The Representation of Unity, Social Sustainability, and National Identity in the Linguistic Landscape of Doha, Qatar

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the ways in which the linguistic landscape of a territory might be influenced by socio-political changes and movements to ensure social and cultural sustainability. To this end, this article reports on a study that examined the linguistic landscape of Doha after certain social and political changes since 2017. Further, this study aimed to examine how messages about power, unity sustainability, and national identity were communicated through the use of monolingual and bilingual signs in Doha. The article concludes that sudden socio-political changes can exert an influence on the linguistic landscape, and the linguistic landscape can be used as a tool for communicating messages about unity, sustainability, power and national identity. Moreover, the findings of this study suggest that the linguistic landscape can be used to maintain and improve social and cultural sustainability. © 2022 by the authors.