Linguistic Landscapes as Cultural Texts: Intersections of Language, Place and Identity in Language Learning
Saltanat Myrzaliyeva – Serik Mizanbekov – Bagdat Zhubanova – Aimur Khairgeldina – Shynaray Burkitbayeva
DOI: 10.18355/XL.2025.18.02.16
Abstract
This article delves into the concept of "linguistic landscape" as a methodological framework for examining the visual presence of languages in public spaces, highlighting its potential to explore socio-cultural dynamics and the ethno-linguistic vitality of communities. The author underscores the incorporation of linguistic landscapes into educational settings, advocating for it as a tool for natural language immersion through engagement with linguistic elements in daily life. This method allows students to interact with the language in its genuine context, thereby refining their phonetic and semantic abilities and enhancing their understanding of linguistic and cultural dynamics. The article also considers potential drawbacks of this approach, such as the limited focus on non-visual language components and the requirement for frequent data updates.
The author suggests enhancing the method through interdisciplinary collaboration and the application of technology for data acquisition. The study of linguistic landscapes has been centered on specific cases that shed light on the execution of language policy and the conservation of diverse cultures. The examination of urban linguistic landscapes has attracted the attention of numerous scholars and experts, particularly those in the fields of comparative language studies and translation. The study conducts a comparative analysis texts within a multilingual urban landscape, aiming to identify translation errors that impede the navigation of foreigners in different speaking areas, as well as the origins of these errors and potential solutions.
Key words: linguistics, landscapes, cultural texts, intersections, language, place, identity, language learning
Pages: 228-236
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