Impacts of Socio-economic Factors on Language Shift: A Case Study of Siraiki L2 Learners
Keywords:
Language Shift, L2 Learners, Siraiki Language, Socio-economic Factors, Urdu LanguageAbstract
This study deals with the impacts of socioeconomic factors on language shift. This study was conducted to get the views of undergraduate students of Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan. For data collection, a close-ended questionnaire was formulated and data was analysed through SPSS. The socioeconomic effects of switching from Saraiki to Urdu as the language of instruction have received positive responses from survey respondents. The majority of students agree that they speak Urdu at the university because they think it's more useful than Siraiki. The study found that the primary reason Saraiki students usually try to hide their language identity is linguistic indignity. They objected when the questionnaire asked about Saraiki language limitations in public areas. It came from the ethno language’s sense of vitality. They gave a positive response when asked if they felt uneasy speaking Siraiki in social or business contexts. However, they agreed with the notion that the linguistic change from Siraiki to Urdu has raised their social status. On the other hand, Siraiki students who were not exposed to Urdu still struggle with language barriers. The large majority of responders agreed that the linguistic shift from Siraiki to Urdu is greatly influenced by the Punjab province's educational policy.
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