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In:New Perspectives on Mauritian Creole and Reunion Creole: Standardization, grammar and language use
Edited by Muhsina Alleesaib and Julie Lefort
[Contact Language Library 61] 2025
► pp. 229–259

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Chapter 8
Language contact in writing

Exploring the linguistic landscape of Mauritius

 | University of Oxford
Published online: 7 April 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/coll.61.08dav
Abstract
Building on Bosquet-Ballah’s (2015) work, this small-scale study takes both a quantitative and qualitative approach to the linguistic landscape of Mauritius to investigate whether place affects the languages present. Sample areas in Port Louis, the capital, Ebene, a newly-developed business area, and Flic-en-Flac, a tourist village were analysed. English signage was high in all areas (80% of all signs), French was less visible in Ebene (30.61%) and most present in Flic-en-Flac (57.45%). Creole signage was consistently low in all areas (7–8%). Creole played a metaphorical role in Flic-en-Flac to signal Mauritian authenticity to tourists, but in Port Louis it had a situational function to reach locals. This study provides an insight into the Mauritian multilingual situation, examining the functions of different languages in public spaces.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Linguistic situation
  • 3.Theoretical background
  • 4.Methodology
  • 5.Analysis
    • 5.1Quantitative findings
      • 5.1.1Introduction
      • 5.1.2Languages present on signs in Port Louis, Ebene and Flic-en-Flac
      • 5.1.3Chi-square test of independence for languages present
      • 5.1.4Discussion of results for languages present
      • 5.1.5Sign features on signs containing English, French and Creole
      • 5.1.6Chi-square test of independence for sign features
      • 5.1.7Conclusions from quantitative findings
    • 5.2Qualitative findings
      • 5.2.1Introduction
      • 5.2.2Comparison of pharmacies
        • 5.2.2.1Port Louis
        • 5.2.2.2Ebene
        • 5.2.2.3Flic-en-Flac
        • 5.2.2.4Summary
      • 5.2.3The role of Creole in Port Louis, Ebene and Flic-en-Flac
        • 5.2.3.1Port Louis
        • 5.2.3.2Ebene
        • 5.2.3.3Flic-en-Flac
        • 5.2.3.4Summary
  • 6.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
References (27)
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