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The Korean Association for the Study of English Language and Linguistics
[ Article ]
Korea Journal of English Language and Linguistics - Vol. 26, No. 0, pp.286-306
ISSN: 1598-1398 (Print) 2586-7474 (Online)
Print publication date 28 Feb 2026
Received 03 Nov 2025 Revised 05 Jan 2026 Accepted 09 Feb 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15738/kjell.26..202602.286

The Commodification of Language in the Linguistic Landscape: A Case of Commercial Signage of an Urban Space in Korea

Kanghee Lee
Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Literature Korea National University of Transportation 50 Daehakro, Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea, Tel: +82-31-460-0631 kangheelee0919@ut.ac.kr


© 2026 KASELL All rights reserved
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

This study examined the linguistic landscape (LL) of Ikseon-dong, analyzing the use of English on shop signs from the perspective of commodification of language. The findings reveal that English is extensively employed in various forms of language distribution, arrangement, and combination with other linguistic codes on shop signs. In the commercial signs in Ikseon-dong, English functions as a marketable commodity, holding a privileged status in today’s globalized world, particularly within commercial domains. It serves a practical role as a lingua franca for non-Korean sign readers, facilitating business promotion and market expansion. Moreover, in commercial signage, English acts as an influential marketing strategy, enhancing profitability and attracting customers by conveying positive symbolic meanings and adding value to products or businesses. English was used not only for shop naming but also as the sole medium of offering business details, thereby serving a strong informative function. This phenomenon is associated with the rise of English literacy and bilingualism in Korea, leading to Korean consumers’ construction of modern identity, which is associated with internationalism, progress, and innovation. The study sheds light on the intricate socio-linguistic dynamics of the LL in Ikseon-dong, where English serves both as an informative tool and a symbolic commodity.

Keywords:

linguistic landscape, commodification of language, English, informative function, modern identity

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