Decoding Urban Identity through Multimodal Linguistic Landscapes: A Dual-Layer Semiotic Analysis of Kagoshima's Tourism-Oriented Language Practices

Authors

  • Jingyi Duan

    School of Japanese Language, Literature and Culture, Beijing International Studies University, Beijing 100024, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i10.10528
Received: 16 June 2025 | Revised: 28 July 2025 | Accepted: 11 August 2025 | Published Online: 24 September 2025

Abstract

This study aims to explore how multimodal language landscapes construct the image of a city, taking the tourism core area of Kagoshima City, Japan as an example. Innovatively proposed the analytical framework of "code function layer - symbol and representation layer". Through stratified systematic sampling, 120 language signs were collected. Combined with quantitative and qualitative methods for analysis, it was found that: (1) The functional layer of the code shows a gradient configuration. The higher the information necessity and risk cost, the stronger the multilingual coverage rate. (2) The symbolic layer is a strategic expression of cultural identity. The deeper the public nature and cultural attributes of the sign, the more prominent the symbolic meaning. Kagoshima has established a functional and symbolic synergy system through multilingual standardization and symbolic innovation (the in-depth dissemination of culture is still restricted by the choice of codes), and strategically transformed dialect signs and local symbols into "cultural decorations" to enhance tourists' perception of regional characteristics ("Kagoshima") and shape the city's image. This study provides a new perspective for understanding language landscapes as the product of the interaction between instrumental rationality and identity politics, and offers practical inspirations for optimizing language services in small and medium-sized tourist cities and promoting the construction of urban images in the integration of culture and tourism. The limitation lies in the fact that the case is a single Japanese city, and the universality of the conclusion needs further verification.

Keywords:

Linguistic Landscape; Urban Image; Multilingual Environment; Kagoshima

References

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How to Cite

Duan, J. (2025). Decoding Urban Identity through Multimodal Linguistic Landscapes: A Dual-Layer Semiotic Analysis of Kagoshima’s Tourism-Oriented Language Practices. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(10), 179–195. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i10.10528

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Vol. 7 , Iss. 10 (October 2025): In progress

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Article

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