# data[].attributes.body
Their visibility and presence contributes towards the enrichment of linguistic diversity.and it solidifies the status of Kuala Lumpur as an embracing capital of diversity.

# data[].attributes.body
Arabic in particular is universal as it symbolises the Islamic identity, hence why some other minorities such as from South India use Arabic as well as a supporting linguistic identity to their signage.

# data[].attributes.body
Specific languages are used for specific target markets such as the use of Arabic language to attract Arab customers.

# data[].attributes.body
Minority communities such as Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Middle east also make up the diverse population of Kuala Lumpur.

# data[].attributes.body
Most signage emphasizes the use of Tamil of Devanagari script with the inclusion of its romanized version and English. Occasional use of Malay is also seen.

# data[].attributes.body
The presence of colors, images and music harmoniously accompany the surroundings of the environment

# data[].attributes.body
The assistance to the sign on the signage comes in the form of artistic images to further enhance the meaning of it.

# data[].attributes.body
It is the fourth major language used in Kuala Lumpur

# data[].attributes.body
However, most Chinese businesspersons are in favor of the implementation of multilingual signage and a balanced representation in general for the convenience of all in the context of local and international communication.

# data[].attributes.body
The signages visualize both the Chinese script and its romanized version as to attract Chinese customers in particular with English included and an occasional usage of Malay language.

# data[].attributes.body
It is the third major language and is widely used specifically in Kuala Lumpur mainly because of;

a) A large presence of the Chinese community.
b) Private businesses controlled and run by the Chinese community

# data[].attributes.body
The usage of other languages correlate directly with a definite commercial role and There are also ethnolinguistic aspect and identity marker to it.

# data[].attributes.body
therefore, we may infer that the very formation of signage policy that explicitly institutionalises and rationalises the dominance of Bahasa Melayu over all other Malaysian languages on signboards amounts to the profound role of the dynamics of language ideology and identity politics play in the construction of linguistic landscape

# data[].attributes.body
as Lanza and Woldemariam (2009, p. 189) postulate that 'Language ideologies serve to rationalize existing  social structures and dominant linguistic practices, particularly through their institutionalization in official language policy'.

# data[].attributes.body
• English language wields enormous value and is viewed as valuable social capital both at individual and state level.

# data[].attributes.body
• The bottom-up private language choices markedly differ from the top-down policies.

# data[].attributes.body
• The visual evidence reveals that the private signage has made extensive use of English language.

# data[].attributes.body
• English language performs a moderating role, facilitating communication across the length and breadth of the linguistic landscape.

# data[].attributes.body
• Such a significant role of the English language multiplies its potentially economic and transactional role in linguistic landscape discourses.

# data[].attributes.body
• Mahathir (1999, p. 40) emphasised on the use of the English language because it was inevitable for Malaysia ‘to compete on equal terms with the world’s most advanced countries.’

# data[].attributes.body
·       The English Language remains the most prominent language in the linguistic landscapes across the localities of the city.

# data[].attributes.body
• The official policies towards English have been one of constant fluctuation, reversals and re-reversals.

# data[].attributes.body
• Despite the overt and covert governmental emphasis on the usage of Bahasa Melayu signage.

# data[].attributes.body
• The English Language remains the most prominent language in the linguistic landscapes across the localities of the city.

# data[].attributes.body
other languages may be used but not at the cost of outshining Malay in prominence, visibility or saliency.

# data[].attributes.body
Mahathir Muhammad who ruled Malaysia for 22 years, early on in his political career, unambiguously underlined that all immigrants of the country should be willing to assimilate to the 'definitive race' in terms of language and culture for true national identity to be established especially in the early throes of nation-building (Mahathir, 1970, p. 134).

# data[].attributes.body
The reasons for declaring Malay as the national language are manifold. Asmah (1997, p. 15) argues that along with the establishment of a national identity, Malay was made the official language because of 'its role as lingua franca, its position as major language, its position of high literature, and the fact that it once had been an important language of administration and diplomacy in the Malay Archipelago'.

# data[].attributes.body
one cannot overlook the narratives of political consciousness, the upholding of a unified national identity and the insistence of Malay supremacy by the demographically dominant group.

# data[].attributes.body
Shohamy (2006, p. 110) explains that, 'The presence or absence of languages in public space communicates symbolic messages about the importance, power, significance, and relevance of certain languages or the irrelevance of others'.

# data[].attributes.headline
Other local languages – the ethnolinguistic dimension

# data[].attributes.subject
Other local languages – the ethnolinguistic dimension

# data[].attributes.headline
Status of English in linguistic landscape: the economic and commercial dimension

# data[].attributes.subject
Status of English in linguistic landscape: the economic and commercial dimension

# data[].attributes.headline
Status of Bahasa Melayu in linguistic landscape: the sociopolitical dimension

# data[].attributes.subject
Status of Bahasa Melayu in linguistic landscape: the sociopolitical dimension