Tourists' perceptions on linguistic landscape in Kathmandu valley

Abstract

The study entitled Tourists' Perceptions on Linguistic Landscape in Kathmandu Valley was conducted to explore tourist’s perceptions of LL in Kathmandu valley and to explore about the types of language used in LL. This study was based on an interpretative research design. Interview guidelines and observation checklist were the main tools for data collection. The population of this study consisted of five tourists of Kathmandu valley. They were selected as sample for the study through purposive non-random sampling strategy. Likewise, I observed thirty photos of government and non-government linguistic landscapes from three areas of Kathmandu valley; they were from Thamel, Bagbazar and Durburmarga. The study found that there were altogether seven languages used on the linguistic landscapes of three different areas of Kathmandu districts. Among them English language was given most priority. Likewise, the cases of transliteration, translation and code- mixing were found on linguistic landscape. Furthermore, the study found that tourists had positive views towards linguistic landscape. All the tourists said linguistic landscape helps to get information. LLs can be used to reach their destination and it made them aware about different signs and symbols. This thesis consists of five different chapters. The first chapter consists of background of the study, statement of the problem, objectives of the study research questions, significance of the study, delimitation of the study and operational definition of key terms. Similarly, the second chapter deals with the review of theoretical as well as empirical literature and its implication for the study moreover, it includes the conceptual framework. Likewise, the third chapter deals with methods and procedures of the study including research design and method of the study population, sample and sampling strategy, research tools, sources of data, data collection procedures, data analysis and interpretation of the results. Finally, the fifth chapter incorporates the findings and conclusion of the study followed by some policy related, practice related and further research related recommendations based of the study. The references and appendices have been included in the last part of the thesis.