Virtual Linguistics Landscape in Smart City: A Study of the Government Websites of Malang City, Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24071/joll.v26i2.2122Keywords:
virtual linguistic landscape, smart city, government website, language policyAbstract
Studies on virtual linguistic landscape (VLL) are becoming increasingly popular globally. However, there are few VLL studies have specifically examined top-down official government websites, particularly in the Indonesian context. This study examines the virtual linguistic landscape on the official website of the Malang City Government, one of the Indonesian cities implementing a smart city. Through a qualitative analysis of the language used on the official website of the Malang City Government (malangkota.go.id), this study attempts to uncover the dominant language used on the website, along with its informative and symbolic functions. The results indicate that Indonesian is the dominant and default language used to operate and present content on the website. The use of Indonesian as the default language aligns with Indonesian regulations that require Indonesian as the official language. However, the website also uses English and local languages. The use of Indonesian represents the informative function because it facilitates the delivery of information to users who predominantly speak Indonesian. This aligns with the concept of a smart city, which embodies the dimensions of smart governance, smart society, and smart living. Meanwhile, the symbolic function relates to adherence to and identity of the national language, as well as prestige, a sign of prosperity, and a sign of modernity.
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