL) : permanent
Language Constellation (TS) / Languages (LL) : SPA
Intersemiotic Elements (TS) / Non-Linguistic Semiotics (LL) : coats of arms, helmet, decorative motifs
Translation Mode (TS) / Translation Mode (LL) : intersemiotic
Translational Silencing (TS) / Absence Marker (LL) : Yes (Extremaduran absent)
Notes : This ceramic plaque functions primarily as a visual-symbolic identity marker rather than communicative signage. The heraldic imagery situates San Martín within a historical narrative of nobility and lineage. The Latinised inscription elevates prestige but simultaneously excludes vernacular languages, reflecting the symbolic rather than practical function of the text.
Additional info:
Coat of arms in ceramic tiles from San Martín de Trevejo (it even says SANCTI MARTIN at the bottom, in Latinized form).
Left Shield (Green background with a castle and a red cross):
Represents Castile, the medieval kingdom that repopulated and protected the area.
The castle is a common heraldic symbol of Castile.
The red cross above recalls the influence of military-religious orders (likely Santiago or Alcántara).
Right Shield (Red with a lamb and wavy blue/white lines):
The lamb (Agnus Dei, Lamb of God) with a cross and banner is a Christian symbol of sacrifice and redemption.
The waves (blue and white stripes) likely represent the nearby rivers (Ribera de Gata and others) and the valley where the town is located.
The red field highlights martyrdom, possibly tied to San Martín de Tours, the town’s patron saint.
The Helmet and Decorative Mantling (blue, gold, green, red):
Standard heraldic ornament, showing nobility and protection.
The open helmet is used for municipalities, not for noble families (closed helmets were for aristocracy).
The Ribbon: “SANCTI MARTIN”
Latin for San Martín. This is a traditional way of writing town names in coats of arms.
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136009
Laura_Pizarro_Jacinto
Spain
Cáceres
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136521
Laura_Pizarro_Jacinto
Spain
Cáceres
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PALRA
139337
Naomi_Heller
Spain
València
Sticker on wall
Valencia
9545
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Mupy on the promenade for a lawyer firm in Arabic
145993
Naomi_Heller
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València
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Valencia
146249
Naomi_Heller
Spain
València
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146505
Naomi_Heller
Spain
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147273
alex_analyzing stickers_unibe
Spain
València
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Valencia
147529
alex_analyzing stickers_unibe
Spain
València
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Valencia
135754
Laura_Pizarro_Jacinto
Spain
San Martín de Trevejo
PALRA | Documenting Living Languages in Western Iberia
SM | San Martín de Trevejo Corpus ID : 013 - 155754
Semiotic Resources (TS) / Composition (LL) : symbol+text (arrows, restaurant pictogram, tourism logos)
Translational Agency (TS) / Directedness (LL) : top down
Discursive Framing (TS) / Discourse (LL) : infraestructural+informatory+commercial
Translation Strategy (TS) / Distribution (LL) : mixing+fragmentary(Spanish dominates, “Heritage Boutique Apartamentos” uses English insertion)
Visibility / Linguistic Hierarchy (TS) / Dominance (LL) : quantity+positioning+size+colour (Spanish is majority; English used for prestige; colour coding distinguishes categories; yellow = tourism/commercial, white = institutional)
Mobility (TS) / Dynamics (LL) : fixed (fixed pole-mounted sign cluster)
Sign Type (TS) / Form (LL) : street sign (directional panels)
Textual Integrity (TS) / Integrity (LL) : complete (legible, intact, slightly weathered)
Intertextuality (TS) / Layering (LL) : linguistic
Multilingualism (TS) / Linguality (LL) : Bilingual (Spanish dominant, partial English; monolingual signs grouped together)
Material (TS) / Material (LL) : metal panels
Inscription (TS) / Mode (LL) : printed / industrial signage
Agents (TS) / Name (LL) : authority (tourism board for institutional signs), business (private hospitality/restaurant)
Placement (TS) / Placement (LL) : street sign (pole in central village space)
Size (TS) / Size (LL) : A3 -1m² (combined stacked panels)
Status (TS) / Status (LL) : authorised (municipal + official tourism signage)
Paratext (TS) / Supplement (LL) : tourism/hospitality logos, pictogram (fork & knife)
Temporality (TS) / Temporality (LL) : permanent (semi-permanent infrastructure, updated when businesses change)
Language Constellation (TS) / Languages (LL) : SPA (Spanish) + ENG (English)
Intersemiotic Elements (TS) / Non-Linguistic Semiotics (LL) : arrows, fork & knife pictogram, hospitality/tourism logos
Translation Mode (TS) / Translation Mode (LL) : interlingual (not literal: Spanish-only and English-only insertions, not translated equivalents)
Translational Silencing (TS) / Absence Marker (LL) : Yes (Extremaduran absent)
Notes : This directional sign cluster illustrates linguistic hierarchy in the tourist economy: Spanish is default for institutional and local businesses, while English appears selectively to attract international visitors (“Heritage Boutique”). Minority languages remain excluded, underscoring prestige multilingualism (Spanish-English) rather than local multilingualism.
Lingscape
