Multicultural Linguistic Landscapes on Shop Signs in Aceh Besar: Representations of Identity, Language, and Social Space

Abstract

This study examines the multicultural linguistic landscape reflected in shop signs across Aceh Besar as representations of identity, language practices, and the construction of social space within the community. The study is grounded in the assumption that shop signs function not merely as informational and commercial media, but also as symbolic representations of power relations, cultural identity, economic orientation, and multilingual dynamics in public spaces. Employing a qualitative approach with a descriptive-interpretative method, this research is situated within the frameworks of Linguistic Landscape Studies and Sociolinguistics. The data consist of visual documentation of shop signs collected from several commercial areas and strategic routes in Aceh Besar Regency. Data were gathered through field observations, photographic documentation, identification of language use, and limited interviews with business owners to explore the motivations behind the selection of particular languages and symbols. The analysis focuses on language choice, language dominance, code-mixing practices, cultural symbolism, and the social meanings embedded within the linguistic landscape. The findings reveal that shop signs in Aceh Besar represent multilingual practices through the use of Indonesian, Acehnese, and English various combinations of these languages. Indonesian remains the dominant language as a marker of national identity and public communication, while Acehnese serves as a symbol of locality and cultural proximity. English tends to signify modernity, economic prestige, and global orientation. Overall, the linguistic landscape demonstrates an ongoing negotiation of local, national, and global identities within the social space of contemporary Acehnese society.