Linguistic Landscape of Languages Used in Signboards in Larkana, Sindh

Abstract

The present study investigates the use of local, official and national languages and the incessant use of English on the localized Sindhi Roman script. Linguistic landscape is the study of written language on public road Signs, advertisements, billboards or front shops. Bilingualism is very common on the public signboards of Larkana city, where English language is used as market language. Many local people consider it as foreign language still English is used on every local and public signboard of Larkana city. The study used semi-structured interviews from different businesspeople, shopkeepers and owners of the institutions. The results show that Romanized Sindhi language/ Sindhlish and Bilingualism is influenced and dominant on the linguistic landscape of Larkana. In the comparison of English language the local/ native languages of the particular area of Larkana city seem missed or least used on signboards.

Keywords: Linguistic Landscape, Multilingualism, Bilingualism, Official Language, Roman Sindhi

DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/80-03

Publication date:June 30^th 2021