The glocalization of English in the Pakistan linguistic landscape

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study surveys the linguistic landscape in a particular area of Pakistan, and explores the use of languages, and the pervasiveness of English in the localized non‐Roman script. Although English functions as a foreign language for most Pakistanis, it occurs extensively in signage in public places. Following the analysis of multiple data sources such as interviews of businesspeople and photographs of private signboards/billboards, wall advertisements, roadside signposts and posters, the results suggest that Englishized Urdu and Urduized English predominate in the linguistic landscape, while local/indigenous languages remain completely absent.