This paper examines the linguistic landscape of two main train stations in Metro Manila, Philippines. Using Ben-Rafael et al.’s (2006) notion of top-down and bottom-up signs and Scollon and Scollon’s (2003) concept of place semiotics, the paper seeks to determine the languages used, the ways these languages are used, and the possible explanations to the ways these languages are used in the 76 signs found in the two stations. The paper shows that English and Filipino languages are mainly used in the signs; however, between the two languages, English dominates as there are overwhelmingly more signs in English only than in Filipino only. In signs where both languages (English-Filipino) are used, English is found to be more preferred than Filipino. The preferential use of English is indicated by writing the English versions either in the center, on top, or on the left of the English-Filipino signs, having more English words than Filipino ones; and emphasizing English words either by highlighting, underlining, circling, or capitalizing in English-Filipino Code Mixing signs. Given that the analyzed signs are found in the train stations, the paper concludes that English is used to exact two forms of “order”: one that makes readers “follow order” such as proper behaviors in train stations, and another that encourages readers to “make order” like buying food in commercial establishments in the areas. The effectiveness of English in purporting these “orders” among Filipinos may be explained by the positive attitude of Filipinos toward Americans. The use of English has not only been associated with the “progressive” American ideals of “enlightenment,” “democracy,” and “self-governance” (Lorente, 2007, p. 90) but also with anything that is “good” for the Filipino people. Thus, the dominant use of English in the signs in the train stations supposes that passengers will obey these signs or “orders” as doing so is beneficial not only for the self but also for all.
Keywords: Linguistic landscape of the Philippines, language of order, English in the PhilippinesLanza, E., & Woldemariam, H. (2009).Language ideology and linguistic landscape. In E. Shohamy, E. & D. Gorter (Eds.), Linguistic landscape: Expanding the scenery (pp. 189-205). New York: Routledge.
Leeman, J., & Modan, G. (2009).Commodified language in Chinatown: A contextualized approach to linguistic landscape. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 13(3), 332-362.
Lin, P. (2010). Dissecting multilingual Beijing: The space and scale of vernacular globalization. Visual Communication, 9(67), 167-190.
Lock, G. (2003). Being international, local and Chinese: Advertisements on the HongKong Mass Transit Railway. Visual Communication, 2(2), 195-214.
Lorente, B.P. (2007). Mapping English linguistic capital: The case of Filipino domestic workers in Singapore (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://scholarbank.nus.sg/bitstream/handle/10635/13320/Lorente.FINAL.Mapping%20English%20linguistic%20capital.pdf?sequence1
Mahboob, A., & Cruz, P. (2013). English and Mother-Tongue-Based Multilingual Education: Language attitudes in the Philippines. Asian Journal of English Language Studies, 1, 1-19.
Martin, I. P. (2012). Diffusion and directions: English language policy in the Philippines. In E. Low & A. Hashim (Eds.), English in Southeast Asia: Features, policy and language in use (pp. 189-206). doi: 10.1075/veaw.g42.16mar
Milne, R.S. (1963). The uniqueness of Philippine nationalism. Journal of Southeast Asian History, 4(1), 82-96. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20067422 MRT to extend operating hours to serve growing numbers of commuters. (2014, Feb.20). gmanetwork.com. Retrieved from
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/349314/news/metromanila/mrt-toextend-operating-hours-to-serve-growing-number-of-commuters
Nolasco, R.M. (2008). The prospects of multilingual education and literacy in the Philippines. Retrieved from http://www.seameo.org/_ld2008/doucments/Presentation_document/Nolasco
THE_PROSPECTS_OF_MULTILINGUAL_EDUCATION.pdf
Ogasawara, N. (2005). Review: Discourse/applied linguistics: Scollon & Scollon (2004). linguistlist.org. Retrieved from http://linguistlist.org/issues/16/16- 2276.html
Pascasio, E.M. (2005). The Filipino bilingual from a sociolinguistic perspective. In H. Liao & C. G. Rubino (Eds.), Current issues in Philippine linguistics and anthropology (pp. 136-145). Manila, PH: LSP and SIL. Retrieved from http://www01.sil.org/asia/philippines/books/CurrentIssues_2.7.pdf
Papen, U. (2012). Commercial discourses, gentrification and citizens’ protest: The linguistic landscape of Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 16(1), 56-80.
Piller, I. (2003). Advertising as a site of language contact. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 23, 170-183.
Quijano, Y.S., & Eustaquio, D.H. (2009). Language-in-education policies and their implementation in Philippine public schools. In K. Kosonen & C. Young (Eds.), Mother tongue as bridge language of instruction: Policies and experiences in Southeast Asia (pp. 84-92). Retrieved from
http://www.seameo.org/images/stories/Publications/Project_Reports/MT_com pendium_Final_Book-08-05-09.pdf
Recto LRT Station. (2013). tutorgigpedia.com. Retrieved from http://www.tutorgigpedia.com/ed/Recto_LRT_Station
Ricento, T. (2000). Historical and theoretical perspectives in language policy and planning. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 4(2), 196-213.
Rosendal, T. (2009). Linguistic markets in Rwanda: Language use in advertisements and on signs. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 30(1), 19-39.
Scollon, R., & Scollon, S.W. (2003). Discourses in place: Language in the material world. London: Routledge. Sign materials. (2014). signsbytomorrow.com. Retrieved from
http://www.signsbytomorrow.com/web/whatsyoursign/materials.aspx
Smith, L. (1992). Spread of English and issues of intelligibility. In B. Kachru (Ed.), The other tongue: English across cultures (pp. 75-90). Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press.
Stroud, C., & Mpendukana, S. (2009). Towards a material ethnography of linguistic landscape: Multilingualism, mobility and space in a South African township. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 13(3), 363-386.
Taft Avenue MRT Station. (2013). cyclopaedia.net. Retrieved from http://www.cyclopaedia.info/wiki/Taft-Avenue-MRT-Station
Taylor-Leech, K. (2012). Language choice as an index of identity: Linguistic landscape in Dili, Timor-Leste. International Journal of Multilingualism, 9(1), 15-34. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14790718.2011.583654