Project 1: Ms. Fakhra Jabeen's corpus project, "Role Manifestation through Language: Interactional Sociolinguistics in the Pakistani Context," commenced in March 2024. This project explores interactional sociolinguistics, which examines the interplay between language, culture, and interactive conventions. This perspective integrates insights from linguistics, sociology, and anthropology to understand how language use is shaped by factors such as gender, age, social class, educational level, and professional environments. The project will investigate how stereotypical gender roles influence language use and examine whether academic speech reflects gender-related variations in linguistic behavior. Previous research has indicated that, within academic settings, there is no significant gender-based difference in the frequency of hedging in speech.
Project 2: Ms. Saima Siddique's study, “Language and Religion: Exploring the Intersection of Language and Religion in Pakistan,” began in March 2024. Pakistan, founded on religious identity, is a diverse nation with a rich tapestry of languages and ethnic groups. The study focuses on how Urdu, the national language, and Arabic, the religious language, influence religious practices, linguistic expressions, and cultural identity. The research aims to uncover the complex ways in which these languages shape and are shaped by the country’s religious and cultural discourse.
Project 3: Mr. Arif Hussain’s research, “The Role of Social Class in English Language Learning and Teaching,” which started in March 2024, explores how social class impacts English language education in Pakistani secondary schools. The study examines the disparity in English learning outcomes between students from different social classes, despite Pakistan's efforts to provide equitable linguistic resources through its bilingual education policy. Findings indicate that children from low-income families are at a disadvantage. The research shows a correlation between social class and English test scores, and it also highlights how social class affects various aspects of linguistic capital, such as language use in reading, media consumption, social interactions, and religious education.
Project 4: Ms. Fateh-e-Hina Khalil’s ongoing study, “Socioeconomic Influences on Language Change and Variation in Multilingual Urban Centers: A Case Study of Lahore,” commenced in March 2024. This research examines how socioeconomic factors such as income, education, and social mobility affect language use and variations in Lahore, a multilingual urban center in Pakistan. The study aims to reveal how these socioeconomic elements drive changes in language practices and contribute to linguistic diversity in the city.
Project 5: Mr. Zafar Iqbal’s research, “Social and Cultural Dialects in the Pakistani Context,” finalized in March 2024, investigates the role and implications of various social and cultural dialects in Pakistan. The study explores how these dialects influence and is influenced by the country’s socio-cultural landscape. It examines key regional dialects, their contributions to social stratification, and their effects on cultural cohesion and identity.
Project 6: Mr. Hasanat Ahmad’s research, “Computational Tools for Language Documentation: Innovations and Applications,” finished in March 2024, investigates the use of computational tools in language documentation. The study highlights how technologies like automated transcription, corpus analysis, and digital archiving can transform the field by improving the accuracy, accessibility, and sustainability of language documentation. Through case studies and practical examples, the research evaluates the impact of these innovations on traditional methods and offers insights into future technological advancements in linguistic research.
Project 7: Mr. Gul Muhammad’s research, “Pidginization and Creolization of Languages: Their Social Contexts,” ended in March 2024. This study explores how language contact in multicultural communities leads to the creation of pidgins and creoles. Pidgins arise as practical communication tools between groups with different linguistic backgrounds and can evolve into creoles with their own complex grammar, vocabulary, and cultural significance over time. The research examines these linguistic processes within their social contexts, focusing on language contact, cultural exchange, and power dynamics.
Project 8: Mr. Adnan Arif’s research, “Language Endangerment and Revitalization,” completed in March 2024, addresses the critical issue of language endangerment, especially in linguistically diverse countries like Pakistan. The study investigates the factors leading to the decline of minority languages, including sociopolitical pressures, globalization, and inadequate institutional support. It examines the cultural and identity impacts of language loss and reviews global case studies of successful language revitalization. The research provides valuable insights and practical strategies to protect and revive endangered languages in Pakistan, aiming to preserve the nation's rich linguistic heritage for future generations.
Project 9: Mr. Owais Ahmed’s research, “Crossroads of Culture: Managing the Intersections of Social Networks and Ethnicity in Pakistan's Multicultural Society,” completed in March 2024, explores the complex interplay between social networks and ethnicity in Pakistan. The study examines how the country’s diverse ethnic groups—Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun, Baloch, Mohajir, and others—affect the formation, maintenance, and dynamics of social networks. It investigates the impact of ethnic connections on social cohesion, integration, and the formation of national identity. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines quantitative social network analysis (SNA) with qualitative interviews to map network structures and capture personal experiences. The findings shed light on how ethnic identities shape social behaviors, trust, resource sharing, and boundary negotiations. The study offers valuable insights for social policy and community development, highlighting challenges and opportunities for enhancing social cohesion and fostering interethnic understanding in Pakistan.
