Language Shift Phenomenon: A Case Study of Shina Language

Arif Hussain; Muhammad  Nawaz; Sohbat  Ali

doi:10.32350/llr.111.03

Arif Hussain International University, Hunza Campus https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0849-8918
Muhammad Nawaz COMSATS University, Islamabad https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2329-3518
Sohbat Ali Karakoram International University, Gilgit https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8918-7154

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32350/llr.111.03

Keywords: Language shift, Shina, multilingual, Lingua Franca, Small languages

Abstract

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This study has investigated the domination of English and Urdu over the Shina language, which is spoken in the mountainous regions of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It has examined the degree to which Shina speakers have maintained or shifted away from their mother tongue. The data was collected from five Shina-speaking families residing in the Nagar district using purposive sample techniques. These families belong to various walks of life with a diverse representation of experiences. The total pool of the sample includes twenty-six respondents. The data was gathered through 30-minute interviews along with the observations. The recordings were made with the participants’ consent. Subsequently, the recorded data was transcribed into International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) notation for a one-minute excerpt from each family member. In addition, the observed data were also taken into account during the analysis. The findings revealed that Shina speakers are more inclined towards Urdu than English. The research has specified that older speakers use the Shina language in all domains of their lives, while their children prefer to use English and Urdu.

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