Language Policy in the Virtual Linguistic Landscape: The case of the Kingdom of Bahrain E-Government National Portal

Yasser Gomaa

doi:10.26512/les.v21i2.29354

Abstract

This study examined language policy in the virtual linguistic landscape in the Kingdom of Bahrain as exemplified in its E-Government National Portal. It was carried out with the aim of extending the view of the linguistic landscape beyond the mainstream research that is typically anchored and defined within the parameters of given geographic boundaries. It sought to answer the question of how the linguistic diversity is experienced in cyberspace. Spolsky and Cooper’s (1991) Preference Model Theory of language choice was used to address this question. The findings authenticate the assumption that the Bahraini virtual linguistic landscape shares not only specific features with physical counterparts, but also displays unique attributes

Highlights

The main domain of investigation in the current study is linguistic representation, which includes linguistic reality, perceived reality, as well as desired reality
The study concerns with the heterogeneity of linguistic voices represented in the Kingdom of Bahrain Virtual Linguistic Landscape (VLL, ) as exemplified in its E-Government National Portal
It extends the Linguistic Landscape (LL, hereafter) framework to address the question of how the linguistic diversity is experienced in cyberspace-as-a-landscape, by exploring the existence and heterogeneity of the linguistic representation in the public sphere of electronic communication, which is here referred to as the VLL

Summary

Introduction

The main domain of investigation in the current study is linguistic representation, which includes linguistic reality, perceived reality, as well as desired reality. The strategic potential and political power of language in all its incarnations and underlying intents is the major focus of this study, which sheds lights on intention of governments or societies to ascertain or impose their own take on linguistic items by combining and framing various symbolic or immaterial linguistic and semiotic resources These linguo-semiotic resources may be employed both in a consistent fashion, through concerted efforts of top-down official policies, and ad hoc, through bottom-up more or less spontaneous practices and grassroots linguistic activism. Many previous studies categorize LL data with regard to the source or originator of the linguistic message and the direction of linguistic items They made a distinction between public official (public) and non-official (private) signs, depending on weather the item is produced or used by a public institution or by individuals or groups (BACKHAUS, 2007). The “top-down” flow was described by Ben-Rafael (2009, p. 49) as linguistic items that “Start off from foci of public authority to reach ‘common citizens,” whereas the “bottomup” flow “Consists of LL items that are produced and presented by countless actors who - as individuals or corporate bodies - generally sprout from the public.”

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion