Abstract
This paper explored language shift and maintenance in the interactional practices of a Pakistani-Scottish family based in Scotland. The data sources involved participation of Pakistani-Scottish family’s three generations, 8 members in total (5 adults and 3 children). The participant observations entailed almost 16 hours continual audiotaperecordings of natural conversations in neutral settings at the subject home over the period of 3 days. In addition, four members, two of first and two from second generation were interviewed which lasted for approximately 30 minutes. The data collected through participant observations and interviews from the members of the three generations of the same family reveal that younger generation always negotiated their medium and preferred to speak in English that encouraged language shift from L1 (Punjabi/Urdu)to L2 English. However, at times the older members of the family switched from Punjabi/Urdu to English to facilitate their younger members but they also tried to maintain their L1 through code-switching practices in their interactions with each other and sometimes with younger generations. Findings of the study suggest that preference for English over mother tongue was ensured strategically to create an environment for young people to succeed in their academic careers smoothly. The issues of social integration and economic benefits of using English were regarded more important compared to their ethnolinguistic identity
Sumera Umrani*, ,NatashaMemon. (2016) Language Shift and Maintenance: A Case Study of a Pakistani-Scottish Family, The ELF Annual Research Journal, Volume 18, Issue 1.
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