Language change and multilingualism in an ethnic city in China: a diachronic linguistic landscape perspective

Jiazhou Yao; Peng Nie; Liyuan Zhu

Language change and multilingualism in an ethnic city in China: a diachronic linguistic landscape perspective

Jiazhou Yao ^[1] ; Peng Nie ^[2] ; Liuyan Zhou ^[3]
1. [1] Southwest Jiaotong University
  
  Southwest Jiaotong University
  
  China
2. [2] Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics
  
  Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics
  
  China
3. [3] Monash University
  
  Monash University
  
  Australia
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Localización: International journal of multilingualism, ISSN 1479-0718, Vol. 22, Nº. 2, 2025, págs. 592-609
Idioma: inglés
DOI: 10.1080/14790718.2024.2322472
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Resumen
- This study adopts an apparent-time diachronic linguistic landscape (LL) approach to investigate the vitality of an ethnic minority language in China, namely the Nuosu Yi (诺苏彝). Diachronic LL research is concerned with changes in language use on signage over time. It provides insights into phenomena such as language shift, which is challenging to be unveiled through synchronic research. This study collected a total of 1233 signboards, which were made from 2002 to 2021, and thirty follow-up interviews with store owners. By analysing the data statistically and qualitatively, this study demonstrates the changes in language use on private signs of Xichang (the capital city of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture). A significant finding was a trend for multilingualism, in which the status of Chinese has changed from a monolingual to multilingual dominance, and English has benefited the most from the trend. The use of Nuosu Yi has been high over the two decades, but some issues have arisen with its use on some of the recent-made signs. This study provides a new approach to apparent-time LL research and demonstrates its importance in understanding the dynamic nature of the vitality of ethnic minority languages.
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