A Linguistic Study of Street Art and Graffiti in The Streets of Porto

Abstract

This article narrates my experience of studying Portuguese via Street Art and Graffiti in the urban settings of Porto city and Greater Porto Area. It examines the linguistic aspects of the city scape, and also describes the research process I carried out during my stay in the north of Portugal, explaining the terms used in different contexts, the research methods used and the conclusions I arrived to. The article also describes the output produced - the Portoscript Game - aimed at providing a subjective experience, while meandering through the hilly streets and establishing personal routes with the help of a set of flash cards. Globally, the article views the urban space as an experimental platform for self-discovery and a mirror of collective consciousness, using cognitive theory and semiotics to decipher the ideas. It also touches upon the typology of the words and categories of the found text, discussing the benefits and risks of the methods chosen, as they lead to a less traditional scientific output