Review Reports

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This is a very interesting study with interdisciplinary orientation. It is located at the intersection of heritage studies, linguistic landscape, toponym, sociolinguistics, urban studies, and history studies. I’d recommend publication provided the authors can take on board the following relatively minor points.

1. There is potential for the contribution of this study to be better and more explicitly highlighted in the abstract (1-2 sentences)
2. The study mentions linguistic landscape in passing in the article. I do believe this is an area this study contributes significantly to. I think the aspect of linguistic landscape has merit and potential to be foregrounded a little bit more (e.g. in literature review). see some recent studies mentioned below.
3. Similarly, as far as literature review is concerned, Shanghai is a representative city with elements of both local culture and western/European culture and also with elements from various historical, socioeconomic and political periods. However, Shanghai is by no means unique in this regard. Several other places in China such as Guangzhou, Qingdao, Xiamen, Harbin, Manzhouli, Hankou, Hong Kong, Macau have also exhibited similar features and phenomena. There needs to be more systematic and engaged literature review on this (empirical studies that explore these cities and urban spaces from the perspective of heritage, urban studies, linguistic landscape, place names, sociolinguistics, and history). Please find below a few typical and recent examples that explore how historical elements (e.g. western and European colonial influences) and new factors and forces (e.g. migration, tourism, and other economic and sociopolitical factors) both shape these Chinese cities.

(Hankou) Staging the urban as a space of consumption through language: multilingual landscape in Hankow Concession

(Hankou) Communication across time and space: Chronotope in the linguistic landscape of a concession area.

(Shanghai) Managing the shikumen chronotope, constructing a cosmopolitan place: A case study of Xintiandi in global Shanghai.

(Macau) Deciphering translation practices in Macao's casino wonderland of Cota

(Hong Kong) Visualising the changing face of Hong Kong: A turn towards multilingualism?

(Manzhouli) Manzhouli or Manchzhuriya? Linguistic and cultural hybridization in the border city.

(Harbin) “Chinese city with Russian characteristics”: a linguistic and semiotic landscape account of Harbin’s Saint Sophia Cathedral and Central Street areas

4. I’d encourage the authors to present some photographic evidence, if possible, to support the discussion. This can add value to the otherwise dry analysis. Photographs here are not just for illustration purposes but also are important materials that actually document the changing nature of our society.
5. The paper needs to be proofread 1-2 more times to iron out grammatical mistakes.

Author Response

Thank you for your valuable comments. Please see attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper is well written, however, here are my suggestions to improve the paper

1. The author should also consider the religious aspect of toponymic heritage within the Shanghai in China
2. The work also needs to bring out how other ethnic identity are suppressed or overpowered by the Government policy in modern time
3. how does cultural revolution in the modern time affect toponymy in the area under consideration

Author Response

Thank you for your valuable comments. Please see attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx