This thesis aims to explore the linguistic creativity of the graffiti in the linguistic
landscape of Athens. More specifically, the main goal is to answer the following
questions:
-What is the communicative purpose of graffiti?
-What kind of speech acts are performed through them?
-What kind of creative linguistic means do they use?
Graffiti constitute a genre falling under the category of the arts performed in the
public sphere, hence they are part of the linguistic landscape. Their presence in the
public sphere does not only aim to describe the world or a situation, but also to
perform an act. Graffiti are not just writings on a wall; they actually “do” something.
This is one of the main hypotheses of this thesis, which we will explore by using the
theory of speech acts by Searle (1969/1979).
Performing these acts is achieved through linguistic creativity. Our theoretical basis is
Carters (2004) linguistic creativity. We follow the theoretical assumption that
creativity is not an elite’s privilege but is a common characteristic of ordinary people.
We analyze a sample of 145 graffiti that we have collected. Then, we categorize
graffiti according to the theory of speech acts (Searle 1969/1979) and we also analyze
them according to the categories of Carter’s (2004) theory of linguistic creativity.
Finally, we reach conclusions concerning the speech acts performed through graffiti,
their creativity and the meanings their word acquire because of its production in the
public sphere. Graffiti do not merely describe things, they perform acts. Their writing
is an active procedure. Through this procedure writers claim the right to speak and to
space in the public sphere. Their creativity eventually confirms that creativity is not a
privilege of the elite but a common characteristic of people.