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Conditions of commodification: Russian as a transient commodity in an Arctic tourism resort

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Conditions of commodification: Russian as a transient commodity in an Arctic tourism resort. / Muth, Sebastian; Strömmer, Maiju.
In: International Journal of the Sociology of Language, Vol. 2023, No. 281, 25.05.2023, p. 103-127.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Muth, S & Strömmer, M 2023, 'Conditions of commodification: Russian as a transient commodity in an Arctic tourism resort', International Journal of the Sociology of Language, vol. 2023, no. 281, pp. 103-127. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijsl-2021-0060

APA

Muth, S., & Strömmer, M. (2023). Conditions of commodification: Russian as a transient commodity in an Arctic tourism resort. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 2023(281), 103-127. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijsl-2021-0060

Vancouver

Muth S, Strömmer M. Conditions of commodification: Russian as a transient commodity in an Arctic tourism resort. International Journal of the Sociology of Language. 2023 May 25;2023(281):103-127. Epub 2022 Sept 23. doi: 10.1515/ijsl-2021-0060

Author

Muth, Sebastian ; Strömmer, Maiju. / Conditions of commodification : Russian as a transient commodity in an Arctic tourism resort. In: International Journal of the Sociology of Language. 2023 ; Vol. 2023, No. 281. pp. 103-127.

Bibtex

@article{d86ae11b40cb4cc3a3871d90a58347ed,
title = "Conditions of commodification: Russian as a transient commodity in an Arctic tourism resort",
abstract = "Based on an ethnography incorporating interview, linguistic landscape and observational data, this research illustrates how temporary linguistic value is negotiated and how an Arctic tourism destination is made fit for consumption for a specific audience. Set within a tourism resort in the Finnish Arctic during two weeks in Winter when the region habitually receives a large influx of Russian-speaking visitors, we illustrate how Russian is conceptualized as a means of economic practice by stakeholders in the local tourism industry. While some offer services specifically for a Russian-speaking audience as part of a short-term high-risk/high-reward investment, others regard Russian as an expression of a negative niche market that compromises the overall image of the Arctic as a global tourism destination. We discuss these different understandings of commodity value and highlight, how stakeholders in the local tourism economy imagine and discursively construct Russian-speaking tourists. In doing so, this paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of the conditions of language commodification and the processes involved in the valuation and devaluation of linguistic resources within temporary linguistic markets.",
author = "Sebastian Muth and Maiju Str{\"o}mmer",
year = "2023",
month = may,
day = "25",
doi = "10.1515/ijsl-2021-0060",
language = "English",
volume = "2023",
pages = "103--127",
journal = "International Journal of the Sociology of Language",
issn = "0165-2516",
publisher = "De Gruyter Mouton",
number = "281",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Conditions of commodification

T2 - Russian as a transient commodity in an Arctic tourism resort

AU - Muth, Sebastian

AU - Strömmer, Maiju

PY - 2023/5/25

Y1 - 2023/5/25

N2 - Based on an ethnography incorporating interview, linguistic landscape and observational data, this research illustrates how temporary linguistic value is negotiated and how an Arctic tourism destination is made fit for consumption for a specific audience. Set within a tourism resort in the Finnish Arctic during two weeks in Winter when the region habitually receives a large influx of Russian-speaking visitors, we illustrate how Russian is conceptualized as a means of economic practice by stakeholders in the local tourism industry. While some offer services specifically for a Russian-speaking audience as part of a short-term high-risk/high-reward investment, others regard Russian as an expression of a negative niche market that compromises the overall image of the Arctic as a global tourism destination. We discuss these different understandings of commodity value and highlight, how stakeholders in the local tourism economy imagine and discursively construct Russian-speaking tourists. In doing so, this paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of the conditions of language commodification and the processes involved in the valuation and devaluation of linguistic resources within temporary linguistic markets.

AB - Based on an ethnography incorporating interview, linguistic landscape and observational data, this research illustrates how temporary linguistic value is negotiated and how an Arctic tourism destination is made fit for consumption for a specific audience. Set within a tourism resort in the Finnish Arctic during two weeks in Winter when the region habitually receives a large influx of Russian-speaking visitors, we illustrate how Russian is conceptualized as a means of economic practice by stakeholders in the local tourism industry. While some offer services specifically for a Russian-speaking audience as part of a short-term high-risk/high-reward investment, others regard Russian as an expression of a negative niche market that compromises the overall image of the Arctic as a global tourism destination. We discuss these different understandings of commodity value and highlight, how stakeholders in the local tourism economy imagine and discursively construct Russian-speaking tourists. In doing so, this paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of the conditions of language commodification and the processes involved in the valuation and devaluation of linguistic resources within temporary linguistic markets.

U2 - 10.1515/ijsl-2021-0060

DO - 10.1515/ijsl-2021-0060

M3 - Journal article

VL - 2023

SP - 103

EP - 127

JO - International Journal of the Sociology of Language

JF - International Journal of the Sociology of Language

SN - 0165-2516

IS - 281

ER -