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TENDENCY OF LANGUAGE SHIFT IN PAKISTANI STUDENTS

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Hamdard Islamicus Vol. XLIII, No.1 2020

TENDENCY OF LANGUAGE SHIFT IN PAKISTANI STUDENTS

___________________________________________________________

Muhammad Tanveer Akhtar

M.Phil Linguistics
Nasim Talib
M.Phil Linguistics
Javed Khaliq
M.A (English)
Fateh-e-Hina Khalil
M.Phil Scholar
University of Management and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________

Abstract

This study explores the tendency of Language shift in Pakistani college going
students. Regardless of the fact that Urdu, being the national language of
Pakistan, the students have a tendency to use as many English words in their
conversation as possible. There is a recurring code switching in their daily
conversation. It is observed that they do not consider improving Urdu
vocabulary rather English lexical items. Even they think that English code
switching strengthens their conversation. The researchers in this Qualitative
study have probed a tendency of language shift among the students due to code
switching. 45 students of HSSC level belonging to three colleges in Lahore
participated in this study. The constructive qualitative research paradigm is
applied in the study. A semi-structured interview has been used to collect data.
The analysis of data shows a rapid use of code switching among the participants
which may cause a language shift in the near future in Pakistan. The study
provides suggestions to make the present situation better.

Keywords: language shift; language attitude; Code switching; Pakistani students;

neglect of Urdu.

Introduction
Language attitude is people’s way of thinking in connection with different
linguistic varieties and the users of these languages (Meyerhoff, 2008). Language
tendency or attitude is a kind of opinion a group of people has towards their language as
well as to the others. It consists of approving or disapproving, and reveals through
choosing or preferring a language or linguistic variety. These social language attitudes
show the feelings of a community for a specific language (Crystal, 2012). Schmid (2002)
considers language as of great importance, as this can guarantee of growth and decay of a
language. Language attitude also deals with judgment and evaluation of a people for
themselves and others on the basis of language usages (Llamas, Mullany and Stockwell,
2007).

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The importance of a language in a community or society can be judged by the

attitude of people toward this language."A language grows and develops when people
have positive attitudes towards it and when it is allowed to function as a medium of
communication in various settings, contexts and domains in a multilingual society”
(Cooper, 1982). The speaker of a targeted language has a specific judgment in the context
with certain values for the language, this is called the attitude of the learner toward a
language (Myers, 2006).
Language shift occurs when a language community leaves collectively using its
native language and prefers some other language of a dominant society or community.
Ultimately, the neglected language is eliminated (Trudgill, 2003). The process of
language shift happens when such a language is adopted as offers maximum monetary,
practical, and some social prestige (Batibo, 2005). According to Holmes (1992), there are
two bifurcations of language shift i.e. the shift of language in indigenous communities
where native language is neglected or abandoned by faovuring the language of some
dominant community, for example Itldian clans in North America and Maori in New
Zealand abandoned their languages. Thus, their languages died away. The other
bifurcation of language shift occurs when a certain people are required to gain a healthy
command over a language of a dominant society, however they do not leave their native
language. Mostly, the dominant societies impose such a situation.
Pakistan is a land of multilingual people, but importance is given only to English
and Urdu languages. Schneider (2007) asserts, although the constitution of Pakistan
restricts the use of English, yet ironically the constitution itself and the laws are written in
English. Being the language of privileged class English borrowing is always welcomed in
Pakistani society. Apart from this, there are a number of other factors e.g. advertisements,
cultural changes, cross cultural needs, and educational demands etc. This use of code-
mixing in Urdu and English languages is advocated and explained by Rasul (2006), he
considers that code-switching happens as the result of multilingualism or Bilingualism.
There are many reasons for Code-switching. English language is not only an international
lingua franca but also a language of science, technology and esteem.
Mixing of two or more languages by the bilinguals in their speaking is found
everywhere, and in every society of the world. In conversation the speakers use the words
and different items of different languages. This usage of two or more languages in a
communication is taken as code-switching (Milroy & Muysken, 1995). Pakistan being a
multilingual society, where people are bilinguals or multilingual, and the practice of
code-mixing is very frequent here. If we take the example of Urdu the national language
of Pakistan, we come to know that the educated speakers frequently insert English words
or items in their speech. The people, who are not good at English, also try to use English
words in their conversation to gain social prestige (Khan, 2004).
Fasold (1991) says that language shift is a result of a deliberate and continuous
adopting or choosing a language and preferring this language in certain domains. At
present, Pakistani college going students with Urdu as their first Language frequently use
English vocabulary. There are many reasons behind this recurring code switching, which
likely lead to a language shift in Pakistani society.

