Linguistic Landscapes as a Mirror of Social Change in Multilingual Cities in Indian Context
Author : P Murthy
Abstract :
This paper examines the linguistic landscape of Indian cities as a mirror of social change, focusing on the distribution, visibility, and symbolic meaning of languages in public commercial spaces. Drawing on empirical data from shop signs and interviews with sign producers in multiple urban centers, the study reveals that English dominates the commercial linguistic landscape while regional languages occupy secondary positions and minority languages remain largely invisible. The findings demonstrate a significant gap between top-down language policies that promote regional languages and bottom-up commercial practices that privilege English as linguistic capital signaling modernity and global orientation. Identity negotiations also shape the landscape, as marginalized communities use signage assertively to claim visibility and assert belonging. The study argues that the linguistic landscape is not merely a passive reflection of social realities but an active force that contributes to language maintenance or decline. By analyzing the interplay of globalization, policy, and identity, this paper contributes to the growing body of linguistic landscape research in the understudied Indian context and offers practical implications for policymakers seeking to preserve linguistic diversity in multilingual urban spaces.
Keywords :
Linguistic landscapes, social change, multilingual cities, India, language policy, English dominance, regional languages, identity negotiation, globalization, urban multilingualism.
