The Marginalization of Urdu and Punjabi language in Pakistan: A Critical Discourse Analysis of English Imperialism

Abstract

 The language policy of Pakistan is examined in this paper, specifically looking at the marginalization of Punjabi language and Urdu. This study uses a critical discourse analysis (CDA) framework to look at how government papers, school regulations, and media depictions all employ discursive techniques. The research aims to provide light on the processes by which these tactics establish and sustain English as the de jure language of business, and how this hegemony exacerbates the linguistic marginalization of Punjabi language and Urdu. In order to analyze the data, we looked closely at the language used in the sources described above, paying special attention to the discursive methods that are used to build and sustain power dynamics. Their marginalization is exacerbated, according to the findings, by factors such as the overemphasis on English as a success factor, the widespread adoption of English in schools, the pretense of additive bilingualism, the prevalence of English as a barrier to opportunity, and the disregard for the development of Urdu and Punjabi language. The results are in line with what has been found in the past regarding language policy in postcolonial settings. Fragmented national identity, socioeconomic disparities, and possible language extinction are some of the social and cultural repercussions of English dominance that the research emphasizes. In order to reassess Pakistan's   language strategy, the paper analyses these discursive methods in detail. In order to combat the power imbalance that favors English, promote multilingualism, support mother tongue education, and honor Pakistan's diverse language heritage are all things that the report suggests. The intricate relationship among postcolonial states' language policies, power dynamics, identities, and opportunities for social mobility is better understood thanks to this study.