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Chinatowns in Canada and the United States are marked by cultural hybridity, where the translation of various types, verbal and non-verbal, takes place to produce distinct urban meanings. On the basis of an ethnographic observation, this article reveals the role of translation in the signification and imagination of Chinatowns. Cultural diaspora in relation to multimodal translation is designed as a theoretical framework, under which linguistic, aesthetic and cross-cultural tensions are explained. It argues that the urban meanings of Chinatowns are generated through an omnipresent practice of translation enacted by the interplay of text, image and culture across time and space. In the meantime, Chinatowns have evolved from ethnic enclaves into cosmopolitan prototypes for future cities. A translational perspective on Chinatowns incorporates visual semiotics into verbal languages to unpack cross-cultural relations, which informs a great deal about the nature of translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research examines the linguistic landscape (LL) of two demographically distinct neighborhoods in Barcelona: Vila de Gràcia and El Barri Gòtic. The aim of this study is to analyze how language choice among Catalan, Castilian, and English indexes collective and individual aspects of identity in written messages on public walls. All transgressive artifacts in both communities were documented, and the language(s) and theme of each message were systematically coded. A qualitative content analysis complemented this quantitative coding scheme. While the Catalan-dominant Vila de Gràcia had a significantly higher representation of Catalan in its LL, the thematic repertoire of Catalan artifacts between the two neighborhoods was largely similar. Castilian and English artifacts showed thematic representation patterns that were distinct from Catalan, but parallel to each other. Language-theme relationships in the data indicate that Catalan is more prevalent in messages pertaining to society or community, whereas Castilian and English are preferred for intimate themes of a sentimental or rebellious nature. The LL data shed light on the evolution of language ideologies in the tense socio-political climate of Barcelona in the years following Catalonia's controversial 2017 independence referendum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of Philippine cemeteries has been traditionally placed within the purview of archaeology, which, broadly speaking, places importance in its material cultures. To further broaden our knowledge about these sites, this paper explores how Philippine cemeteries, particularly Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB), generate meaning through their linguistic landscape (LL). Using place semiotics approach and indexicality, this study identifies seven communicative functions used in LNMB epitaphs: (1) affective, (2) associative, (3) celebrative, (4) memorative, (6) desiderative, and (7) summative. In doing so, this study not only treats public signs as communicative 'actors' which convey meaning and pragmatic function but it also analyzes the act of 'engaging' with epitaphs as a highly contextualised speech event. Finally, this study argues that epitaphs signify discourses of memory, remembrance, and patriotism and index sociocultural and political realities, all of which contribute to the creation of LNMB not only as a cemetery per se but also as a place of experience and embodiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a former treaty port and a current Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in China, Shantou occupies unique position in China's interaction with colonialism and globalisation. Through an analysis of English translations in the linguistic landscape (LL) in Shantou, it was found that international, local and regional factors work together to shape the city's LL. Shantou's resistance to the hegemony of English is encoded in the creative strategies that are adopted in translation, which include transliteration punning, cultural manipulation and hybrid translation. Drawing on the model of English as a lingua franca (ELF), this paper analyses how these strategies reflect the creative, flexible potential of English. These creative strategies can be interpreted as an expression of foreignisation, through which the sign writer consciously deviates from established norms in English to preserve local cultural traits and articulate local identity. Since LL reflects how meaning is negotiated in authentic social settings, incorporating LL projects in the classroom allows language learners and translator trainees to assume an active role in meaning negotiation in their sociolinguistic context. Ultimately, LL projects can empower students to exercise agency in articulating their own culture and constructing their social identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes grounding as a theoretical approach to studying linguistic landscape (LL). Grounding is the positioning or sequencing of languages in a multilingual 'text' to reveal the languages' relevance or a community's association with the languages. The study explores language grounding in church names which constitute part of the Ghanaian LL, in general, and namescape in particular. The multilingual church names in a self-compiled Church Names Corpus – Ghana (CNCorpus Ghana) were, therefore, collected for the study. The study generally adopted the corpus-driven approach where the data were analysed with no predetermined theoretical or conceptual framework. The study found that the languages in the church names are grounded as meaning-making semiotic resources. The study further discovered three language inputs in multilingual church names, culminating in foregrounded, midgrounded and backgrounded languages. Further, the study found that global, glocal, and local languages are multi-grounded to make the languages more visible and prominent. It is argued that the grounding of languages is informed by the nexus between language and identity. The language grounding model is a modest contribution to linguistic landscape (LL), multilingualism and onomastic theorisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of the linguistic landscape has been examined as an arena of negotiation, struggle, and contestation, where individuals and communities play roles in the symbolic construction of the public sphere. Transitory linguistic landscapes show the power struggle between different communities or how individuals claim their rights in the public sphere. Specifically, political demonstrations can influence public opinion and change policies and law. The mass protest analyzed in the present study aimed to inform public opinion about a public healthcare problem and to push the regional government to take action to resolve the issue. Following the frameworks of geosemiotics, interpellation, and dialogism, the focus of the present study is to examine qualitatively how the political and social action of a mass demonstration is mediated and created through multimodal resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the appropriation of offline linguistic landscapes (LLs) on Chinese social media, with a particular focus on how these LLs are creatively deployed for playful mockery and disruption of existing social order. Specifically, we present detailed analyses of a blog post and its comments to illustrate how Weibo users creatively appropriate offline LLs to playfully mock universities. Drawing on frameworks of Geosemiotics and “ambient affiliation”, we examine the semiotic mechanisms through which the playful mockery is realized and how such mockery is perceived by the audience. The findings show that the creative appropriation of offline LLs is realized via three strategies – resemiotization, emplacement, and homonym. Some users align with the “mockery” bond by showing their amusement, whereas others promote the bond by posting similar cases of mockery to engage potential readers in the digital practice. We argue that these creative semiotic practices not only reflect users’ agency of exploiting the playful potential of social media for expressing their sentiments, but may also deconstruct the general portrayal of universities as the “ivory tower” of talent cultivation and knowledge production. This may, in turn, diminish the prestige of universities and risk creating an opposition between the public and these institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporal markers provide unique opportunities for a community to revisit traditions, construct identity, and negotiate solidarity. The linguistic landscape (LL) encapsulating the celebration of the Chinese New Year, a momentous festival for both the Chinese community and people worldwide, presents a distinctive avenue for exploring the contestation and negotiation of diverse values and viewpoints in envisioning the future in the public sphere. The paper investigates the use of multilingual and multimodal resources to commemorate the Chinese New Year in Shantou’s coffee shops, revealing a diverse textual and visual narrative of celebration. In this process, socially constructed linguistic borders dissolve, facilitating the meshing and fusion of languages and enabling the reimagination, reinterpretation, and rewriting of the New Year. The juxtaposition of elements in differing linguistic and semiotic repertoires opens a dialogue, wherein values and traditions associated with the New Year are negotiated and reconstructed within the context of the evolving social attitudes and beliefs in post-pandemic Shantou. