Nanning Linguistic Landscape Dataset: Translanguaging in Urban Tourism

This study investigates the translanguaging strategies employed in the linguistic landscape(LL) of tourist attractions in Nanning, China. Drawing on a dataset of 889 signs collected from five major scenic sites, the study examines how multilingual, multimodal, and multisemiotic resources are deployed to convey information, represent local culture, and construct the city’s image. Each sign was cataloged in an Excel spreadsheet and coded for language type, sequencing, dominant code, and translanguaging strategies, with both quantitative and qualitative content analyses applied. The findings indicate that translanguaging is highly prevalent, with multilingual resources, such as translation, hybrid words, and transliteration, being most common, complemented by multimodal resources (e.g., text–image combinations, motion visuals, QR codes) and multisemiotic elements (e.g., ethnic motifs and cultural symbols). The study also reveals that these strategies are influenced by sociolinguistic hierarchies, policy frameworks, and the composition of tourist audiences, reflecting both functional communication needs and symbolic representation of local identity. Overall, this research highlights the complex interplay of language, semiotics, and social context in shaping the LL of urban tourism, offering insights into how cities use translanguaging to manage impressions and convey cultural identity.

本研究聚焦中国南宁旅游景区语言景观（linguistic landscape, LL）中所采用的跨语实践（translanguaging）策略。本研究依托从五大核心景区采集的889块标识牌数据集，考察如何调动多语言、多模态及多符号资源以传递信息、呈现本土文化并建构城市形象；所有标识牌均录入Excel电子表格，并就语言类型、序列排布、主导语码及跨语实践策略进行编码，同时采用定量与定性内容分析法开展研究。研究结果显示，跨语实践应用极为普遍，其中翻译、混合词汇、音译等多语言资源最为常见，辅以文本-图像组合、动态视觉内容、QR码等多模态资源，以及民族纹样、文化符号等多符号元素；本研究同时发现，此类策略受社会语言层级、政策框架及游客群体构成的影响，既契合功能性传播需求，也体现了本土身份的符号化表达。总体而言，本研究揭示了语言、符号学与社会语境在塑造城市旅游语言景观过程中的复杂交互作用，为理解城市如何通过跨语实践开展印象管理与传递文化身份提供了新的研究视角。