LANGUAGE DISTRIBUTION AND MULTILINGUAL TYPOLOGY ON CULINARY SIGNBOARDS

Abstrak

This study examines the distribution of languages on culinary business signboards in Negara City, Jembrana Regency, Bali. The focus of the study is on identifying the types of languages used and their patterns of appearance within the local linguistic landscape. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, the study analyzes 124 culinary signboards collected through field observation and photographic documentation. The findings reveal that Indonesian is the most dominant language, followed by English, regional languages, and other foreign languages. Language use on the signboards appears in monolingual, bilingual, and multilingual forms, with English–Indonesian combinations being the most prevalent. Further discussion indicates that communicative needs, commercial strategies, and sociocultural values in a semi-urban context shape the distribution of language on culinary signboards. These findings highlight how language choices in public signage reflect the interaction between local orientation, modern commercial practices, and broader linguistic dynamics.