Inter-generational Attitudinal Shift towards English from Punjabi Language: A Sociolinguistic Study of Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

The survey study investigates the intergenerational attitudinal shift towards English from the Punjabi language with a focus on three generations (male and female) population of Lahore ageing 55 years and above, 35 to 54 and 15 to 34. A twenty-five questions questionnaire was administered on randomly selected sixty subjects for the quantitative data analyzed qualitatively. The numerical analysis was carried out to see the intergenerational shift towards English from the Punjabi language. For this purpose, the regression and ANOVA are conducted in SPSS (Statistical Software). The results reflect that the Punjabi language, though rich in literature and history, does not find a status that is enjoyed by English or Urdu. Hence the study recommends that to save the Punjabi language from social death; it may be taught as a language at schools so that the coming generations may enjoy speaking, reading and writing of Punjabi language as a living language like others.

Punjabi and its Future in Pakistan

“…B a s e d o n t h e i r y e a r s o f language teaching experience, the participants of a study suggested that to promote Punjabi in Pakistan; every Punjabi has the responsibility to speak Punjabi with confidence as they speak English or Urdu and admire others who speak Punjabi rather than stigmatizing others. It was reported that to save Punjabi from social death, it should be taught in schools as well (Naqvi, Nadeem, & Rahman, 2021). Seminars should be conducted to promote the Punjabi language and to save the Punjabi heritage.…”