The Master’s Program in Linguistics organized a field study for the course Anthropological Linguistics A on April 25, 2026, in the Pecinan and Kota Lama areas of Semarang, Central Java. This activity forms part of an academic initiative to integrate theoretical knowledge with field-based practice through direct observation of linguistic phenomena in public spaces.
The areas of Pecinan, Kota Lama, and Pasar Johar were selected as research sites due to their rich colonial history and complex cultural acculturation. These locations represent the intersection of Chinese, Arab, Javanese, and European cultures, which collectively shape Semarang’s distinctive identity. In terms of linguistic landscape, the Pecinan area demonstrates a dominance of Mandarin on shop signage, reflecting the strong ethnic identity and ideological presence of the Chinese community. In contrast, the Kota Lama area predominantly features Indonesian and English as languages of tourism, despite its deeply rooted colonial past.
Linguistic phenomena in public spaces are closely intertwined with economic interests, ideological expressions, and the negotiation of social identity. Beyond the visual landscape, spoken interactions in areas such as Pasar Johar also reveal compelling dynamics. Traders and buyers frequently engage in code-switching between Javanese (ngoko and krama), Indonesian, and localized Semarang vocabulary. This practice reflects social solidarity and interethnic familiarity in everyday communication.
Spatial functions also influence the linguistic landscape temporally. During the daytime, Pasar Johar is dominated by local interactions using Javanese and Indonesian. By contrast, in the evening, the area transforms into a culinary hub characterized by illuminated signage in Indonesian and English targeting younger visitors and tourists. This shift highlights the dynamic and contextual nature of linguistic landscapes.
From a methodological perspective, students encountered challenges in interpreting cross-script linguistic signs, particularly the use of Hanzi characters in the Pecinan area, which are not always accompanied by Latin transliteration. This condition provides opportunities for deeper analysis of signs as symbols of cultural identity rather than merely informational tools.
The field study aims to enhance critical thinking and research interest among the 2025 cohort of Master’s students in Linguistics, document local wisdom within the community, and apply anthropological linguistic theories in real-world contexts. Students were divided into four groups, each consisting of four to five members, to conduct field observation and data collection.
As an expected outcome, the activity targets the development of a draft book chapter comprising four scholarly articles based on students’ research. Each article addresses a distinct topic derived from findings in the Pecinan and Kota Lama areas.
Through this activity, students are expected to gain a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between language, culture, and public space, while also producing meaningful scholarly contributions to the field of anthropological linguistics.