Linguistic Landscape as Symbolic Construction of the Public Space: the Case of Indonesia
Tammasse – Sukardi Weda – M. Dalyan – Andi Elsa Fadhilah Sakti
DOI: 10.18355/XL.2025.18.02.10
Abstract
Linguistic landscape (LL) was first introduced by Landry and Bourhis in 1997 and research in the field of LL began to adorn linguistic research, both pure linguistics and applied linguistics. This study aims to explore: the types of signs in hospitals and medical centers, the types of signs concerning the language used in this study, the types of signs in terms of syntactic form, types of the intent and purpose of the signs for visitors, patients, and patient families, and whether the types and forms of signs give benefit to visitors, patients, and patient families. Data was collected in 2025 through direct observation and documentation of signs, signages, and symbols used in Indonesian and English at Unhas Hospital and Inggit Medical Center. All data visuals in signs, signage, and symbols were collected using a digital camera with an iPhone 15 made in China. First, there are two types of signs concerning the language used in this study, namely monolingual and bilingual. Second, the signs found at Unhas Hospital and Inggit Medical Center are in the form of words, phrases, sentences, symbols, and words accompanied by symbols. Third, the types of signs about the intent and purpose of the signs for visitors, patients, and patient families, such as prohibitions, orders, information, instructions or procedures, warnings, and complaints. Finally, signs in various types and forms are very useful for visitors, patients, and patient families to access the information they need, so that they can reduce service time.
Key words: Signs, Signage, linguistic landscape, symbolic construction, semiotic, Indonesia