Fili Jawn: Language and Identity in Philadelphia

Fili Jawn: Language and Identity in Philadelphia is in response to an RFP for an exhibition related to the cultural, historical, social and material culture of the city of Philadelphia at the Rosenwald Wolf Gallery in the University of the Arts. I developed this exhibition to create a sense of pride in my community. Visitors can interact with our unique language, discover its cultural contributions, diversify the existing collection of Philadelphia linguistics data, and initiate conversations about how to have better communication in our society.

Throughout the space, visitors will also interact with past and modern dialects to understand the reasons for language transformation and have the opportunity to contribute their voices to the UPenn collection of linguistic data. Also, participants will confront linguistic barriers in our city and witness how deeper understanding and respect for differences is a positive influence on communication.