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Language is all around us in textual form as it is displayed on shop windows, commercial signs, posters, official notices, traffic signs, etc. Most of the time people do not pay much attention to the ‘linguistic landscape’that surrounds them. However, in recent years an increasing number of researchers have started to take a closer look and study the language texts that are present in public space. This special issue of the International Journal of Multilingualism reports on a number of case studies around the world. According to the dictionary,‘landscape’as a noun has basically two meanings. On the one hand the more literal meaning of the piece or expanse of scenery that can be seen at one time from one place. On the other hand, a picture representing such a view of natural inland scenery, as distinguished from sea picture or a portrait. In the studies of the linguistic landscape presented here, one can say that both …