JoLIE 17:3/2024

 

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EXPLORING MULTILINGUALISM IN PRIZREN, KOSOVO: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LANGUAGE POLICY AND LINGUISTIC LANDSCAPE

 

 

Jasmin Jusufi A green circle with white letters AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Ukshin Hoti University, Prizren, Kosovo

 

 

 

Abstract

 

The study focuses on linguistic landscape of the city, with a particular focus on the relationship between language policy, language use, and the linguistic landscape. It examines the linguistic landscape of the multiethnic, multicultural and multilingual city of Prizren in Kosovo. The research is based on a sample of 330 photos of street signs, business names, advertisements, names of public and private institutions and places of public interest on one hand and the language policy on the other. The photos were analysed to determine the number of languages used and the linguistic characteristics of these signs. The findings of the study show a strong domination of the majority Albanian language, poor presence of Turkish and almost non-existent display of Bosnian or Serbian language on private businesses. However, public institutions including local government offices, schools and places of public interest are named in full accordance with the language policy, using official languages on national and local level including Albanian, Serbian, Bosnian and Turkish. Research provides an important insight into the linguistic landscape of the city of Prizren and draws a contrastive viewpoint between language policy and language display.

 

Keywords: Linguistic landscape; Prizren; Language policy; Multilingualism; Language use.

 

 

References

 

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Council of Europe. (2018). Kosovo: Report on the functioning of democratic institutions. Retrieved from: https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/kosovo-report-2018_en

 

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Pütz, M., & Mundt, N. (Eds.). (2018). Expanding the linguistic landscape: linguistic diversity, multimodality and the use of space as a semiotic resource. Bristol, Blue Ridge Summit: Multilingual Matters. doi: https://doi.org/10.21832/9781788922166

 

Tollefson, J. W., & Pérez-Milans, M. (Eds.). (2018). The Oxford handbook of language policy and planning. Oxford University Press eBooks. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190458898.001.0001

 

 

How to cite this article: Jusufi, J. (2024). Exploring multilingualism in Prizren, Kosovo: A comparative analysis of language policy and linguistic landscape. Journal of Linguistic and Intercultural Education – JoLIE, 17(3), 87–98. https://doi.org/10.29302/jolie.2024.17.3.5

 

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