The major influence of English when compared with the other languages in the signs of the linguistic landscape of Madinah, Saudi Arabia : a case study in the linguistic landscape of Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study proposes to examine multilingual signs around several sites in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. First, AL Nakheel Compound, a residential area, and its residents are characterized by many ethnic groups and mother tongues. Second, Quba Mosque, the second largest mosque in Madinah and the first mosque built by the Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (PBUH), is an important Islamic landmark in the holy city, where the Muslim pilgrims attempt to visit while passing from the city during the "Hajj season" (one of the Islamic religious practices). Third, "Masjid Al Nabawi," or "The Prophet's Mosque," is one of the most important mosques for the Islamic state. Lastly, Sultana Road and Safiya Bint Abd Al Moutalib Street are two main streets in Madinah. Throughout the research, the influence of the English language will be compared to the other languages presented in the signs. The research focuses on a new attempt to expand the scope of linguistic landscape studies, revealing the important role the English language has introduced in the descriptive signs using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Moreover, the quantitative part of the research will present the languages used in Madinah's signs and attempt to prove the English language's broader effect and the secondary effect of the other languages in the noted signs of the proposed locations. In addition to the quantitative part of the research, a questionnaire will be distributed to 150 people to find their observations. Finally, a qualitative section will be given in which short interviews about the proposed areas of research to give a more comprehensive idea to the readers about the distribution of the multilingual signs and reveal the opinions of the interviewed targeted people about the chosen languages in the signs.