Project 10: Ms. Zahira Ashraf’s research, “Language Attitude and Prestige in Pakistan,” completed in March 2024, examines how language attitudes and prestige are shaped by Pakistan's linguistic diversity and historical context. The study explores how over 70 languages, including Urdu, English, and various regional languages like Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, and Balochi, influence social dynamics, educational opportunities, and identity. Urdu and English are highlighted as prestigious languages linked to power and social mobility, while regional languages, despite their cultural importance, often struggle for formal recognition. This linguistic hierarchy reflects broader issues of social stratification and educational inequality in Pakistan.
Project 11: Ms. Sahar Iftikhar’s research, “Language Maintenance and Shift,” completed in March 2024, delves into critical aspects of sociolinguistics and language policy, focusing on how languages either endure or decline within communities. Language maintenance involves efforts to preserve a language across generations, while language shift occurs when a community gradually adopts another language, often due to socio-political, economic, or cultural pressures. The study highlights the interplay between language, identity, culture, and power, emphasizing that language is not only a means of communication but also a symbol of group identity and cultural heritage. In the context of global migration and urbanization, many communities face challenges in preserving their linguistic heritage while adapting to dominant languages. The research provides insights for developing effective language policies, educational practices, and cultural preservation strategies to sustain linguistic diversity in a globalized world.
Project 12: Ms. Maryam Jahangir’s research, “Language and Ethnic Identity: Investigating How Language is Tied to Ethnic Identity in Pakistan,” completed in March 2024, explores the relationship between regional languages and ethnic identity in Pakistan. The study investigates how these languages contribute to the cultural identity and social cohesion of various ethnic groups. It also examines the effects of Pakistan’s national language policies on the preservation and development of regional languages and their associated ethnic identities.
Project 13: Ms. Hajra Ikram Butt’s ongoing study, “Language Policy and Language Planning in Multilingual Society,” which began in March 2024, examines how language policies affect language planning and practices in multilingual societies, with a particular focus on Pakistan. The research aims to assess the impact of these policies on the management and development of multiple languages within the country’s diverse linguistic landscape.
Project 14: Ms. Kashifa Khatoon’s ongoing study, “Linguistic Diversity in Pakistan,” which began in March 2024, investigates the extensive linguistic diversity in Pakistan, reflecting its rich cultural and ethnic tapestry. The research aims to explore the historical context of language distribution, analyze the role of national and official languages in the country's socio-political and educational systems, and evaluate initiatives for language preservation. The study will provide insights into how various languages contribute to Pakistan's diverse linguistic landscape and the efforts made to sustain this diversity.
Project 15: Ms. Sumaira Saleem’s ongoing study, “Language Use and Power Dynamics in Pakistan,” which began in March 2024, aims to develop a systematic framework for understanding five key language-power relationships: how language reveals power, reflects power, maintains existing dominance, unites or divides a nation, and creates influence. The research examines how these language-power dynamics are interrelated and influence each other, providing insights into the complex interactions between language and power in Pakistan.
Project 16: Mr. Shujaat Ali Khan’s completed study, “Code-Switching and Language Contact in the Scenario of Bilingual/Multilingual Society as a Spoken Genre of TV Ads: An Agenda for Pakistani Society,” finished in March 2024, provides a qualitative analysis of code-switching in television commercials. The research focuses on intra-sentence code-switching, where multiple languages are used within a single sentence, by examining 12 beauty and health product commercials recorded from four television channels. The study analyzes how code-switching in these ads reflects social aspects such as sex, geographic background, socioeconomic class, and education. The findings indicate that the language used in these advertisements mirrors the evolving language practices and preferences of Pakistani consumers.
Project 17: Ms. Kulsoom Ashiq’s ongoing study, “Societal Norms about Gender Roles Embedded in Urdu,” which began in March 2024, investigates how societal expectations and cultural beliefs regarding gender roles are reflected in the Urdu language used in Pakistan. The research examines both the specific words and expressions people choose as well as the underlying linguistic structures that reveal these norms. The study aims to uncover how language both reflects and reinforces gender-related societal norms and cultural beliefs.
