Odesa in Diachronic and Synchronic Studies of Urban Linguistic Landscapes of Ukraine Conducted between 2015 and 2019

A study of Odesa's linguistic landscape between 2015 and 2019 reveals that the city's polyethnic identity and de facto language policy, prioritizing Russian as a lingua franca, persist despite official Ukrainization efforts. While compliance with state language policies was observed in central streets, Russian dominance increased away from the city center, reflecting globalized trends and resistance to state language mandates. The research, combining diachronic and synchronic analyses of public signage with semi-structured interviews, also highlights a rise in English use as an alternative to the state language. This mixed-methods approach provides insights into power dynamics, values, and language politics in Ukraine's urban spaces.

L’nyavskiy, S. (2022). Odesa in Diachronic and Synchronic Studies of Urban Linguistic Landscapes of Ukraine Conducted between 2015 and 2019. East/West: Journal of Ukrainian Studies, 9(2), 93–143. https://doi.org/10.21226/ewjus599