Language Choice and Use on the Linguistic Landscapes of a Teacher Training College in Rwanda

The presence of languages on signage in a given territory indicates their relevance, the attitudes that writers have towards them, and the reasons why they have been chosen for the landscape. This paper thematically analyses the language choice and use on the linguistic landscape of a Teacher Training College (TTC) in Rwanda. It adopted a descriptive research design, guided by Spolsky and Copper's (1991) Model of Language Choice. The target population comprised signposts located in the selected secondary school. Qualitative data were collected using a camera, 9 signposts were purposively selected. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings indicated that the Kinyarwanda language is infrequently utilised in the linguistic milieu of the educational institution. The messages employed in Kinyarwanda are intended to raise awareness among support staff regarding the importance of maintaining cleanliness and orderliness within the school environment. The linguistic landscape of the investigated school also has English-only signage requesting the use of English by students and teachers within the school compound as a language of instruction and medium of international communication. In addition, signposts containing French are translated or coded in English, thus demonstrating that both languages hold equal importance within the school compound. The research revealed the absence of Kiswahili from signposts in the school, despite its status as official language and taught subject in the Teaching Modern Languages Option. This phenomenon may have arisen from a protracted negative attitude among Rwandan citizens towards Kiswahili, or from school leaders who do not possess proficiency in Kiswahili. It recommended that awareness sessions be held with school leaders in Rwanda to emphasise the importance of multilingualism in the country's development. The implementation of multilingualism in Rwanda is contingent upon the cultivation of a positive attitude towards the country's official languages within educational institutions. It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education to establish a set of guidelines that will enable schools to promote the learning of all languages on signs within the school environment.

Language choice, language use, linguistic landscape, Teacher Training College.

1. Allard, E. C. (2017). Re-examining teacher translanguaging: An ecological perspective. Bilingual Research Journal, 40, 116–130. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Amara, M. (2018). Palestinian schoolscapes in Israel. Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education, 3(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40862-018-0047-1 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Andriyanti, E. (2021). Social meanings in school linguistic landscape: A geosemiotic approach. KEMANUSIAAN: The Asian Journal of Humanities, 28(2), 105–134. https://doi.org/10.21315/kajh2021.28.2.5 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Ajayi-Ayodele, T. A. (2025). Nigerian culture and globalization: Influence of TikTok video contents on the promotion of Nigerian cultural values among Nigerian students. Journal of African History, Culture and Arts, 5(1). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Artawa, K., et al. (2023). Language choice and multilingualism on restaurant signs: A linguistic landscape analysis. International Journal of Society, Culture and Language, 11(3). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Benedicto, G. (2022). The linguistic landscape of regional hospitals in Tanzania: Reasons for language choice on signage. International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.22161/ijels.72.19 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Bernardo-Hensley, S. (2020). Linguistic landscape in educational spaces. Journal of Culture and Values in Education, 3(2), 13–23. https://doi.org/10.46303/jcve.2020.10 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Blommaert, J., & Maly, I. (2014). Ethnographic linguistic landscape analysis and social change: A case study. Tilburg Papers in Culture Studies. Tilburg University. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Bruyèl-Olmedo, A., & Juan-Garau, M. (2009). English as a lingua franca in the linguistic landscape of the multilingual resort of Arenal in Mallorca. International Journal of Multilingualism, 6(4), 386–411. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Brown, K. D. (2012). The linguistic landscape of educational spaces: Language revitalization and schools in southeastern Estonia. In H. Marten, D. Gorter, & L. van Mensel (Eds.), Linguistic landscapes and minority languages (pp. 281–298). Palgrave. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Calovkova, S. (2019). Linguistic landscape. UDC 81’272. https://doi.org/10.31651/2226-4388-2019-26-124-129 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Chimerah, R. (2000). Kiswahili: Past, present and future horizons. Nairobi: University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Cormier, G. (2019). Translanguaging and linguistic landscapes: A study of Manitoban schoolscapes. Cahiers de l’ILOB, 10, 87–105. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Du Plessis, T. (2012). The role of language policy in linguistic landscape changes in rural areas of the Free State Province of South Africa. Studies in the Languages of Africa, 43(2). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Edelman, L. J. (2010). Linguistic landscape in the Netherlands: A study of multilingualism in Amsterdam (Unpublished master’s dissertation). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Franceschini, R. (2009). The genesis and development of research in multilingualism: Perspectives for future research. In A. Aronin & B. Hufeisen (Eds.), The exploration of bilingualism: Development of research. John Benjamins. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Fortuna, R. S. (2025). English teachers’ perspectives on the linguistic landscape: Implications for sustainable language planning and policy making. Center for Language Education, Asia Pacific University. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Frenz, D. D. C., et al. (2024). Exploring linguistic signage in higher education: An empirical study of a linguistically diverse context. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 6(1), 2049. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Gorter, D. (2006). Introduction: The study of the linguistic landscape as a new approach to multilingualism. Fryske Academy/Universiteit van Amsterdam. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Hameso, S. (1997). The language of education in Africa: The key issues. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 1(1), 1–13. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Juanzo, C. J. (2022). The construction of public space through language. International Journal of Linguistics and Translation Studies, 3(2). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Kabanza, F. (2009). L’enfant émigré et l’intégrationlinguistique et culturelle. Retrieved July 9, 2024, from www.reseau-canope.fr [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Kayigema, J. L., & Mutasa, D. E. (2017). The dynamism of English as a global language in post-genocide Rwanda. Indonesian EFL Journal, 3(1), 113–123. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Kimambo, G., &Mdukula, P. (2024). The linguistic landscape of tourism sites in Arusha, Kilimanjaro, and Manyara. Cogent Arts and Humanities, 11(1). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. King’ei, G. (2012). Language provisions in Kenya’s new constitution and their implications on language policy. Journal of Kiswahili, TUKI, University of Dar es Salaam. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Khohliso, X., et al. (2024). State of African languages teaching and learning in higher education in Kenya and South Africa. Journal of Languages and Language Teaching, 12(3), 1119–1136. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Kombo, D. K., & Tromp, D. L. A. (2006). Proposal and thesis writing: An introduction. Paulines Publications Africa. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Lanza, E., & Woldemariam, H. (2009). State ideology and linguistic landscape: Language policy and globalization in a regional capital of Ethiopia. In E. Shohamy& D. Gorter (Eds.), Linguistic landscape (pp. 189–204). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Lusekelo, A., &Alponce, C. (2018). The linguistic landscape of urban Tanzania. Journal of Language, Technology and Entrepreneurship in Africa, 9(1). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Muriungi, S. W., &Mudogo, B. A. (2021). Linguistic landscape in a multilingual context: A case of Kenyan universities. LLT Journal, 24(2). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Masezerano, W., &Niyirora, E. (2024). Language practices and the promotion of Kiswahili in Rwanda. African Journal of Empirical Research, 5(2), 912–922. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Mohammed, A., & Rasheed, S. (2019). Can English be considered to be a global language? University of Duhok, College of Languages. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Mutwarasibo, F. (2003). Dual-medium language of instruction policy and practices in Rwandan higher education (Unpublished MA thesis). University of the Witwatersrand. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda. (2022). The fifth Rwanda population and housing census: Main indicators report. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Ndabaga, E., &Tabaro, C. (2015). The rationale behind mother tongue policy in Rwanda. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 5(11), 139–147. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Niyibizi, E. (2010). An evaluation of the Rwandan trilingual policy (Unpublished MA thesis). University of South Africa. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Niyibizi, E. (2013). Foundation phase learners’ and teachers’ attitudes toward Rwanda’s language-in-education policy (PhD thesis). University of the Witwatersrand. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Niyomugabo, C. (2016). Teaching of Kiswahili in Rwandan secondary schools. Journal of the Institute of Kiswahili Studies, 79, 70–82. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

