The visible languages on landscape linguistics in primary schools in Kupang and the implementation of education language policy

Abstract

This article discusses the use of language in primary schools in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (ENT), Indonesia, to reveal the representation of national, foreign, and local languages in the public space of primary schools as a form of implementing several language policies in primary education institutions within the framework of the linguistic landscape approach. This approach is based on the understanding that the use of language in an educational environment is for language learning in the early stages of a child’s language learning. Data was obtained through observation, interviews, and documentation studies of language policies. Data was found for 998 photos consisting of four languages: Indonesian, English, Arabic, Kupang Malay, and Spanish. The results of the research show that the strength of Indonesia is related to the implementation of the national curriculum; the use of English is because it belongs to local content subjects, Arabic is found only in private schools under the funding of the Muslim Foundation, while Spanish is found in schools under the Catholic Foundation to symbolize the origin country of the school’s congregation founder. There is limited use of local languages in LL primary schools indicating the marginalization of local languages in the education ecology in Kupang. It is hoped that this study can provide meaningful input for local government regarding the importance of ENT local language policies in the educational environment as formal support for the revitalization program of local languages through education and helping students learn to read or write at an early stage.

Keywords

• Landscape linguistic
• Kupang’s primary schools
• public signs
• education language policy
• Jeroen van de Weijer, Shenzhen University, China
• Applied Linguistics