Phenomenological Study of Punjabi--A low Prestige Language

Aneela Gill

M. Abdullah

F. C. College, Lahore

F. C. College, Lahore

A Phenomenological Study of Low Linguistic Prestige: A Case for Punjabi in Punjab (Pakistan)

Abstract The study is based on a general observation that, in Punjab (Pakistan), the L1speakers of Punjabi (particularly the educated ones), who should actually be taking the lead in expanding and strengthening the language, do not let their children acquire Punjabi as their L1. This phenomenon of language shift amongst the educated L1 speakers of Punjabi has been explored using Husserl’s (1970) descriptive phenomenology as a framework. Data was culled using phenomenological methods of semi-structured life-world interviews and a focus group discussion (FGD). Analysis of the data, using Colaizzi’s (1978) method, clearly revealed that it was mainly due to the low prestige associated with Punjabi that the L1 speakers of Punjabi did not want their children to learn/speak Punjabi. Findings of the study further led the researchers to point out some of the factors that were responsible for making Punjabi a low-prestige language in the region, and also come up with certain recommendations for the sustenance and uplift of the language. Keywords: Linguistic prestige; mother tongue; language shift; phenomenology.