Linguistic Landscapes and Signages in Focus: A Synthesized Self-Review of Multi Context Research (2021-2025)

Abstract

This systematic review (SR) synthesizes empirical research conducted by the author between 2021 and 2025 on linguistic landscapes (LLs) in Saudi Arabia and selected international contexts, with a focus on the linguistic, translational, semiotic, and sociocultural dimensions of commercial and public signage. Drawing on four thematic clusters, morphosyntactic and orthographic issues, cross linguistic errors by human translators and AI, globalization and English hegemony, and sociocultural identities in naming practices, the corpus demonstrates that Arabic shop names, product names, and bilingual LLs frequently contain semantic, syntactic, and orthographic anomalies, and that transliteration remains the dominant strategy even when translation is possible or preferable. English and other foreign languages exert a strong presence in commercial naming, reflecting globalization as well as local perceptions of prestige, modernity, and marketability. Cultural identity is deeply embedded in naming practices, particularly in hotel names in Makkah and Madinah, where religious, historical, and spiritually connoted references are especially prominent. The corpus further reveals that AI systems fail to translate culturally embedded naming patterns such as Abu brand names, often producing literal or culturally inappropriate equivalents that highlight the limitations of AI translation in LL contexts. The findings also show that LLs are not random or superficial but are shaped by systemic, cultural, and ideological forces that influence how languages coexist in public space. Transliteration errors and structural anomalies indicate gaps in linguistic awareness among shop owners, manufacturers, and transliterators, while translation errors reflect inconsistent practices, lack of standardization, and reliance on literal strategies, particularly in bottom up signage. The AI related findings demonstrate that current AI tools frequently misinterpret culturally bound names, underscoring the need for culturally informed computational models in LL translation. The dominance of English emerges as a sociolinguistic response to globalization, where English is associated with prestige, internationalism, and consumer appeal, even as hotel names in Makkah and Madinah illustrate how LLs can simultaneously reinforce local identity and heritage. Overall, this SR highlights the importance of commercial and public signage as a site of linguistic inquiry and offers recommendations for transliteration standardization, translation quality control, balanced language policy, and expanded cross national LL research.