The linguistic landscape of classical gardens in Suzhou, China: A sociolinguistic perspective on the production and consumption of the Humble Administrator’s Garden

Abstract

Despite the rapid growth of linguistic landscape studies, research on tourist destinations in China remains limited. This study explores the linguistic landscape of Classical Gardens of Suzhou, focusing on the Humble Administrator’s Garden as a case study. It examines the diversity and characteristics of Chinese and English signs, their relationships with the surrounding environment, the strategies employed in sign production, and how signs are interpreted and evaluated by tourists. The study adopts theoretical frameworks from geosemiotics, ethnographic linguistic landscape analysis, and multimodal analysis. Findings reveal distinct contrasts between the Chinese and English linguistic landscapes. Chinese signage is characterised by a rigorous production process, emphasising the historical and cultural significance of the garden. These signs are intricately connected to their surroundings, reflecting the garden’s rich cultural heritage. Conversely, English signs primarily serve functional purposes, with simpler production processes and fewer signs overall, largely due to the absence of translations for many culturally significant elements. Literal translations of some culture-specific content result in inadequate representation of the garden’s cultural depth. In addition to providing a comprehensive analysis of the linguistic landscape of the Humble Administrator’s Garden, the study develops a ‘sign production and consumption’ conceptual framework. This framework, along with methodological insights into the relationship between signs and place, offers valuable tools for future linguistic landscape research and practical guidance for designing and constructing effective signage in culturally significant locations.