Using Semi-structured Interviews in Qualitative Research: A Case of the Maintenance of Social Order in the Linguistic Landscape of Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Qualitative research uses several techniques to collect data, and interviews top the list. The current research will shed light on using semi-structured interviews in linguistic landscape studies. Linguistic landscape is the visibility of languages in public spaces (Landry & Bourhis, 1997). This study examined how social order is maintained through public signboards in eight public areas in the linguistic landscape of Islamabad, including two parks, two hospitals, two shopping malls, and the city airport and railway station. Following (Schiffrin et al., 2001), linguistic structures 'beyond the sentence' were examined by analyzing the interview data obtained from eight local people and eight authorities. The authorities believed they could not maintain social order due to how the common people behaved in public areas, blaming the local people for not following public signboards. It elucidated their power as authorities. The local people, on the other hand, believed there was an excess of negation on signboards, which inclines them even more to disregard what is written on signboards. Conclusively, this study can help to bridge the communication gap between the authorities and common people in Pakistan. The study recommends revising language used on public signboards to reduce harsh wording, favoring positive expressions.