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With deepening globalisation and increased people-to-people contact, English is becoming more relevant in Thailand, which boasts a sizable expat community and tourists from around the world. While various scholars have explored the more overt, explicit, and obvious aspect of English glocalised in the Thai context (e.g. expressions such as ‘same same but different’), the more implicit, covert and hidden aspect has rarely been examined, that is, how the all-powerful English becomes disguised in the Thai script and becomes taken for granted and even passes off as ‘local’ in various settings in an inter-scriptal manner. In a context of change, linguistic landscape represents an important venue to observe the development and evolution of English in action. Drawing on authentic real-world data taken from Thailand’s linguistic landscape, this study points to the pervasive nature of English being disguised, through transliteration, in the Thai script in Thailand’s twenty-first century linguistic ecology. Beyond discussing the reasons and ideologies behind this interesting hybridised variety, this study also attempts to document the phonological changes and phonetic features exhibited when English is glocalised and (re)contextualised in the distant and seemingly incompatible Thai script, which symbolises a vastly different sociocultural and religious identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: This paper investigates the diffusion of English into the linguistic ecologies of Tunisia, an Expanding Outer Circle society in North Africa. It analyzes the language practices of Tunisian business operators in five commercial localities in metropolitan Tunis. The paper focuses, in particular, on the uses of English and its interaction with Tunisia's dominant languages, the ways the resources of English are locally understood and deployed and the intersection of the emerging "language regime" (Kroskrity, 2000) with the official linguistic landscapes policies and the wider sociohistorical, political, and economic conditions of the country. Methodology and data: Detailed discourse-ethnographic analysis of 363 linguistic landscape signs collected from 5 commercial districts in metropolitan Tunis. Findings and conclusions: The findings indicated the emergence of a bottom-up English-led public signage communicating a global corporate ideology circumventing the official language policies mandating the use and visibility of Modern Standard Arabic in public signage. However, this English-led public posting is intertwined in complex ways with Tunisia's dominant languages, resulting in translanguaging, linguistic puns, the commodification of vernacular forms of communication as well as (supra)national and aesthetic identity markers. Originality: Tunisia, a traditionally constructed Francophone country moving toward English, is very little explored in the major Global English(es) paradigms. The paper focuses on the possible ideological, economic, and cultural changes engendered by English and connects these changes to the global socioeconomic, political, and cultural transformations undergone by the country over the last decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thailand is a country where ethnic diversity and multilingualism are deeply embedded in the cultural landscape, and understanding the construction of ethnic identity provides crucial insights into its social dynamics. This study investigates how ethnic identities are constructed and negotiated through multimodal resources within the linguistic landscape of Ban Arunotai, a multiethnic village in Chiang Mai. Utilizing a comprehensive multimodal framework, the research analyzes how public signage combines linguistic, visual, auditory, and spatial elements to articulate and reshape identity. The findings reveal a hierarchical structure of languages and modes, where dominant languages are visually prioritized, while minority languages serve more localized, symbolic functions. Moreover, a shift from static, monolingual systems to fluid, multilingual repertoires among speakers reflects broader sociocultural changes shaped by translanguaging practices. By framing public signs as dynamic resources in the active formation and reinforcement of ethnic identities, this study offers significant implications for understanding identity politics and social integration in multilingual settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Arabic is the native language of a fifth of the Israeli population, its representation in the Israeli linguistic landscape (LL) is problematic. Adopting a sociolinguistic framework that underscores the political nature of language (Ben-Rafael 2009), this study invited Palestinian-Israeli college students to reflect on the linguistic reality in their area through the participatory documentary photography tool ‘PhotoVoice’. The students captured photos of linguistic landscapes, analysed them, and wrote commentaries voicing their reflections. Students ‘PhotoVoices’ shed light on the abundance of mistakes in Arabic words on the signs. Content analysis of the ‘PhotoVoices’ on this issue highlighted students’ cognitive and emotional perceptions and emerging awareness of the explicit and implicit messages delivered through the signage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the linguistic landscape (LL) of Wuzhen, an ancient town with a history of more than 2,000 years and became the permanent venue for the World Internet Conference in 2014. The LL of Wuzhen is influenced by various factors, including globalization, urbanization, the tourism industry, heritage conservation, and government planning. In light of this, the study has made several field investigations into Wuzhen, examining the LL of four different areas and capturing 1602 photos of signs. Simultaneously, semi-structured interviews are conducted with residents to discuss their perceptions of the local LL and identity. The findings indicate that Wuzhen reshapes its local public space through various semiotic practices, constructing multiple identities that integrate traditionality, modernity, and internationality. It has also been found that LL should be regarded as a crucial semiotic resource anchored in sociocultural and historical space, whose mobility in the context of globalization and urbanization provides more possibilities for identity construction and reconstruction in peripheral regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the perspective of linguistic landscape, this article reports on the use of Portuguese in the communities of Brazilians as return migrants in Japan, focusing on prohibition signs in public areas and signage in schoolscape to examine their relationship to social issues rooted in the cultural and ideological gap between Japanese locals and Brazilians of Japanese descent. Given the lack of detailed guidance from the national government, this study specifically investigates the process of employing Portuguese on signage. It reveals that Portuguese prohibition signs, ideologically charged, are typically installed by individuals or neighbourhood associations, not by the city government. Although the city government distributes templates for these signs upon request, those who install them are responsible for maintaining or removing them. Consequently, the maintenance process, influenced by the prevalent ideology in the host society, leads to these signs remaining in place. Regarding schoolscape, this study emphasises that the use of Portuguese on signage reflects cumulative efforts of teachers challenging the monolingual ideology in educational spaces. Considering various challenges facing immigrant children in educational settings, incorporating Portuguese not only has practical benefits but also significant potential to promote social acceptance of the immigrants and enhance their school life and learning experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study explores the dynamics of Linguistic Landscapes (LL) in the commercial tourist district near Labrang Monastery by analyzing the use of Tibetan, Mandarin, and English on café menus. Traditionally, LL research has focused on language visibility as an indicator of vitality, overlooking contextual complexities. We challenge this approach by considering geocultural contexts, instigators' language proficiency, and intended audience. Method: This study employed a triangulation approach, combining multiple methods of data collection and analysis. First, we conducted a preliminary observation of shop names in the region. Second, with the consent of shop owners, we comprehensively documented visual and textual artifacts both inside and outside the cafés, including signboards, menus, wall billboards, and displayed books. Third, we conducted extensive semi-structured interviews with shop owners and customers. These interviews, transcribed for analysis, provided insights into language usage preferences and decision-making processes. Results: By advocating for a holistic LL research approach, integrating qualitative insights with quantitative data, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of LL dynamics. Our findings show that geocultural contexts, instigators' language proficiency, and intended audience all play a role in shaping language representation and vitality. Discussion: The absence of a language on signage does not necessarily signify diminished vitality but can reflect strategic decisions influenced by religious, individual and commercial factors. Beyond mere visibility, languages on café menus serve as symbolic markers of ethnic identity and reflect the functions they assume within the speech community, offering insights into language vitality across different usage contexts. This research enriches scholarly discourse on LL, particularly within the Chinese context, by emphasizing the multifaceted nature of language presence and its vitality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hague, the third largest city of The Netherlands, is a multicultural and multi-ethnic urban centre with many migrant churches scattered across the city. This article examines the linguistic presence and identity of a select number of English-speaking churches and their identification through Linguistic Landscaping. Our findings show that, while it is claimed that Dutch society is becoming increasingly secularised, the many migrant and other international churches currently present in The Hague suggest the opposite. In addition, it appeared that English-language churches in The Hague attract large numbers of Dutch congregants for whom English is their second language. Reasons for this are that English is perceived as a lighter language than Dutch for practising their religion, and that it brings fresh perspectives to their faith. The use of English is thus expanding to the religious domain in The Netherlands in a new way (cf. Edwards, A. 2016. English in the Netherlands: Functions, Forms and Attitudes. