Digital Preservation of Multilingual Signage in Cultural Heritage Spaces Using Smart Labeling Systems

Cultural heritage spaces often rely on multilingual signage to convey historical narratives, local identity, and sociocultural values. Yet, preservation efforts face challenges from environmental degradation, inconsistent labelling practices, and limited digital archiving systems. This study investigates the digital preservation of multilingual signage within the Mandhilaras Museum in Pamekasan, Indonesia, by developing an innovative labelling system designed for structured documentation, analysis, and interpretation of linguistic elements. Employing a qualitative methodology, data were collected through systematic photographic documentation, ethnographic observation, and curator interviews, enabling triangulation of visual, contextual, and historical information. Analysis identified seven languages, like Indonesian, Madurese, Javanese, Arabic, Dutch, English, and Latin, each serving distinct informative or symbolic functions tied to cultural, religious, historical, and scientific domains. Findings reveal a strong representation of indigenous languages in labelling traditional farming tools and religious artifacts, reflecting deep socio-cultural linkages. In contrast, foreign languages signify colonial legacies and scholarly classification systems. The proposed digital repository integrates metadata tagging, multilingual categorization, and semantic search capabilities to ensure long-term accessibility and cross-cultural interoperability. This research bridges ethnolinguistic studies and information systems, demonstrating that innovative labelling technologies can enhance cultural communication and heritage preservation. The study concludes that integrating emerging tools such as Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Augmented Reality (AR) can provide immersive, real-time multilingual interpretation for museum visitors, aligning heritage conservation with digital transformation initiatives in public communication systems.