Multilingualism in Southern Border City: a Case Study of Linguistic Landscape of Commercial Shop Signs in Yala City, Yala Province, Thailand

Main Article Content

Muhammadsukree Hayeesani
Smith Vongvivut

Abstract

The aims of this research are to investigate language forms on commercial shop signs and to analyze the writing pattern of multilingual commercial shop signs in Yala city area according to linguistic landscape’s. This research is considered as qualitative research conducted with 50 samplings of commercial shop signs located in business trading area, also known as Saiklang, of Yala city. The samplings were determined under the purposive selection criteria of bilingual or multilingual shop sings that are visible with unaided eyes. Digital camera and field note are research instruments. The results found bilingual (54%) commercial shop sings of wholesale and retail business including consumer products and multilingual (46%) commercial shop sings can be found in the same trading business. Furthermore, three types of sign writing pattern were found in this research – homophonic, mixed and polyphonic. This result indicated ethnic diversity among the entrepreneurs and customers in this area where do the majority not only accept the language policy issued by relevant authorities but also adjust oneself for globalization with using English on their commercial shop signs.

Article Details

How to Cite
Hayeesani, M., & Vongvivut, S. . (2022). Multilingualism in Southern Border City: a Case Study of Linguistic Landscape of Commercial Shop Signs in Yala City, Yala Province, Thailand. Parichart Journal, 35(2), 185–202. https://doi.org/10.55164/pactj.v35i2.250312
Section
Research Articles

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