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins). Applying Linguistic Landscaping as a research tool was found to work only for older heritage-language churches, which have a more established and sometimes even officially recognised position in the city, than newer migrant churches, whose presence is often transient in line with the changing nature of superdiverse cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the linguistic landscape of refurbished historical streets to reveal the semiotic construction of antiquity and commodification of heritage. Based on signage data collected from four historical blocs in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Ningbo in East China, this study reveals how Chinese semiotic artifacts contribute to stylizing antiquity and reinvigorating the space of consumption. Results suggest that the fabricated historical streets sustain the tourism rhetoric of cultural pride and commercial profit by appealing to history, tradition, exoticism, and nostalgia. The study problematizes orchestrated heritage tourism and points to the use of English as potentially subversive in the Chinese linguistic landscape. • History is refabricated and commodified to satiate tourist desires. • Traditional Chinese language serves to authenticate ancient Chineseness. • Access to history-saturated semiotic resources is unequally distributed. • English potentially counteracts the spatial hegemony of historicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the linguistic landscape of a new unofficial 'Chinatown' in Kathmandu, Nepal. Located in the tourist hub Thamel, this Chinatown came into being recently because of globalisation and China's outbound tourism boom. Using authentic photographic data, this study examines how the use of Chinese and various semiotic elements (e.g. colour) contributes to the making of a commodified ethnic enclave and space of consumption, where a foreign culture is inscribed and embedded in the existing built environment. Unlike the traditional old-world Chinatowns, simplified Chinese characters are omnipresent in this Chinatown and many Chinese-run business names are highly up-to-date and reflect the latest trends in their home country. The exclusive use of monolingual Chinese is also commonplace. Interestingly, awkwardly hand-copied Chinese and Google translated Chinese are used as part of local businesses' marketing repertoire in what can be called 'linguistic jugaad'. Additionally, some local businesses resort to creative, affective and playful language to attract and engage with Chinese tourists. Contributing to research on ethnic enclaves and urban sociolinguistics, this study highlights language as commodity in transforming/constructing a cosmopolitan transnational space in our globalised and mobile world, illustrating how South-South population flows can leave material traces in a place's linguistic ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the linguistic landscape of Sanur, Bali, focusing on the functional discourses present in public signs and the inherent language contestation. Utilizing a qualitative descriptive research design, data were collected through observational and photographic documentation of 1,406 public signs. These signs were categorized into ten types of discourse: orientation, regulation, alerting, commemorative, commercial, educational, artistic, protest, identity, and political, following the framework proposed by Opiłowski and Makowska. The findings indicate that the public signs in Sanur reflect the socio-cultural, economic, and political dynamics of the area. Both top-down signs, created by official authorities, and bottom-up signs, created by private entities, were analyzed to understand their communicative purposes. The study reveals the multilingual strategies employed in these signs, with a predominant use of Indonesian and English to cater to both local residents and international tourists. The study also highlights the importance of visual symbols and their role in enhancing the effectiveness of public communication. The analysis underscores the complex interplay between language use, community identity, and tourism, providing valuable insights into the broader field of linguistic landscape studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Linguistic Landscape: An International Journal (LL) is the property of John Benjamins Publishing Co. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Linguistic Landscape: An International Journal (LL) is the property of John Benjamins Publishing Co. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

It is imperative to evaluate contemporary language instruction practices to modify the curriculum to ensure that it fulfills the objectives of Vision 2030 which lays down detailed targets for the education sector. In this background, the current study adopts the Delphi Technique with nine recognized language specialists in Saudi Arabia to evaluate the prevalent language instruction environment and predict the desirable changes. Experts’ consensus and survey results indicated many issues that point towards a more inclusive, adaptive, and globally sensitive language education as the most pressing need of the hour. The participants’ agreement is evidence of the persisting chasm between conventional language standards and the massive changes in global communication, and it also highlights the need for translingualism as a strategy to address this chasm. In addition, results also indicated the need for the teaching community to adapt, develop, and prepare to suit the changing language scenario in the world. This need is dire to meet the massive social, cultural, and economic changes that are characteristic of Saudi Arabia today. The study concludes with emphasizing the need for translingualism in meeting the targets and aims spelt in Vision 2030, thus being of significance to academics, curriculum designers, and administrators who are committed to achieving those goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key focus of linguistic landscape research is the interaction among local language policies, the visibility of minority languages on public signage, and the perceptions of residents regarding language use. In China, ongoing urbanization and eased household registration requirements have precipitated an influx of ethnic minority migrants from autonomous regions to urban locales. This migration raises crucial questions about the integration and acceptance of ethnic minority migrants within the sociolinguistic fabric of urban China. Combining a linguistic landscape analysis and interviews with public sign owners, this study examines attitudes towards Tibetan language and Tibetan migrants in "Little Lhasa" in Chengdu, a major city in western China. Our findings reveal that various social actors, including Han residents, the Neighbourhood Committee, and the municipal authorities, prudently leverage the semiotic potentials of the Tibetan script in crafting public signs. The visibility of Tibetan in the local linguistic landscape reflects ideologies of acceptance, hesitation, or concern regarding Tibetan migrants. Although Tibetan migrants have conceded aspects of their language use in exchange for integration into urban life, they have not yet gained wider community acceptance. This study offers an innovative linguistic landscape lens on the implicit language policy in an ethnic minority migrant community in urban China. It illuminates a reflective case where language planning is much needed for mitigating bias and misunderstanding in multi-ethnic communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The linguistic landscape is an essential aspect of determining how language materializes in our surroundings. It is especially important in multilingual communities, as it reflects their identity. The linguistic landscape changes over time due to various factors, such as changes in politics, economics, and the national minority population. Study aims to explore how language manifested in the cultural landscape of Slavonia and Baranja, how it changed over time. Linguistic signs can also reflect the spatial identity of the population in the investigated periods (and its changes). Research compares the linguistic landscape of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries with the contemporary period. We used old postcards as sources for the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and conducted fieldwork for the modern period. The research involved analysing a vast corpus of linguistic signs in the cultural landscape. Research showed that the linguistic landscape, both in the past and present, is visible through various inscriptions on shops, craft stores, state institutions, and street names. Official inscriptions on public institutions in Croatia are written in the Croatian language, and in ethnically diverse areas, these inscriptions are bilingual, but not to the extent allowed by the Croatian Constitution. Homogeneity or heterogeneity of the linguistic landscape users determines its appearance. Croatian is the primary language in most of inscriptions. However, the status and dominance of other languages have changed, depending on the complex political and linguistic past of the region. The study has confirmed that the linguistic landscape reflects both the spatial identity as well as the heterogeneity and multilingualism of the linguistic landscape in urban and rural areas.

