Linguistic Landscape - Volume 10, Issue 3, 2024

Abstract

The prevailing notion on the scholastic domains of English and Filipino is that the former is used for science, whereas the latter is reserved for the social sciences. Despite its questionable veracity, this domain dichotomy has nevertheless been adopted in Philippine education, particularly in the 1974 Bilingual Education Policy (Sibayan, 1978; Gonzalez, 1990). Using Scollon and Scollon’s (2003) concept of emplacement and Kress and van Leeuwen’s (1996) information value as theoretical points of departure and Tupas’ (2008, 2015a) ‘Unequal Englishes’ paradigm as an analytical framework, this paper investigates whether this dichotomy has permeated into the Linguistic Landscapes of two national museums in Manila. It finds that there is a strong tendency for the natural history museum to privilege English in bilingual signs and the anthropological museum to privilege Filipino, thereby suggesting that this split has already been reified in language practices outside the realm of education policy making and politics.

Abstract

Traditional linguistic landscape research focuses on the diversity, vitality, and structure of languages in public spaces. However, this study takes a critical lens and examines how certain multilingual signage reflects the normalised, harmful ideologies which target minorities in Japan. The study reveals examples of punitive multilingualism, highlighting the information disparities between languages in public signage found in Aichi, Hokkaido, and on the Internet. The paper discusses instances of discriminatory public signage, including online advertisements, based on the premise that foreigners are unruly, and official government signage that appears to target foreigners. The study also delves into problematic instructions posted in public restrooms, showing how the presentation of language(s) can reinforce stereotypes and implicit bias. Through a critical analysis of multilingual signage, this study reveals the challenges and consequences of punitive multilingualism in the context of Japanese sociolinguistics.

Abstract

Semiotic landscapes have been documented widely. However, many analyses focus on visible cues and production, and do not investigate soundscapes and the perception of both visual and auditory signs. The present study aims at filling this research gap. It presents an ethnographic investigation of the semiotic landscape of arrival in Bergen, Norway. The focus is on the welcome sign outside the airport and the soundscape of the city-bound tram. Data stem from a questionnaire distributed to international and domestic travelers, and an auto-ethnographic account by the author. The analysis shows that a distinct welcome to Bergen, presented as a unique destination, is created in a multisensory way. This welcome is mostly performative, as is often the case in tourism, but creates a very distinct and memorable sense of place for travelers. Altogether, the study emphasizes the importance of multiple means of meaning making in semiotic landscapes.

Abstract

Much work in Linguistic Landscapes approaches multilingual landscapes in qualitative terms; inferential statistical approaches are still underrepresented. The present paper adds to filling this methodological gap by investigating the Linguistic Landscapes of St Martin, a highly multilingual, eastern Caribbean island, divided into a formerly Dutch-colonized and French-colonized part. It does so by employing an inferential statistical method to study the nature of linguistic diversity on signs. Based on 372 and 373 signs respectively for each of the commercial districts of Philipsburg and Marigot, we quantitatively analyze the occurrences of languages on the different signs and statistically model the data by means of Multi-Label Classification (MLC; e.g. Rivolli & de Carvalho, 2018). The results show that both shopping districts are characterized by multilingual patterns of Linguistic Landscapes but with differences in their exact linguistic setups, most importantly the interplay and relationships between different languages, motivated by differences in their sociolinguistic setup.

This article reviews The Burden of Traumascapes: Discourses of remembering in Bosnia-Herzegovina and beyond£ 85.50

This article reviews Language in Place: Stylistic Perspectives on Landscape, Place and Environment97890272084159789027260161EUR 99.00USD 149.00