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Statement of the problem

Urdu is the National language of Pakistan. It is a kind of lingua franca across the
country. Besides, Urdu language is a medium of instructions in educational institutions.
However, the majority of HSSC level students speak maximum English vocabulary in
their day to day conversation. They switch code frequently.

Purpose of the study

The purpose of the study is to investigate the tendency of Pakistani students
recurring code switching with English language may lead to a language shift in Pakistan
from Urdu to English.

Research questions
1. How much code switching is being practiced by the students?
2. Why do they prefer using English vocabulary in their conversation?

The significance of the study

1. This study is expected to help understand the present ratio of English code switching
in the students.
2. This paper will show some futuristic prospective for language shift.
3. The study will show the tendency or attitude of the students towards Urdu language.
4. It will also provide some basis for improvement.

Research methodology
This is a qualitative research. The tool for data collection, a semi structured
interview which was generated with the help of English and Urdu languages, focusing the
research questions. 45 students from three different colleges in Lahore were selected
randomly to participate in the study and answer the questions of interview. After seeking
the necessary permission and consent from the students, the interviews were recorded in
the concerned colleges. The interviews have been recorded with the help of a smart
phone. They have been analyzed and discussed.
The constructive qualitative research paradigm meets the requirements of this
study. The constructivist paradigm challenges the primary convictions of objectivism
(Guba & Lincoln, 1989). This paradigm aims at to view the phenomenon from the view
point of a research participant. It lets the researcher "to get inside people's heads" with an
intention to understand their perceptions (Palys, 1997). This serves a subjective
relationship between the researcher and the participant, and enables the researcher to
study and investigate the opinion of the participants. The paradigm focuses the obtaining,
analyzing and interpreting the data (Carr and Kemmis, 1986; Strauss and Corbin, 1990;
Lewins, 1992).

Literature Review
The study of language attitude describes that how the usage of a language imparts
the listener an opportunity to learn about the beliefs of speaking community (Preston,

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2002). Learning of a language is bound to the attitudes of the speakers of the targeted
language, even it shows the emotional aspects of a language community (McKenzie,
2008). Attitude keeps the element of intensity and passion of an individual (Oppenheim,
1992). The behaviorists and mentalists say that there is not any inborn quality of attitude
in a person, it is learned through socialization (Baker, 1992). Attitude is practically
important for an individual to get the benefit himself of the knowledge of the surrounded
world, and serves as a utilitarian approach (Erwin, 2014).
There are more than 6500 spoken languages across the world, says Kachru
(1985), and when these languages establish contact with one another, the transfer of
linguistic items from one language to other then code switching happens. Crystal (2010)
considers English as a borrower language. At present it has become not only a chief
donor language, but also a lender of vocabulary to a number of languages across the
world. Urdu language borrows many words and expressions from English after the same
pattern, as more than 120 languages contribute towards the present vocabulary of
English.
Code-Switching is being used as conversational policy to maintain, or destroy the
group boundaries and to accomplish the interpersonal relations among the public. (John,
2002). Fundamentally, code mixing is a specific element of bilinguals, which is identified
with circumstance where bilingual people interchange between languages or inside
conversation (Greer, 2007). Bista (2010) details a distinction between Inter-sentential and
Intra-sentential Code-Switching. The Inter-sentential Code-Switching, makes changes
within a sentence. Mostly, this is made by fluent bilinguals. As far Intra – sentential code
switching it happens in the middle without making pause.
Asraf (2003) says that code-switching frequently happens at word or lexical level.
A big deal of data shows that open ended words from one language can be inserted easily
into the other language. There are also some other categories for example, modifiers of
English and Urdu with Urdu and English Nouns, verbs of English with operators of Urdu.
English address terms are frequently used in Urdu instead of the presence of Urdu
equivalent for example Mister instead of Janab/sahb. Similarly, ‘yes’ is the only example
of exclamation expression. This expression has Wah and Zaberdast as its Urdu equal.
These equivalents give the complete sense of ‘yes’, and are used frequently.
English language left a deep impact on scientific industrial vocabulary, adding
thousands of new words in English Dictionaries. This was simply meant that whoever
wanted to know about the scientific and technological advancements, would learn
English very well to get the true benefit (Preshous, 2001). In 1945, when the League of
Nations became United Nations, English gained the role of international lingua franca. In
this way, English also became the language of almost all the other organizations of
international scope. English language has been considering as a medium of press since
1622. English is a language of global communication, as it is the language of postal,
telephone, and electronic networks. It is also the language of computers and Internet,
which we communicate with the rest of the world. English is an official language of
many organizations in different countries of the world. These organizations use English
in their communication. Almost 63 percent of communication in the form of

