ABSTRACT
National minority cultures’ visible presence within European cultural landscapes can vary, in ways that are linked closely to the power dynamics particular to the relationship of the majority and minority. A visitor might therefore be aware of crossing into another region, but be unaware of, or unable to access, its heritage. This is certainly the case in the context of Livonian, which inhabits geographically separate areas across regions in both Latvia and Estonia. In this chapter, the authors describe and analyse the semiotic landscape across these two areas of historically Livonian territories – the Livonian Coast, and North Vidzeme and southwestern Estonia. They consider what types of signs are manifest in the landscape and how different signs enable or disable access to, and awareness of, Livonian intangible cultural heritage. Using Cosgrove’s description of ‘dominant’ and ‘alternative’ landscapes in the light of interview data they ask whether, and how, all those in the space can amplify these signs. They suggest that landscapes that are what Cosgrove calls ‘emergent’ – that is, ‘utopian spaces that seek to offer alternative presents or futures’ – could be a means of revoicing Livonian in the landscape.
