Reading the City: Los Angeles

Question 1

What are the two levels of language?

Answer 1

Local language

Regional Language

Question 2

What is an example of local language?

Answer 2

Paths, edges, districts, nodes and landmarks

Question 3

What are the types of local language?

Answer 3

Static (relative alignments)
Spoken (neighbourhood conversations)
Concrete (appeals to senses)

Question 4

What are the types of regional language?

Answer 4

Kinetic language (impressions of speed- slowing, stopping, speeding)
Abstract language (giving up to traffic laws)
Written language on the green road signs

Question 5

What are natural signs, their signifiers and meanings?

Answer 5

Open views (hilltops)- space- openness
Drift towards the beach- water- openness
Parks, gardens- green space- openness

Question 6

What are cultural signs, their signifiers and meanings?

Answer 6

Wood, Concrete, plastics- artificial materials- modernism

Pseudostyles (antique)- past- legitimacy

Question 7

What are power signs, their signifiers and meanings?

Answer 7

Barriers (hedges)- isolation- separation

Housing on hilltops- elevation- domination