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correspondence on internet is made in English. It is said that 80 percent of world’s stored

data/information is in English ( Khatib, 2011).
Teachers employ such a language to enhance comprehension levels of vocabulary
building in students. They also switch code to solve trouble and to motivate the students
to communicate. On the other hand, code switching proves helpful for teachers to adapt
students with the language and to achieve their targets in any university (YANG, 2004).
Pakistani educational institutions adopt English as a medium of education. In addition to
EFL and ESL classes, code-switching is present in the other classes, because they are also
supplemented with English language. Asghar (2004) finds code-switching in many
textbooks. As textbooks are big source in imparting the required knowledge. It can be
said that textbooks provide the required knowledge regarding a language in the very
language.

Data analysis
Three levels of code switching i.e. Tag-switching, intra-sentential, and inter-
sentential have been observed satisfied by the participants. This shows that how much the
speakers have used English language and what is their attitude for both English and Urdu
languages.
All respondents answer almost all the questions. They switched code in English
on the three levels i.e. Tag Switching, intra-sentential code switching, and inter-
sentential code switching. All the participants used English vocabulary or made code
switching in their conversations touching the three levels of code switching according to
their knowledge of English language. All the researchers have listened the interviews
separately and opined that as much as 95 percent code switching has been made by the
participants while applying Tag Switching, intra-sentential switching, and inter-
sentential switching. The participants have satisfied different levels of code switching as
follow:
Tag Switching: this happened on word level; the participants used English words in
answering the questions asked in the interview. They use more and more English words
while speaking in Urdu.
Intra-sentential code switching: this was applied on phrases and clauses level, with a
less force than that of Tag switching.
Inter – sentential code switching: this was used on sentence level. This was the less
satisfying than the above two levels. The respondents rarely switched to English sentence
level.

Findings and Discussion

The data analysis has revealed that college going students in Pakistan use code
switching frequently and unknowingly with quite an ease in their daily conversation. As
far as the Purpose of this study is concerned, the responses in the interview plainly
elaborate the Pakistani students have an ardent attitude towards code switching as they
mad maximum code switching in their conversation. They frequently switch codes on

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word and phrase levels. This work also revels the students have a tremendous tendency of
language shift as they prefer English to Urdu language. They consider that English
language has a great impact on Urdu.
The participants considered that English language is easy to communicate when
compared to Urdu language. They think to use a proper Urdu word in a conversation is
far more difficult. In fact, they know Urdu vocabulary, but they are not accustomed to use
it. They find it very strange and orthodox to speak in pure Urdu language. They report to
encounter maximum English language on both electronic and printed form, from
textbooks to Internet. English speaking is to be an educated for them. All this shows that
they have a great move to language change in the future.

Conclusion
The researchers have reached to the conclusion that Pakistani college going
students frequently switch code between Urdu and English languages. This code
switching occurs mostly as, Tag Switching, intra-sentential code switching, and inter-
sentential code switching. Almost all the participants practice this repeatedly with quite
an ease. The analysis of their answers shows, they find English as an international
language, the language of science and technology. According to their interviews, English
language is necessary to get advancement in almost all the social walks, personally,
nationally and internationally. Most of the participants think to speak English is the
vogue of the present times and to show you as a highly qualified person. English
language is a guarantee of getting better social positions and prestige.
As far the purpose of this study is concerned, the data shows a strong attitude or
tendency of language shifting in Pakistani students. The targeted population has just
passed their SSC level while studying in both public and private schools where Urdu is
used as a medium of instructions. However, their maximum use of English vocabulary
and code switching even on sentence level, and their neglecting of national language
Urdu in their day to day speaking show that they have decided their language of choice
for the future. All the above discussion revel a tendency of Language shift in Pakistani
students.
Recommendations
The present study shows a frequent use of code switching in Pakistani college
students. As the youth has to undertake the responsibilities of any society in the future,
so, the present day students will be setting the policies for the advancement of Pakistan.
The language is considered as identity of a community or society, at present all the
concerned have to take necessary steps to diminish the attitude of language shifting in
Pakistan. The Government should establish new centers of language and linguistics at
districts level to promote the research. Similarly, the Government is needed to facilitate
the National Language Promotion Department for a better promotion and expansion of
Urdu Language as well its promotion across the country. The Provincial curriculum
Departments are required to play their active role in devising curriculum keeping in view
the maximum promotion of Urdu Language. Teachers training programmes to be initiated
focusing on the utmost usage of Urdu language while instructing the class. PEMRA

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should promote Urdu Language in both Print and electronic media. Apart from all the
above steps, the youth and the students are direly needed to have a respect and love for
their national language.

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