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Article published In: Linguistic Landscape
Vol. 10:2 (2024) ► pp.111–135

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Language policy and national identity evolution in a new nation

A Timorese Linguistic Landscape revisited

ORCiD logo with link | Victoria University of Wellington
Published online: 16 November 2023
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/ll.23025.mac
Abstract
Previous studies of the Linguistic Landscape in Timor-Leste conducted over a decade ago found Portuguese language use dominated official signage, although English dominated overall through its presence on commercial signs, especially those targeting the more affluent parts of society. This innovative study revisits a previously examined LL in order to investigate changes in language practice over time, with particular attention to how the recently independent nation expresses its national identity in public spaces and how language policy decisions have taken effect. The findings show that the visibility of Portuguese has increased while that of English has reduced. This suggests that being Portuguese-speaking may be aligned with expressions of Timorese identity. Further, while multiple languages are found in the LL, of the indigenous languages only Tetun, one of the two official languages of Timor-Leste, has a presence. This may raise concerns about the vitality of those other indigenous languages.
Abstract (Tetun)
Estudu kona ba paizajen linguístika iha Timor-Leste ne’ebé halo iha dékada ida liu ba deskobre língua Portugés domina sinalizasaun ofisiál, maski jeralmente língua Inglés mak domina liu hosi ninia prezensa iha sinál komersiál, liuliu sira ne’ebé foka ba parte sosiedade riku. Estudu inovativu ne’e hare fila fali estudu ida antes kona ba paizajen linguístika hodi investiga mudansa iha prátika língua loron ba loron, ho atensaun espesífiku ba oinsá nasaun ne’ebé foin ukun an hato’o nia identidade nasionál iha fatin públiku no oinsá efeitu hosi desizaun polítika kona ba língua. Rezultadu hatudu katak vizibilidade Portugés aumenta maski Inglés redús. Ne’e sujere katak hatene ko’alia língua Portugés bele aliña ho espresaun identidade timoroan. Aleinde ne’e, maski língua oin-oin mak deskobre iha paizajen linguístika, língua rai-na’in hotu laiha ne’ebá, só Tetun de’it, ne’ebé hanesan mós Timor-Leste nia língua ofisiál ida. Ne’e bele hamosu preokupasaun kona ba forsa hosi língua rai-na’in sira seluk.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Languages in Timor-Leste
  • 3.Linguistic Landscape research and Timor-Leste
    • 3.1Introduction
    • 3.2Research context
    • 3.3Data generation
    • 3.4Data analysis
  • 4.Findings
  • 5.Discussion
    • 5.1The Languages
    • 5.2The actors
    • 5.3Identity in the LL
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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