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Article published In:
Linguistic Landscape
Vol. 5:1 (2019) ► pp.1–27

YaskoT 7OKM EL3aSKaR

Variable code choice in post-revolution Egyptian protest signs

| Georgetown University
This paper presents an analysis of the linguistic contents of political protest signs that were erected at sit-in sites in Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt, during the summer of 2011. Sign authors employed a wide variety of linguistic codes and symbolic visual resources to subvert state authority, urge fellow citizens to action, and advocate a number of other political goals. Drawing on the methodology of Linguistic Landscape (LL) studies, the current effort investigates the relationship between linguistic code and factors such as sign location, medium, length, and thematic content. Multinomial logistic regression analysis reveals a significant relationship between sign code and medium, for example, as handwritten signs show more linguistic diversity than printed signs. Qualitative analysis focuses on sign authors, use of the symbolic and semiotic resources associated with these codes. This study of the ephemeral, transitory LL of Egyptian sit-in sites demonstrates the many and varied ways in which citizen sign authors manipulate concepts of formality, code choice, and imagery to encourage audiences to take up their messages as resources for social action in their own worlds.
Keywords: Arabic, Linguistic Landscape, Egypt, Colloquial Arabic, Arabizi, political protest, sign, code, semiotics
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Linguistic Landscapes
    • 1.2Operationalizing code choice
  • 2.Methodology
    • 2.1Context of the study
    • 2.2Description of the data
    • 2.3Data coding
    • 2.4Thematic categories
      • 2.4.1Criticism of the state
      • 2.4.2Justice for the martyrs
      • 2.4.3Exalting the revolution and Egypt
      • 2.4.4Invocation of religion
      • 2.4.5Demands of the revolution
  • 3.Results
    • 3.1Regression analysis
  • 4.Examples
  • 5.Discussion
    • 5.1“Formal” vs “informal” writing
    • 5.2Symbolic role of MSA
    • 5.3Social functions of ECA and Arabizi
    • 5.4Physical positioning of codes
    • 5.5Informational role of English
  • 6.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 7 March 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/ll.18003.rai
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