The present study aims to investigate linguistic landscape among Kurdish speakers in the west part of Iran. A total of 812 signs were photographed (772 photos were selected) and were later categorized according to the top-down (governmental) versus bottom-up (private sector) distinction in Kermanshah, Sanandaj, and Ilam. Out of these 772 photos, 578 photos were related to bottom-up and 194 photos were related to top-down signs. The results of linguistic landscape analysis showed that among bilingual signs, Persian-Kurdish signs has the highest frequency in Sanandaj, while Persian-English signs are more prevalent in Kermanshah and Ilam. In all of the cities, Persian-Arabic signs have the lowest frequency among bilingual signs. Sanandaj was the only city in which Kurdish was dominant in Persian-Kurdish signsIntroductionLinguistic landscape is a relatively new area of research that has attracted many researchers in recent years. In their seminal work, "Linguistic Landscape and Ethnolinguistic Vitality," Landry and Bourhis (1997) state that the linguistic landscape is: “The language of public road signs, advertising billboards, street names, place names, commercial shop signs, and public signs on government buildings combines to form the linguistic landscape of a given territory, region, or urban agglomeration" (p. 25). Since Landry and Bourhis utilized the concept of Linguistic Landscape (LL) as the "visibility and salience of languages on public and commercial signs in a given territory or region" (p. 23), researchers in the fields of sociolinguistics, sociology, language policy, social psychology, geography, media studies, and cultural studies have been interested in uncovering the nuances and disparities in the languages used in the public space.Materials and MethodsTo find out which languages are present in the linguistic landscape and how these languages are represented, linguistic and semiotic properties of the signs were investigated. The codification of the signs relies on that developed by Ben-Rafael et al. (2006) and Cenoz and Gorter (2006), such as the languages used on the signs, languages of signs (monolingual, bilingual, multilingual), order of languages on a sign, and the types of signs (top-down and bottom-up signage). Using Excel, the signs were coded according to the following variables: 1. Language of signs: for every sign, the type was coded. The categories include: monolingual, bilingual, and multilingual signs. 2. Number of languages: the number of languages present on the signs was counted. The appearance of a language may consist of an entire text or of only one word. The main languages counted in all sites were: Persian, Kurdish, Arabic, and English. 3. Order of languages: by the order of languages, we mean in bilingual or multilingual signs which language is more dominant. In doing so, the languages written in larger fonts were considered dominant. 4. Types of signs: both top-down (governmental) and bottom-up (private sector) are regarded in this study.FindingsA total of 772 signs were photographed and later categorized according to the top-down (governmental) versus bottom-up (private sector) distinction in Kermanshah, Sanandaj, and Ilam. Out of these 772 photos, 578 were related to bottom-up and 194 were related to top-down signs. The results showed that among bilingual signs, Persian-Kurdish has the highest frequency in Sanandaj, while Persian-English signs are more prevalent in Kermanshah and Ilam. In all of the cities, Persian-Arabic signs have the lowest frequency among bilingual signs. Sanandaj was the only city in which Kurdish was dominant in Persian-Kurdish signs.Discussion and ConclusionsObserving the signs and signs in the respective streets of the studied cities led to interesting results. From the display of languages displayed (used) in the public space, one can realize the possibility of identifying their performance, credibility, position, and expansion. The distribution of minority languages in the city limits can be considered an indicator of the language status in an urban area. Linguistic perspective also expresses the existing political and cultural views and approaches to the position of national languages in multilingual societies. Another important finding of this research is the spread of the Persian language and also the presence of some signs in English, which shows the importance and influence of the English language as a global language. This study shows that the linguistic landscape has both communicative and symbolic functions. A linguistic perspective can be used as a tool to legitimize national identity. Although the language policy of the country insists that all languages should not be given equal rights, the Kurdish language is given attention in these cities, especially in Sanandaj, but this attention is very insignificant compared to the dominant language (Persian), and it is not good news for Kurdish speakers

The authors conduct a critical analysis of the process of commercialization and commercial nomination in the linguistic landscape of Almaty, the largest megalopolis in Kazakhstan. Two sets of current toponymic problems of the linguistic urban landscape are considered: critical analysis of geospace commercialisation process, megalopolis toponymic policy, where toponym acts as a “commodity”; and sociolinguistic features of ergonym formation, linguocreative approach to the nomination process as a parto f modern naming of the megalopolis linguistic landscape. These two main aspects of the study are aimed at revealing the polylingual, socio-cultural image of the city, at matching the linguistic picture of the world of the citizens, at defining the image strategy in the organisation of urbanonymic space of the metropolis. The issue of urbanonymic terminology also remains relevant, in this regard the study deals with the problem of correspondence/ non-conformity of English and Russian terminology in this area, with some caution it is proposed to adapt the international terminological space in the field of onomastics. The analysis of the linguistic identity of oikodomonyms (name of residential complexes) and ergonyms (brandname) confirms the hypothesis of a growing trend of the urban landscape westernisation, which is of concern in view of the increasing globalisation processes that minimise the national-cultural identity of urbanonyms. As a result of the study the problem areas in the toponymic policy of the metropolis were revealed, the prospects for improving the regulatory aspects of the activities, naming technologies and branding of commercial organisations, companies were identified, alternative solutions were proposed, which can be further applied as guidelines in the toponymic activities in other regions of Kazakhstan.

