Language choice as an index of identity: linguistic landscape in Dili, Timor-Leste

Taylor-Leech, Kerry Jane (2012) Language choice as an index of identity: linguistic landscape in Dili, Timor-Leste. International Journal of Multilingualism, 9 (1). pp. 15-34. ISSN 1479-0718

Abstract

This article aims to show how language choice indexes social and national identity in the linguistic landscape of Dili, the capital city of Timor-Leste. The linguistic
landscape is examined in the light of the country's current language situation, its colonial legacies and its ongoing development challenges. In this study, the iconicity, indexicality and visual grammar of official and non-official public signage in a capital city of the global south is discussed and the use of language in a range of signs is further analysed using the notion of language on display. The implications for language policy are also explored, taking account of the wider processes of social, political and economic change at work in this new nation.

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Item Type:	Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	Available online: 09 Jun 2011. Permanent restricted access to published version due to publisher copyright policy.
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Education (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Education (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Date Deposited:	05 May 2012 06:46
Last Modified:	20 Oct 2014 05:10
Uncontrolled Keywords:	linguistic landscape; Timor-Leste; identity; indexicality; iconicity; visual grammar; language on display
Fields of Research (2008):	20 Language, Communication and Culture > 2004 Linguistics > 200401 Applied Linguistics and Educational Linguistics 20 Language, Communication and Culture > 2002 Cultural Studies > 200211 Postcolonial Studies 20 Language, Communication and Culture > 2004 Linguistics > 200405 Language in Culture and Society (Sociolinguistics)
Fields of Research (2020):	47 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 4704 Linguistics > 470401 Applied linguistics and educational linguistics 47 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 4702 Cultural studies > 470213 Postcolonial studies 47 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 4704 Linguistics > 470411 Sociolinguistics
Socio-Economic Objectives (2008):	C Society > 95 Cultural Understanding > 9599 Other Cultural Understanding > 959999 Cultural Understanding not elsewhere classified
Identification Number or DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1080/14790718.2011.583654
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/19323

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