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5 MIN · Module

Bilingual signage in public spaces

When and how to do it well.

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Two languages, equal status

Best-practice bilingual signage:

• EQUAL prominence: same font size, weight, colour, and position. • CONSISTENT order — most regions choose one (e.g., Catalan first, then Spanish; Irish first, then English). • PROOFREAD by a fluent speaker, not a translation app. • PICTOGRAMS where words could be skipped entirely. • CONTRAST and font size meet accessibility standards (white space, no italics for body content).

Switching the order randomly or shrinking one language is felt — and resented — by speakers.

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