Never formally colonised by Western powers, Thailand is a rapidly developing nation in Southeast Asia. To outsiders, the assumption might be that Thailand is a homogenous Thai-speaking Buddhist country. However, such over-simplistic views ignore diversity and the existence of de facto multilingualism and multiculturalism on the ground. This linguistic landscape (LL) study explores a unique and sociolinguistically compelling area called ‘Little Arabia’ (Soi Arab) in the heart of Bangkok, where elements of both Islamic and Buddhist civilisations meet. The existence of this Middle Eastern enclave creates a sense of contrasts on linguistic, religious, and cultural levels. Because of globalisation and spurred by (medical and sex) tourism, this area boasts a number of halal restaurants, hotels, travel agencies, stores, pharmacies, and clinics. This gives rise to an interesting sociolinguistic ecology, featuring an ‘ethnic’ economy which caters to the needs of tourists and businessmen hailing from the Arab world. Drawing on authentic photographic data, this study explores how various linguistic practices give the area a unique identity. More specifically, we reveal how various languages (including Arabic, Thai, and English) are mobilised and combined in ways that illustrate translation practices evidenced within the enclave for particularised marketing, commercial, and communication purposes. Theoretically and conceptually, the term ‘machine-translated multilingualism’ is coined to capture the growing trend for businesses to resort to translation software for multilingual communication, which may result in non-standard translations and orthographic forms. This study contributes to a growing body of sociolinguistic research examining LLs in global cities and commercial hubs in the Global South, particularly those arising from ‘South-South’ population flows.

The linguistic landscape of Sri Lanka underwent dramatic transformations owing to the influence of Indic languages and the colonization which resulted in increased language contact and hybridization of local languages. Advancements in digital and commercialization of language learning increased the demand for second and foreign language education. Whether language planning and education have undergone changes in par with the transformations in the linguistic landscape is questionable. Approaches and methodologies of second and foreign language learning in Sri Lanka remain entrenched in hegemonic practices of post-colonial language education. Taking on a convergent parallel design, the present study explored the potentials of incorporating translanguaging into second and foreign language education in Sri Lanka. Teachers of English as a second language and three other foreign languages were selected as the key informants of the study. Recognizing language as a transformative entity from a sociolinguistic stance, the study employed dynamic systems theory to evaluate the significant transformations of the linguistic landscape in Sri Lanka juxtaposed with developments in language studies. The findings have revealed that although the teachers have identified the need for shifting towards inclusive language education that recognizes the significance of learners’ native language repertoire, the language education system is still entrenched in the conservative approaches. Teaching learning material and ideologies attached to second and foreign languages education have become ‘leg irons’ that constrain adaptation into the new language environment. National scale linguistic landscape surveys, transformations in methodologies, localized learning material and long-term language policy and planning initiatives are key requirements for ensuring inclusive, equitable and decolonized language education.

This study aims to explore the learning of various values through the MINHA Islamic linguistic landscape, the learning of exemplary values of figures through the linguistic landscape of MINHA figures, and the learning of multicultural communication from information boards and sign names. The research employed Linguistic Landscape Research with a qualitative approach. The linguistic data used in this study were obtained from images containing written text and videos providing information about Islamic history, figures, and guidelines. The data collection methods included observation and interviews. The findings revealed that three groups of linguistic features could serve as educational tools in MINHA, including linguistic features related to Islam, characters, and instructions for using MINHA and its facilities. The diverse values embedded in these linguistic features can enhance the effectiveness of learning by catering to students with varied backgrounds. The use of language in public spaces, such as in MINHA, constitutes a form of Linguistic Landscape, which may manifest as stickers on buildings in formal or informal settings. Linguistic Landscape (LL) serves as a tool to promote multilingualism and highlight the benefits of language.

Linguistic landscape becomes a symbol of the presence of language in public spaces, depicting the representation of written language seen in public areas such as roads, tourist attractions, buildings, and food business complexes. The choice of language and function is necessary in response to the linguistic landscape of an area with a strong culinary business reputation for young people. This article aims to explain the choice and function of language as the primary source of reasons for language use in the linguistic landscape of the food business (LL). Data collection techniques used are (1) Observation, (2) in-depth observations, and (3) drawing conclusions against the examination of previous articles published in publications related to investigations in this particular study. Data dominated by bottom-up signage, such as shop names, advertisements, and signs of street food stalls, were collected from signboards in areas where many young people gather to shop, stroll, look, and eat. The results of this study show that bilingual Indonesian-English dominate language contestation in the area. In addition, slang is also found in commercial areas. This research reveals a variety of languages in the culinary business that is dominated by young people. It reports that English is most widely used in signs compared to Indonesian, Javanese, or the mother tongue of the local people. Abstrak Lanskap linguistik menjadi simbol kehadiran bahasa di ruang publik yang menggambarkan representasi bahasa tertulis yang terlihat di area umum, seperti jalan, tempat wisata, bangunan, dan kompleks bisnis makanan. Pilihan dan fungsi bahasa diperlukan sebagai tanggapan terhadap lanskap linguistik suatu daerah dengan reputasi bisnis kuliner yang kuat. Artikel ini bertujuan menjelaskan pilihan dan fungsi bahasa sebagai sumber utama penggunaan bahasa dalam lanskap linguistik bisnis makanan (LL). Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan ialah (1) observasi, (2) pengamatan mendalam, dan (3) penarikan kesimpulan terhadap pemeriksaan artikel sebelumnya yang diterbitkan dalam publikasi yang berkaitan dengan investigasi dalam studi khusus ini. Data yang didominasi oleh papan nama bottom-up, seperti nama toko, iklan, dan tanda warung makan jalanan, dikumpulkan dari papan nama di daerah-daerah tempat banyak anak muda berkumpul untuk berbelanja, berjalan-jalan, melihat-lihat, dan makan. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa bilingual bahasa Indonesia-Inggris mendominasi kontestasi bahasa di daerah tersebut. Selain itu, bahasa gaul juga ditemukan di area komersial. Penelitian ini mengungkapkan ragam bahasa dalam bisnis kuliner yang didominasi oleh anak muda. Bahasa Inggris paling banyak digunakan dibandingkan dengan bahasa Indonesia, Jawa, atau bahasa ibu masyarakat setempat.

