Activist Applied Linguistics

The U.M.A.P. Project

Unpacking Meaning, Assumptions, and Priorities (UMAP) in Discourses of Homelessness

vision

  • Reveal how the language we use shapes our understanding of social problems
  • Uncover community members’ narrative frames and articulate what people really mean when they talk about homelessness
  • Empower marginalized stakeholders by including their voices in mainstream dialogues
  • Use results to shape future public policy and messaging

Doers

This research project was a collaboration between Portland State University and Street Roots including:

Process

This research uses applied linguistics strategies to reveal how meaning is co-constructed through language choices.

Research Methods:
  • Close reading
  • Thematic analysis
  • Semiotics
  • Corpus linguistics
  • Critical discourse analysis
  • Q-methodology
Data Sources:
  • Newspapers
  • Public testimony
  • Public policy documents
  • Nextdoor community forum
  • Campsite reports
  • Comedy scripts
  • Interviews with diverse stakeholders
  • Twitter
  • Focus groups
The Action Steps

Step One: Collect a wide range of opinions about people experiencing homelessness

Step Two: Look for themes, and write statements to express them called “Q-statements”

Step Three: Have participants rank the Q-statements by how much they agree or disagree, making sure to give them space to expand on their answers if they want to

Step Four: See the ways different communities share, or don’t share, opinions and priorities based on how they ranked the Q-statements

Lessons Learned

This project is ongoing!

Check back for updates.

inspiration Behind it all

This work expands on the Semiotics of Homelessness report by Janet Cowal and Maude Hines from 2019, and furthers the HRAC‘s mission to reduce homelessness.

References and Recommended Reading

Cowal J, & Leung G. Activist Applied Linguistics. (2020). In Conrad, S., Hartig, A.J. & Santellmann, L. (Eds.) The Cambridge Introduction to Applied Linguistics.

Hines, M. & Cowal, J. (2019). “The Semiotics of Homelessness: a Preliminary Report from PSU’s Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative.” 44th Semiotics Society of America Annual Conference, Portland Oregon.

Nuttelman, W. (2019). Exploring narratives and concerns: Applied linguistics in homelessness research. Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative. https://www.pdx.edu/homelessness/sites/g/files/znldhr1791/files/2020-06/
ExploringNarrativesReport.pdf

Zapata, M, Liu J, Everett L, Hulseman P, Potiowsky T, & Willingham E. 2019. Governance, Costs, and Revenue Raising to Address and Prevent Homelessness in the Portland Tri-County Region, (Portland: Portland State University).