Linguistic landscape in Kathmandu: An analysis of linguistic features

Abstract

This present study entitled 'Linguistic Landscape in Kathmandu: An Analysis of Linguistic Features' aimed to explore linguistic features in English usage on linguistic landscape and to discover motives of using it on their signboards. Public textual signage as Linguistic Landscape (LL) around Kathmandu valley that used linguistic features such as code-mixing/ switching, stylistics, scripts, transliteration, and translation was selected purposively as a sample. This study used observation and interview as tools of primary data collection and some related documents were reviewed for secondary data. Hundred photographs were analyzed whereas ten shop owners were interviewed to get the required information. After the collection of data, they were coded thematically and analyzed descriptively. The findings of this study resulted that a variety of images and themes, alluring to the distinctive identities such as globalization and English, sloganeering the signboards, multimodality, preservation and promotion of local languages. Similarly, the predominance of English in the LL as expression, its use, identification, code, theme, symbolism and readable script can be observed as motivation to the advertisers. There are five chapters in this research study. The first chapter, introduction part of this study consists of background of the study, statement of the problem, objectives of the study, research questions, significance of the study, delimitations of the study, and operational definition of the key terms. In the second chapter related literature are reviewed thematically. Introduction of globalization and English, LL, features of LL, functions of LL, linguistic features such as code-mixing/ switching, transliteration, stylistics, scripts, and translation are included. It also consists of empirical review, its implication for the study and conceptual framework of this study. Chapter three discusses about methods and procedures of the study. It consists of design of the study, population, sample and sampling strategy, research tools, sources of data, data collection procedures, data analysis procedures, and ethical considerations. Fourth chapter of this study incorporates the analyzed and interpretations of the data where fifth chapter shows findings, conclusion and recommendations related to policy, practice and further research. References and appendices are included at the last part of this thesis.