This study investigated the linguistic landscape (LL) of Pyla, a bi-communal village in Cyprus. The data collection and analysis were based on the geosemiotics theoretical framework. The researcher created a corpus of visible linguistic signs photographed during the fieldwork with a focus on bottom-up and top-down signs in Pyla. The analysis of the data showed that the overall pattern of Pyla's LL was monolingual, with English playing a prominent role. However, bilingual, and multilingual signs were also present, with English, Greek and Turkish being the dominant language constellation. The LL in Pyla is indicative of its ethnolinguistic vitality as a bi-communal village inhabited by both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot populations; the LL also reveals the agency of the sign creators and owners regarding the choice of languages and the content of the signs, as well as such processes as internationalisation, commodification and linguistic instrumentalism. The importance of this study stems from its goal to deepen the understanding of linguistic landscape (LL) and multilingualism in Cyprus. It specifically analyses both private and public signage in the mixed village of Pyla, while considering the island's geopolitical division and the role of English as a mediating language in the process of peacebuilding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in the intangible cultural heritage of minority and Indigenous communities has grown in recent years. Minority languages are often a key element of this heritage but require constant safeguarding and practice to be available for future generations. The linguistic landscapes of (in)tangible cultural heritage museums can play a crucial role in this. In this study, the linguistic landscape of the ‘Gerhard Rohlfs’ Museum of the Calabrian Greek Language is therefore explored to understand how it can contribute to the safeguarding of a severely endangered language. A linguistic landscape analysis of 248 photographs revealed a significant presence of Calabrian Greek (Greko), reflecting a more equal status and prestige compared to Italian. The most widely used language, however, was Italian, ensuring museum content was accessible to the presumed main target audience. The lack of English suggests lower international visitor numbers, potentially benefiting the safeguarding of Calabrian Greek by reducing competition with another majority language. The findings thus demonstrate how language choices can support safeguarding measures for languages as intangible cultural heritage, through challenging language hierarchies and hegemonies. Further research should explore tourists’ and locals’ perceptions of such museums and the potential use of minority or endangered languages as sustainable tourism resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, drawing on Gorter & Cenoz’s framework for analysing the functions and quantitative distribution of languages in signage, we explore the linguistic landscape of an ethnic primary school in China. The finding reveals a diverse distribution of languages, encompassing monolingual, bilingual, and multilingual contexts. The creators of the linguistic landscape adhere to various laws, regulations, and policy documents, which in turn reflect institutional ideologies in the linguistic landscape’s purposes and functions. However, the linguistic landscape of the school does not accurately reflect students’ language practices. The study finds that teachers predominantly value Chinese for its perceived importance and utility for students, while students themselves regard Chinese as beautiful, useful, and important, and express a strong desire to learn English. There is widespread support among both teachers and students for the standardised use of Chinese, Tibetan, and English in public signage within the school’s domain. These linguistic landscapes are indicative of a multifaceted interplay between language ideology, language choices, language education and implicit curriculum, making it a representative case study in the educational field. It also mirrors a tenuous link between the translanguaging and linguistic landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent linguistic landscape (LL) research has witnessed a change in focus to untypical, peripheral and fluid signs. Compared to typical (or permanent, fixed, etc.) signs which tend to be subject to strong policy intervention, language use on untypical signs is often more autonomous, thus could better reflect the de facto language choice and preferences of local residents. Comparing the linguistic patterns between typical and untypical signs therefore provides a way to investigate the tension between mandated language policies and residents' language choice. In this study, we adopted the dichotomous terms proposed by Shang, G., and X. Zhou. 2020. "非典型语言景观的类型、特征及研究视角 [Peripheral Linguistic Landscape: Sign Types, Features and Research Perspectives]." 语言战略研究 5 (4): 37–47., namely 'typical' and 'peripheral', to explore the language use on public signs in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. By comparing typical and peripheral signs in Kashgar, the study found a significant discrepancy: Chinese is prioritised on typical signs due to top-down policy promotion, while Uyghur is used extensively on peripheral signs by local residents. This study demonstrates the importance of analysing peripheral linguistic landscape in strong-policy nations/regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the implications of engaging plurilingual children in creative multilingual placemaking practices on their language awareness and sense of belonging. Children participated in carefully designed class activities, engaging in tasks focused on reflecting on their own identities, the community's, and the neighbourhood's, alongside continuous research conversations. This process led to children creating multilingual placemaking design initiatives to propose changes in their schoolscape to make their school linguistically more inclusive. Through these activities, children reported that (1) they became more aware of the presence of different languages and cultures around them and (2) they became more aware of the power of language(s) in creating belonging; they argued that (3) this allowed them to acknowledge the fluidity of meanings between their L1 and L2; and they explained that (4) the project supported them in cultivating curiosity about languages and language learning. Overall, the findings suggest that creating a space for children to analyze the geographical, sociological, and linguistic aspects of their environment would impact their learning, social awareness, critical thinking, and transdisciplinary knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

English has, for historical reasons, risen to global prominence as the unchallenged lingua franca internationally. World Englishes (WE) has, as a result, established itself as a visible line of research, exploring localised/indigenised varieties of English from around the world (e.g. India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Nigeria). However, most of the discussions so far concern English written in the Latin script as people would normally expect. Against a backdrop of globalisation and the juggernaut of English, this article points to an increasingly salient phenomenon that English especially in superdiverse and/or (post)colonial societies (e.g. India and Pakistan) may disguise in seemingly inscrutable and 'mysterious' local scripts (e.g. Perso‐Arabic script and Devanagari script) and even 'pass off' as local languages in these countries' linguistic landscapes through phonetic transliteration. This emerging trend begs the question whether these should be understood as new varieties of local languages or new kinds of world Englishes disguised in non‐Roman scripts. This phenomenon is theorised in this paper conceptually. To illustrate our point, examples of authentic signs taken from the linguistic landscapes relating to South Asia and South Asian communities are discussed. As English is increasingly glocalised and becomes part of other less dominant languages, this article calls on researchers in World Englishes (WE) and (socio)linguistics in general to look beyond English written in the Latin script in a conventional/traditional sense and to expand the scope and remit of WE research to explore how English, as a dominant code, becomes indigenised using local scripts and morphs into and even 'passes off' as 'local' surreptitiously. This fundamentally calls for the crucial need for researchers from diverse and multilingual backgrounds to work together to better understand English and other non‐dominant languages' role in the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilingualism in post-Soviet countries where as a result of the Soviet time migration and Russification, Russian speakers still constitute a significant part of population, presents an interesting case for analysis. Estonia, being officially a monolingual