Exploring Multilingualism on Rail Transportation: A Linguistic Landscape Analysis on Railway Stations and Trains in DAOP 9 Jember

Abstract

This study focuses on analyzing the patterns of English and multilingual use in DAOP 9, especially on signage at train stations and passenger train cars. The research approach includes the concepts of linguistic landscape, Signage Typology, Composition, Prominence, and Visibility framework. Data were collected through photographs of signage, which were categorized into four discourse types: regulative, infrastructural, commercial, and transgressive. The results show that multilingual signs are more common than monolingual signs, with Indonesian dominating followed by English. Indonesian is mostly used in monolingual signs, while English only appears in a few cases. Local languages are used exclusively in train announcements and are limited to major stations. This study gives insights into language use in DAOP 9, with an emphasis on the complexity of the interaction between multilingual signs, language policy, and signage implementation. It is advisable for PT KAI to adopt standardization in multilingual signage, especially in regulation and infrastructure. This shall improve the understanding and comfort of passengers, especially foreign travelers. This standardization will also help reduce errors and misunderstandings, increase train ridership efficiency, and improve the overall passenger experience. In addition, a thorough evaluation of station and train infrastructure is highly recommended to ensure compliance with diverse passenger demands and improve service quality. With these measures, DAOP 9 could be in a better position to serve the public and foreigners in the use of language in the context of railways.