Politics, Economics and Identity: Mapping the Linguistic Landscape of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Autor/inn/en	Manan, Syed Abdul; David, Maya Khemlani; Dumanig, Francisco Perlas; Naqeebullah, Khan
Titel	Politics, Economics and Identity: Mapping the Linguistic Landscape of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Quelle	In: International Journal of Multilingualism, 12 (2015) 1, S.31-50 (20 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1479-0718
DOI	10.1080/14790718.2014.905581
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; Indonesian; Self Concept; Ethnicity; Advertising; Asians; Indians; English (Second Language); Photography; Monolingualism; Multilingualism; Language Planning; Official Languages; Religious Factors; Semiotics; Chinese; Dravidian Languages; Sociolinguistics; Profiles; Bilingualism; Language Usage; Signs; Neighborhoods; Malaysia + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Selbstkonzept; Ethnizität; Werbung; Asian; Asiat; Asiatin; Asiaten; Asiate; Inder; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Fotografie; Mehrsprachigkeit; Multilingualismus; Sprachwechsel; Office language; Amtssprache; Semiotik; China; Chinesen; Soziolinguistik; Charakterisierung; Profilanalyse; Bilingualismus; Sprachgebrauch; Zeichensystem; Neighbourhoods; Nachbarschaft
Abstract	This study explores the linguistic landscape of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Using photographs as a source of data, the study collects samples from both government and private signage from five selected neighbourhoods of the city. In addition to photographs, interviews with business owners have been conducted and used for triangulation purposes. The data suggest that multidimensionality marks the linguistic landscape of the city. The multidimensionality is embedded in the complex sociopolitical, economic and ethnolinguistic facets and trends the linguistic landscape demonstrates. The sociopolitical dimension signifies the officially laid-down monolingual Malay-oriented policies, which accentuate compulsory use of the national language Malay. Non-compliance to the official version of policy results in strict punitive actions. The economic dimension manifests in the prominent use of English for its advertising and symbolic potential. Similarly, the ethnolinguistic dimension denotes vitality and identity expressed by the Chinese and Indian communities in specific localities. The study argues that although the official policy is formulated and implemented with the intent of unifying a multiethnic population, discursive defiance to this policy at the bottom levels can be triggered by many reasons including pragmatism, religion or identity, and such defiance clearly transpires in the linguistic and semiotic representation of the signboards. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10