LANGUAGE POLICY IN THE LINGUISTIC LANDSCAPE OF A WORLD-CLASS UNIVERSITY: A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITAS AIRLANGGA

Abstract

Linguistic Landscape (LL) studies investigate the use of language on public signage as a reflection of identity, language policy, and power dynamics within a community. Despite the ongoing expansion of LL research in Indonesia, investigations into the linguistic landscape within "World-Class Universities" remain scarce. This study seeks to examine language utilization and sign classifications within the linguistic environment of Universitas Airlangga. A qualitative descriptive methodology was utilized, incorporating observational and documentation approaches. A total of 510 linguistic signs were gathered from the public spaces of Universitas Airlangga's Campuses A, B, and C, and were subsequently analysed according to language type and sign category. The findings reveal that the university's linguistic environment is mostly characterized by monolingual Indonesian signs (74.9%), followed by bilingual Indonesian-English signs (17.9%) and monolingual English signs (7.2%); no multilingual signs were identified. In terms of classification, building name signs constituted the largest share at 55.5%, followed by prohibition and order signs at 20.6%, informative signs at 12.7%, directional signs at 10.8%, and slogans at 0.4%. The findings indicate that the prevalence of Indonesian signifies the implementation of the national language policy, whilst the use of English reflects Universitas Airlangga's global orientation as a World-Class University. This study advances the field of Linguistic Landscape research in the context of higher education in Indonesia.