LEBANON’S LANGUAGE TRILOGY: THE USE OF FRENCH, ENGLISH, AND ARABIC IN THE LINGUISTIC LANDSCAPE OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN RAS BEIRUT, ASHRAFIEH, AND GHAZIEH

Abstract

Lebanon's multifaceted history has paved the way for an ever-transforming landscape and identity. Using a linguistic landscape (LL) approach, this study examines the use of English, French, and Arabic in the signs of privately-owned shops in three neighborhoods in Lebanon. These include Ras Beirut, which is home to the American University of Beirut (AUB), Ashrafieh, which is home to Saint Joseph University (USJ), as well as the southern town of Ghazieh, located 4.9 kilometers south of the city of Saida. Ghazieh has had no influence from Western missionaries throughout its history and has no universities present in its locality, making it of interest to the study for the purpose of comparing the use of foreign languages on shop signs in Lebanon. The study aims to provide insight into the role of globalization and the spread of the English language and its impact on commercial considerations in shaping the linguistic landscape of Lebanon.