39. Noske, M. (2016). Multilingualism and language choice in Sub-Saharan Africa. Multilingual Matters. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

40. Omeni, R. G. (2024). The role of African languages in promoting intra-continental communication. African Leadership Magazine. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

41. Phillipson, R. (2015). English as threat or opportunity in European higher education. In S. Dimova, A. K. Hultgren, & C. Jensen (Eds.), English-medium instruction in European higher education (pp. 19–42). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

42. Rao, P. S. (2019). The role of English as a global language. Research Journal of English, 4(1). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

43. Reintegrado-Celino, & Bernardo. (2023). From signage to language ideologies. Asian Journal of English Language Studies, 11: 212-223. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

44. Rosendal, T. (2009). Linguistic markets in Rwanda. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 30(1), 19–39. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

45. Rosendal, T. (2010). Languages in competition in Rwanda. Language Matters. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

46. Rosendal, T., &Ngabonziza, J. D. A. (2023). Language policy, ideology and power in Rwanda’s linguistic landscape. Language Policy, 22, 73–94. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

47. Rusanganwa, S. (2012). The absence of Kinyarwanda in Rwanda’s language policy. Journal of Pan-African Studies, 5(8). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

48. Sciriha, L., & Vassallo, M. (2001). Malta: A linguistic landscape. University of Malta. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

49. Shohamy, E. (2006). Imagined multilingual schools. In O. García, T. Skutnabb-Kangas, & M. Torres-Guzmán (Eds.), Imagining multilingual schools (pp. 171–183). Multilingual Matters. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

50. Spolsky, B., & Cooper, R. L. (1991). The languages of Jerusalem. Oxford University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

51. Wa Mberia, K. (2015). The place of indigenous languages in African development. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 2(5). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

52. Widiyanto, H., et al. (2021). Advertisement text in school linguistic landscapes. Mabasan, 15(1), 35–54. https://doi.org/10.26499/mab.v15i1.422 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Synonymy in the Songs of Ummaru Bagobiri: A Contextual Linguistics Analysis
• Aspect of Compounding and Affixation in Bassa-Nge
• Kinayah (Metonymy) in Malay: An Analysis Based on the Science of Balaghah
• Optimality Theory: Application of Dahl’s law in Kindia
• Selling Diversity: The Politics of Representation in Global Advertising