country with quite strict language policy, is extremely linguistically diverse in terms of actual everyday communication, with both Russian and English playing a significant role. Moreover, as Estonia attracts many foreign visitors, expats, and refugees, other languages, including Ukrainian, also become more and more noticeable in both visual and acoustic form in public spaces. However, spatial distribution of different languages in urban landscapes varies significantly, and by analyzing it one can reveal not only the patterns of language use but also power relations between different linguistic, ethnic, and social groups. The paper reports on preliminary results of a study conducted in Tallinn in 2022–2023 and focused on collecting and comparing data on both linguistic landscapes and soundscapes in several locations in the city. The study shows a mismatch between visual linguistic representation and actual linguistic diversity and tries to contemplate it in a broader historical context of multilingualism and language contacts in the Baltic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent work on linguistic landscapes at schools (schoolscapes) has highlighted the complex dialogic relationship between the semiotics of public signage in educational spaces and policies seeking to enforce dominant ideologies. In this paper, we discuss the results of research conducted in the Deep South of Thailand, a minority region in which the predominant language, ethnicity and religion are different from the rest of the nation, and which has over the last century been exposed to significant assimilatory pressure. Drawing on an analysis of language use in two Islamic schools in the region, as well as interviews and focus groups with administrators, teachers and students, we focus on the temporality of meanings – how schoolscapes are anchored in narratives of the past, present and future. Historical memories evoked by particular elements of the schoolscapes are discussed, particularly in light of the efforts of the local population to resist assimilatory policies. We also discuss the aspirations of our participants for the future, observing that, while recent language policy in Thailand has focussed primarily on promoting Thai and English, our participants saw a much more varied plurilingualism as relevant to their lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of language landscape has always been the focus of linguistic research, but there are few studies on the world-class tourism language landscape in minority areas. Guilin has always been one of the hottest world-class tourism destinations, with its unique minority character. From the perspectives of multimodal analysis and tourism language landscape construction, this paper discussed the language landscape characteristics of Longyin Road and East-West Lane scenic spots with different orientations and investigated the local people's attitudes towards multilingual signs. The study found that the majority of signs are monolingual and bilingual, predominantly in Chinese and English. Non-textual elements significantly complemented the linguistic landscape, highlighting the need for accurate and diverse multilingual signage to enhance Guilin's world-class tourism image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of linguistic landscapes (LL) examines the use of signage in public spaces, often with a focus on the use of non-majority languages. The main goals of this project are to map, quantify, and analyze signage in Spanish within Tuscaloosa County, AL, an emerging site of Spanish language use which differs from the large urban places often studied in the LL literature. Photographs of public signage in Spanish were taken and uploaded to an ArcGIS Field Maps app to allow for both geolocation of the image and tagging of the image for specific linguistic and visual characteristics, which are subsumed under multimodality. Multimodality refers to the interaction of the linguistic code with other modes of communication such as images, colors, flags, and other cultural objects to make meaning in a given LL text. Within the multimodality framework, we examine the use of Spanish by itself or with English, location of the signage, communicative functions (symbolic, informative), and the combination of multimodal resources to index the actors originating the text and their intended audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is part of a series of research that these authors are conducting to study the linguistic landscape of the Tokyo megacity. In this instance, our focus lies on Shinjuku city. However, our examination does not extend to the linguistic landscape of the city itself; rather, it zeroes in on a café situated at its core, the Café Lavandería. How did Café Lavandería contribute to the development of the Hispanic linguistic, sociolinguistic, and subversive landscape in central Tokyo? The research unfolds in various segments. Initially, contextualization introduces the reader to Tokyo and Shinjuku; subsequently, the significance of Café Lavandería and the subversive social and political movements in Japan are elucidated. Following this, the study's foundation, including the photographic evidence and corresponding data, is presented. Lastly, an analysis of these data is conducted, culminating in an evaluation of Café Lavandería's impact in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transactional and interactional English communications tend to be on a continuum rather than a dichotomy, with some communications having characteristics of both, yet others tending more toward one type of communication or the other. In general, written communication tends to be more informative (transactional) than spoken communication, which tends to include more interactional communication. Using insights from geosemiotics and linguistic analysis, this study analyzed spoken English-as-a-lingua-franca (ELF) communication observed in Dubai/Sharjah and written communication in public signs in Al Ain, looking at how contextual influences play a role in facilitating hearer/reader understanding of the meaning being communicated. From identified ELF communications in Dubai/Sharjah and photographed public signs with English text in Al Ain in the UAE, 10 spoken and eight written instances of transactional English were selected to be analyzed in terms of patterns in the role of context in hearer/reader understanding of intended meaning. Comparing/contrasting contextualization of these spoken and written transactional English communications revealed the influence of the context on hearer/reader awareness of spatiotemporal aspects, background schemata (social/societal, cultural, economic, and religious aspects), prior communications, and ELF mutual accommodation of meaning in terms of understanding and interpreting intended meaning, as well as identifying aspects of contextualization common to both spoken and written transactional English. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research utilises an apparent-time approach to interrogate changes in the linguistic landscape of Xichang City, the capital of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in China, over the past two decades. By examining a variety of public signage installed in different periods, this study found that both official and private signs have shifted from monolingualism to bilingualism or multilingualism. The official signs afforded space for the Yi script in addition to Chinese. By contrast, the proliferation of bilingual or multilingual signs on private stores occurred at the expense of Yi. The diachronic variation of private signage is indicative of the decline of the Yi language and reflects uneven power relations that favour Chinese and English. This study contributes to the methodological approach to linguistic landscape research by using signs of chain stores as evidence to reflect a multilayered and historically mediated diachronic change. It also showcases that the apparent-time approach serves as an effective way to trace changes in linguistic landscapes over time, which are not discernible through a synchronic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, Linguistic Landscape Studies (LLS) have grown into a robust discipline within sociolinguistics. There is a growing focus on multilingualism within linguistic landscape (LL) scholarship, which is gaining traction in European contexts. However, empirical research conducted in Indian contexts has been notably scarce despite India’s potential as a multilingual society. This study addresses the research gap by focusing on an Indian urban context, i.e. Siliguri. The study aims to explore the social identity construction of Siliguri through LL in light of the theoretical underpinning proposed by Landry and Bourhis (1997) and Ben-Rafael et al. (2006). A total of 446 photographic data were collected and analysed employing a mixed method analysis. The findings show five languages in the LL: English, Bengali, Hindi, Nepali, and Urdu. English is the most commonly