Exploring Intergenerational Linguistic Identity of Dhatki Speakers in Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan is a multilingual country where seventy four languages are spoken (Siddiqui, 2019). English is the official language, while Urdu is used as a common Lingua Franca; while each province has its own provincial official language (Sindhi, Punjabi, Pashto & Balochi). The language policy of Pakistan promotes dominant languages only; as a result indigenous languages are becoming extinct and gradually are on the verge of language shift and death in urban areas. Hence, maintaining a linguistic identity in such a context pose serious challenges to the speakers of a language. This paper explores the linguistic identity of Dhatki language speakers across three generations in the different districts of Sindh. For this purpose, a qualitative case study was conducted and data was collected using open-ended questionnaire and the responses were analyzed thematically. Data was collected using purposive and snowball sampling from 33 participants. The results highlighted that Dhatki language was going through a gradual language loss, its speakers stigmatized the use of the language due to lack of documentation, and the constant use of dominant languages in different spheres of social and educational life. The speakers attributed this shift to governmental negligence and language activist’s behavior towards Dhatki language