Name
Critical Language Mapping: Visualizing Overrepresentation and Emptiness in Contemporary Cartography
Date & Time
Thursday, May 22, 2025, 3:30 PM - 3:45 PM
Description
This presentation examines how traditional language maps—predominantly constructed with broad polygons—overrepresent the spread of English across Canada while obscuring the reality of sparse, predominantly Indigenous populations. By employing a critical cartographic lens, I reimagine these conventional visualizations through the use of dot maps that capture both linguistic concentrations and spatial emptiness. Focusing on examples from Canada, Spain, and New Brunswick, the study reveals how integrating population density data can produce a more accurate and nuanced depiction of language landscapes. This approach not only challenges the hegemonic narratives embedded in standard language maps but also underscores the potential of innovative visualization techniques to expose underlying socio-cultural and spatial inequities. The research highlights the intersection of critical cartographic design, geovisualization methods, and the political dimensions of mapping. The findings advocate for a reexamination of mapping practices to better reflect the complex, multifaceted realities of language and identity, offering insights that may inform more inclusive and contextually grounded cartographic strategies.
Location Name
Canal (CB) 2104
Session Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract ID
CCA102
Speaker Name
Zackary Ward
Speaker Organization
Carleton University
Session Name
CS167 Cartographic projects and methods