used language, followed by Bengali, Hindi, Nepali, and Urdu. Furthermore, the finding shows the city as an emerging commercial hub in the entire North Bengal, leaning towards Western cultural influences and the process of globalisation. The predominant representation of English signs in public spaces also proves their high symbolic value in the city, making it a language with ‘linguistic capital’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To have a better understanding of the sociolinguistic surroundings of Japanese Brazilians as return migrants in Japan, this study investigates language use in their communities from a perspective of linguistic landscape (LL), paying particular attention to their ethnic identity as to how they are viewed by the host society, including language policies, and how they view themselves in Japan. Although it has been said in the literature that they are 'socially invisible', the results revealed a certain level of social interactions with the host society that are materialised as LL items, including ideologically charged signs representing social inclusion as community members. In terms of ethnic identity, the observed signs, such as those installed by the host society reflecting the language policies in response to cultural differences and those installed by Japanese Brazilians representing active manifestation and construction of identity, encapsulate the discussion in the literature regarding the shift in ethnic identity from the previously maintained Japaneseness to Brazilianness through their transnational experiences and practices. In addition, such ethnic identity expressed by Japanese Brazilians is emphasised in its further use for ethnic commodification by the host society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The globalization has enhanced cultural exchanges among different countries and peoples. The communication in the cross-cultural context relies on various linguistic landscape, which materially presents language and text. In multilingual environments, linguistic landscapes have become a hot spot of academic attention. Many studies from the field of sociolinguistics have revealed issues such as identity and power in linguistic landscapes, but they usually focus on one ethnic group or one language in conventional social contexts and the use of multiple linguistic landscape in cross-cultural context needs to be further researched. This study focuses on the intersection of multiple languages and subjects in the same physical space in a particular international tourism context, aiming to present more differentiated relationships between linguistic landscapes and identity. Taking Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand, as samples, this paper examines and compares the perceptions and identities of Thai residents, Chinese tourists, and non-Chinese tourists on the linguistic landscape through two interrelated sub-studies. Study 1 explores the relationship between residents' perceptions of the informative and symbolic dimensions of the Chinese and English linguistic landscape, place identity and support for the Chinese and English linguistic landscape. The result shows that the symbolic dimension of English linguistic landscape positively affects local residents' place identity and further affects the support degree of the use of English linguistic landscape, while the informative dimension of Chinese linguistic landscape make effects like that. Study 2 examines the relationships between Chinese and non-Chinese tourists' perceptions of informative and symbolic dimensions of the Chinese and English linguistic landscapes, national identity, cultural identity, collectivism and satisfaction. The result reveals that the symbolic dimension of linguistic landscape is more likely to positively influence the national identity and cultural identity of tourists. And, the linguistic landscape is more likely to positively affects the cultural identity of tourists. Besides, the moderating effect of collectivism is also examined among Chinese tourists. This paper expands the study of linguistic landscape in the context of international tourism through multi groups, but further progress is still needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cambodia's multilingual and multicultural ecology has in recent decades been largely influenced by globalisation and tourism. International businesses within the tourism industry, such as hotels, often impact the multilingual ecology of societies when they bring with them their linguistic practices and attitudes. This article thus presents the findings from a multi-case study of the linguistic landscape in four hotels in Phnom Penh, which seeks to investigate how language policy and language attitudes influence language use in hotels. A small sample of public signs in four different four-star and five-star hotels was qualitatively analysed and the findings used to complement existing literature on spoken language in hotels. The findings reveal the dominance of English, as well as the visibility of Chinese and Khmer in the linguistic landscape, and the factors contributing to each language's level of prominence are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the issue of gender (im)balance in street and roundabout names in Poland's three largest cities: Warsaw, Kraków, and Łódź. The focus of this research falls within the area of urbanonymy, a field that has recently gained in international popularity. However, so far, Poland has received scant attention in urbanonymy, especially in the context of gender imbalance and feminist geography. As the current statistical analysis shows, Polish urbanonyms derived from male names considerably outnumber those derived from female names in Warsaw, Kraków, and Łódź. This paper provides a detailed data onomastic analysis of each of these cities, broken down by borough.1 This data presentation is preceded by a description of the public debate on urbanonyms and the role of women's names in public spaces in Poland. This debate is becoming increasingly frequent in Polish media and public discourse; this topicality has resulted in campaigns to have the gender imbalance in Polish eponymous urbanonyms redressed. In Kraków, one in three streets is named after a man, and urbanonyms named after males outnumber those named after females by 12.2:1. In Warsaw and Łódź, 1 in 5 eponymous urbanonyms is named after a man, and those named after a male outnumber those named after a female by 9.4:1 and 7.4:1 respectively. As this research shows, many of the reasons for this disproportion are to be found in the histories and contemporary socio-political profiles of Poland's individual regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic brings to the fore language's primacy in crisis communication. Given our diverse world, how effectively vital information is conveyed multilingually may make or break a place's anti-Covid battle. In the study, a locale's Covid-related multilingual landscape (multilingual Covidscape) is conceptualised as a prime multilingual/mediated site of epidemiological and public health knowledge (re)construction, where pandemic-related information is (re)contextualised and communicated multilingually by various agents (including translators). A former British colony and global financial centre, China's Hong Kong SAR represents a most cosmopolitan and diverse place in Asia, constituting a fertile ground for linguistic landscape (LL) research. Drawing on real-world data, this study explores the multilingual practices enacted in Hong Kong's multilingual Covidscape. This interdisciplinary study illustrates how multilingual resources and repertoires are brought to bear in a global city's pandemic communication. Beyond the traditionally 'choreographed' LL in Chinese and English, various multilingual practices are discussed at multiple levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates that linguistic landscape analysis is a powerful tool for assessing the effectiveness of a university language policy, as it provides in situ evidence for discursive patterns shaping language use in public space. It uses the official language policy of a Norwegian institution of higher education (Høgskulen på Vestlandet, HVL) as a case study, contrasting its language guidelines with the linguistic make-up of the signage in the linguistic landscape on one of its campuses. The comparison shows that the linguistic landscape prioritizes the national representational level (use of Bokmål) in its bottom-up signage, while the language policy of the university mainly highlights regional and international aspects (connected to the parallel use of Nynorsk and English). At the same time, it is shown that the top-down signage issued by the university does not efficiently implement its language policy goals, as bilingual Nynorsk-English signs are rare, Nynorsk faces substantial competition from Bokmål, and English is both neglected and constructed as a less important variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]