Language policy and linguistic landscaping in a contemporary blue-collar workplace in the Dutch–German borderland

Abstract This article argues that an expanded view of linguistic landscapes provides a useful metaphor for exploring language policies. Following this view, “language policy” is defined as “linguistic landscaping” (i.e., placing policy mechanisms which, together with already placed mechanisms, construct metaphorical landscape). The application landscaping has several advantages, it way to imagine continuously ongoing construction process, and the historical layers landscape, overlap connections between different landscapes, complex hierarchical positions within landscape. based on linguistic-ethnographic fieldwork in metal foundry Dutch province Limburg, walking distance from Dutch–German border. Specifically, discusses why group senior production workers Limburg were dissatisfied linguistically diverse landscape had emerged over time, even though foundry’s management tried place Dutch-speaking company’s sociolinguistic norm centre. Confirming usefulness metaphor, shows full consideration contemporary acts both semiotic helps explain these experienced their position become peripheralised time. In conclusion, calls more attention human experience, rather than just detection, inequalities.