Linguistic landscape in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region: the case of a multilingual and multi-ethnic region in China

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the linguistic landscape of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, investigates factors contributing to this distinctive landscape, and examines its role in maintaining two ethnic languages, Mongolian and Korean. 1046 language signs in three major cities were analysed and 28 interviews were conducted to evaluate interviewee attitudes towards the linguistic landscape. The results indicate that the Inner Mongolian linguistic landscape is one of abundant linguistic diversity, with the majority of signs (61.9%) displaying more than one language; that this landscape is influenced by factors such as language planning, language preferences, economic development needs, and tourist demands; and that Mongolian and Korean have high levels of visibility on both official and private signs. Mongolian and Korean interviewees expressed delight in seeing their ethnic languages displayed and believed that public displays of local languages could help maintain ethnic languages by providing a physical and visual representation of linguistic presence and ethnic identity.