English as Linguistic Capital: A Socio-Cultural Analysis of Language Preference among Pakistani Youth

Abstract

The present research explores the socio-cultural rationale of the preference of English as compared to the mother tongue in personal and professional communication amongst youth in Pakistan. This phenomenon is placed in perspective of the context of globalization and the proliferation of English based on how the global stance of English overlays on the local language practices. The current study is an attempt at investigating part of the correlation between the language preferences and socio-cultural factors through a quantitative approach. Structured questionnaires are used to collect the data that are examined using SPSS. It is determined that dreams about socio-economic mobility, interconnected world, and cultural perceptions influence the preference of the English language with the consequences on the language policy and cultural identity. Empirical evidence of the findings gives solid theoretical arguments that make language a capital and a product of power relations. It also points at increasing influence of globalization and digital media in transforming linguistic practices within the multilingual societies. These results align with the current literature on globalization and language use, while also providing context-specific insights into the Pakistani sociolinguistic landscape