@article{ART003189167},
author={Shim, Young-Sook},
title={Online discourse analysis of English-only menu controversy},
journal={The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea},
issn={1226-4822},
year={2025},
volume={33},
number={1},
pages={53-82}
TY - JOUR
AU - Shim, Young-Sook
TI - Online discourse analysis of English-only menu controversy
JO - The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea
PY - 2025
VL - 33
IS - 1
PB - The Sociolinguistic Society Of Korea
SP - 53
EP - 82
SN - 1226-4822
AB - This study examines public perceptions and language ideologies regarding English use in Korea‘s linguistic landscape by analyzing 2,191 online news comments concerning the English-only menu controversy in 2023. The analysis reveals that negative comments (89%) significantly outnumbered accepting ones (11%). Critical responses view English use as displaying pretentiousness and cultural subservience while posing a threat to Korean linguistic and cultural identity. Critics raise concerns regarding language use, such as incorrect English usage, inconsistent bilingual practices, and discrepancies between displayed and actual proficiency. They also point to issues of information accessibility and the broader trend of excessive English use in Korean society. By contrast, accepting perspectives justify English menu use based on business owners’ autonomy, strategic marketing, the basic comprehensibility of the English used, and the naturalness of English use in the global era. The findings highlight that monolingualism prevails, with English perceived as distinctly “foreign,” while also revealing contradictions in public attitudes, including overreliance on foreign validation of Korean, conflicting views on linguistic hierarchy, and ambivalent attitudes toward English proficiency. This study contributes to a better understanding of public perceptions of English in Korea‘s linguistic landscape and the ideological dynamics underlying language choice in public spaces.
KW - English-only menu;linguistic landscape;language ideology;language identity;bilingual practices
DO -
UR -
ER -
Shim, Young-Sook. (2025). Online discourse analysis of English-only menu controversy. The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea, 33(1), 53-82.
Shim, Young-Sook. 2025, "Online discourse analysis of English-only menu controversy", The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea, vol.33, no.1 pp.53-82.
Shim, Young-Sook "Online discourse analysis of English-only menu controversy" The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea 33.1 pp.53-82 (2025) : 53.
Shim, Young-Sook. Online discourse analysis of English-only menu controversy. 2025; 33(1), 53-82.
Shim, Young-Sook. "Online discourse analysis of English-only menu controversy" The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea 33, no.1 (2025) : 53-82.
Shim, Young-Sook. Online discourse analysis of English-only menu controversy. The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea, 33(1), 53-82.
Shim, Young-Sook. Online discourse analysis of English-only menu controversy. The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea. 2025; 33(1) 53-82.
Shim, Young-Sook. Online discourse analysis of English-only menu controversy. 2025; 33(1), 53-82.
Shim, Young-Sook. "Online discourse analysis of English-only menu controversy" The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea 33, no.1 (2025) : 53-82.
