Sociolinguistic Analysis of Lexical Attrition of Pashto in Northwestern Pakistan

Abstract

The surge of globalisation, urbanisation, and state language policies have
significantly transformed linguistic hierarchies, elevating the prestige of a few
dominant languages while further marginalising many others. The present study
explores the sociolinguistics factors driving the lexical attrition of Pashto, a
regional language spoken by the Pashtuns in northwestern Pakistan. The data
for the study have been collected through questionnaires and wordlist
elicitation, with additional insights from informal observations. The findings of
the study indicate significant attrition in the Pashto language, with many Pashto
speakers reporting reduced proficiency and usage of their native language,
specifically among the younger population. The study also identifies several
factors that contribute to language attrition, including exposure to the two
dominant languages, Urdu (the national language) and English (the official
language), the capital associated with these two dominant languages, and
migration to urban areas.