The Americas constitute one of the focal regions within Network of Areas (NoA) at the University of Innsbruck. In view of the complex historical, cultural, political, and economic interconnections across the Americas and between the Americas and Europe, this region holds particular strategic significance. The NoA builds on the university’s long-standing expertise and international collaborations in the field of Inter-American studies.

At its core, the cluster fosters interdisciplinary engagement with the diverse dynamics of the Americas. Research and teaching address comparative questions that include transnational migration, colonial and postcolonial entanglements, multilingualism, ecological and economic transformations, cultural practices, and issues of democracy and human rights. In this way, the Americas section of the NoA highlights both the regional diversity of the Americas and their embeddedness in global contexts.

The cluster maintains close ties with universities, networks, and cultural institutions across the Americas, thereby promoting academic exchange, social dialogue, and scholarly cooperation. Conferences, public events, and cultural initiatives make research on and with the region visible and accessible to students, researchers, and the wider public.

The Americas cluster understands itself as a platform that builds bridges across disciplines, regions, and social contexts, thus contributing to a deeper intercultural understanding.

The term America refers to a double continent. However, in everyday language, the United States of America is often understood as America. That is why we use the term Americas, because our focus is on research on North, Central and South America as well as on aspects of Anglo-, Franco-, Luso-, and Hispano-America.

Contact persons for the region

Doris EIBL, Dr (Department of Romance Studies): doris.g.eibl@uibk.ac.at

Jannis HARJUS, Prof Dr (Department of Romance Studies): jannis.harjus@uibk.ac.at

Christian QUENDLER, Prof Dr (Department of American Studies): christian.quendler@uibk.ac.at

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Projects

ILLUMNATE-TX: Interamerican Linguistic Landscapes – Understanding Multilingualism Through Narratives, Attitudes, Texts, and Environments in Rural Central Texas (2025/26)

This project aims to analyze societal multilingualism in rural Central Texas, focusing on the coexistence of U.S. English and Latin American Spanish in public spaces. The study addresses two main questions: first, the visibility of different varieties and languages on signage (linguistic landscaping), and second, local perceptions and attitudes toward monolingualism and multilingualism. While previous linguistic research in Texas has centered on major urban areas such as Dallas or San Antonio, this project explores smaller rural communities that have so far received little attention.

The research is situated on different town in and near the Hill Country – e.g., Lockhart, Uhland, Wimberley – located between Austin and San Antonio. Over 50% of the residents have Hispanic roots or speak a Latin American variety of Spanish – mainly Mexican or US Mexican Spanish – as their first language, while many others have cultural ties to German, Czech or Anglo-American heritage. This unique mixture makes Central Texas a prime example of the interwoven Anglo and Hispanic cultural and linguistic worlds in North America.

Methodologically, the project combines quantitative and qualitative approaches. It includes the creation of a comprehensive photographic corpus documenting all public signage in the selected towns, as well as perception and attitude experiments using photo stimuli. These will involve local participants from diverse backgrounds, including teachers and other community members. In addition, narrative interviews and language biographies will be collected to explore how personal experiences relate to broader linguistic patterns. Following strict ethical research standards, the project aims to present a holistic view of social multilingualism and the dynamic interaction of English and Spanish in rural Central Texas.

Contact person

Jannis HARJUS, Prof Dr (Department of Romance Studies): jannis.harjus@uibk.ac.at

Other project participants

Monika KIRNER-LUDWIG, Prof Dr (Department of English)

Linda YOKSULABAKAN-HARJUS, BA MA (Department of Romance Studies)

Cooperation partners

Whitney CHAPPELL, Prof Dr (UTSA College of Fine and Liberal Arts; San Antonio, USA)

Daniel GUARÍN BUITRAGO, Dr (Trinity University; San Antonio, USA)