The Linguistic Landscape of Regional Hospitals in Tanzania: Language Choice on Signage

Abstract

The study aimed at identifying the language choice on the signage and assessing the outpatients and their aides’ views on the language choice on the signage in regional hospitals, namely Bukoba and Sekou Toure. The study was guided by language choice theory on the signage where qualitative approach was employed. Data were gathered through observation and interview methods. Thirty-six respondents who were hospital management teams, medical care providers, patients and their aides were involved. The study findings reveal that there were two languages on the signage including Kiswahili and English where Kiswahili was predominant. This indicates the linguistic landscape of the selected hospitals suits the targeted people though it excludes some clients who cannot understand Kiswahili. The study recommends that there is a great need of using two languages on the signage and establishing a clear national policy on language choice on the signage. This will help to direct, inform, educate, warn and instruct the clients around the hospital surroundings.