The Linguistic Landscape of Montenegro: State of Art and Perspectives

In this study, we deal with specificities and challenges in the research of linguistic landscapes in Montenegro. We first provide an overview of some of the theoretical approaches that underpin this sociolinguistic discipline and show which aspects should be taken into account when conducting studies. We try to present concrete tasks in the processing of empirical material on the Montenegrin terrain. One aspect of the research relates to determining the use of the two scripts in public space, with the Latin script having absolute dominance over the Cyrillic script in many domains. We then look at some practical aspects of the linguistic landscape of Montenegro, primarily related to tourism. We show that in this context English, as well as Russian, are widely used languages that are perceived by the public. However, this detail is not specific to all locations in Montenegro, so the interpreted material must be precisely contextualized. Referring to recent research that has been done, we are compiling a catalog that serves as an orientation for processing Montene-grin materials. In our opinion, this gives an objective picture of the linguistic reality in the country and the role of language in the public sphere. We list some functional criteria and distinguish urban from rural areas, where a different arrangement of linguistic elements, signs and symbols in the public space can be expected.