International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

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A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

Call for Paper Volume 6 Issue 6 November-December 2024 Submit your research before last 3 days of December to publish your research paper in the issue of November-December.

Urban Language Practices in a UNESCO World Heritage Site: A Case Study of George Town, Penang

Author(s) Azar Firdaus Yusof, Rita Abdul Rahman Ramakrishna
Country Malaysia
Abstract The case of multilingual and multicultural George Town World Heritage Site (GTWHS) illustrates that language practices among its urban community are varied across different settings and interlocutors. The study aims to identify current language practices in GTWHS, particularly those influenced by urban space and repertoires. Using a mixed-method research design, the study included a sample size of 156 respondents and covered areas in both the Core and Buffer Zones of George Town, Penang. Data analysis then comprises discussions on language repertoires of the interlocutors within the domains of the respective social interactions. Findings of the study show that the use of English, Malay, Mandarin and code-switching are several of the patterns of language use that can be observed in the city. The ability to style shift among the respondents is also indicative of language patterns that interact with both the physical and social settings that they belong to. As a result, these language practices can be fluid in order to facilitate the needs of the communicative activities as the interlocutors relocate themselves in different spaces or domains within the George Town city. More importantly, the study highlights heterogenous populace, linguistic repertoire and cultural practices as determinants that further characterise the overall cityscape of urban social environment and its speech community.
Keywords George Town, language practices, settings, urban space, repertoires
Field Sociology > Linguistic / Literature
Published In Volume 6, Issue 4, July-August 2024
Published On 2024-08-31
Cite This Urban Language Practices in a UNESCO World Heritage Site: A Case Study of George Town, Penang - Azar Firdaus Yusof, Rita Abdul Rahman Ramakrishna - IJFMR Volume 6, Issue 4, July-August 2024. DOI 10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i04.26475
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i04.26475
Short DOI https://doi.org/gt8g44

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