From Monolingual to Multilingual Mapping: What is users’ preference?
ISBN 978-85-88783-11-9
Authors
1Deeb, R.; 2Kurban, A.; 3de Maeyer, P.
1GHENT UNIVERSITY Email: rasha.deeb@ugent.be
23XINJIANG INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY AND GEOGRAPH Email: alishir@ms.xjb.ac.cn
3GHENT UNIVERSITY Email: philippe.demaeyer@ugent.be
Abstract
Cartographic text is an indispensible component on the map, demanding more than a good placement among all other map features. An optimal design of the labels improves maps’ usability and facilate the interpretation of map contents. Because users’ preference is involved when defining design usability, this paper presents a user study that depicts map labelling using three fundamental lettering systems (Latin, Arabic, and Chinese) and determines users’ preference twoards the desigan of these Labels. To provide an emperical evidence of users’ preference, the designs of labels were implemented in three controlled sets of stimuli which were designed for native users who were asked about their prefernce of different label designs. The first test included maps with Latin labels which were presented to Dutch speakers. Whereas, the second test included maps with Arabic labels which were presented to Uighur speakers, and finally, the third test included maps with Chinese language. All the tests had identical maps apart from the labels that varied in four design parameters: size, shape, orientation, and texture. For each test, a trail of screen maps was presented to users in twos or threes; where users expressed their preference of labels’ design by choosing one of the two presented maps. Once a user choice was made, the result was sent to the database where it was aggregated and classified. Results were firstly used to examine users’ preference of each lettering system individually then they were statistically analysed and comparisons were made between the three lettering systems. The between users’ analysis showed some statistical differences of the three lettering system regarding label size and shape. The comparison between the applications of design’s parameters on labels attributes the frames in which cartographic designers can use when labelling Latin, Arabic and Chinese to provide preferable maps for both monolingual and multilingual mapping. The study introduced a cross cultural issue which shall be completed to cover other map components and the relations between point, linear, areal features and the cartographic text.