Sindhi and Urdu Speaking Parents’ Attitude to Teach Mother Tongue to their Children in Karachi
Keywords:
Mother Tongue, Language Choice, Indigenous Languages, Culture, Heritage
Abstract
This qualitative study investigated the attitudes of Sindhi and Urdu-speaking parents in Karachi towards teaching their mother tongues to their children. The study investigated the patterns of language choice, reasons, and preferences for mother tongue transmission in a multilingual metropolitan situation, as language is a crucial component of identity and cultural preservation. The findings of the study reveal that children from Urdu-speaking households showed a preference for English communication, influenced by educational environments that value the language. On the other hand, Sindhi-speaking children demonstrated proficiency in multiple languages, enabling them to navigate various contexts. Language preferences were altered by socio-demographic factors, including socioeconomic status and cultural background. The results have highlighted the need for community involvement in plural language policies that enhance language pluralism to promote the national and regional languages of the country.
References
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Panhwar, F., Lone, F. A., & Muhammad, S. (2019). Determining the status and use of languages spoken in Pakistan. Journal of Language Policy and Planning, 5(1), 67–80.
Rafiq, M. (2010). The role of English in Pakistan: A sociolinguistic perspective. Journal of English Language Teaching, 8(2), 23–35.
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Rai, S. (2010). Language attitudes and identity: A study of Punjabi speakers in Pakistan. Journal of Language and Society, 6(1), 89–102.
Scotton, C. M. (2006). Multiple voices: An introduction to bilingualism. Blackwell Publishing.
Shah, S., Isani, S., & Shah, A. (2022). Language politics in Pakistan: Urdu as official versus national language. Journal of Language Policy, 9(1), 15–29.
Sim, C. H. (2012). Language attitudes and language shift among the Chinese community in Malaysia. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 33(2), 129–144.
Trudgill, P. (2000). Sociolinguistics: An introduction to language and society (4th ed.). Penguin Books.
Umrani, T., & Memon, R. A. (2016). Language shift in urban Pakistan: A case study of Sindhi speakers in Karachi. Journal of Language and Society, 8(2), 45–60.
Webb, V., & Sure, K. (2000). African voices: An introduction to the languages and linguistics of Africa. Oxford University Press.
Wright, S. (2008). Language policy and language planning: From nationalism to globalisation. Palgrave Macmillan.
Zaman, M., Chandio, A. A., & Noor, H. (2025). Evaluating the influence of Meta-AI on enhancing English reading comprehension proficiency: An experimental study within a social media application framework. Social Science Review Archives, 3(1), 2223–2233. https://doi.org/10.70670/sra.v3i1.533
Zaman, M., Jawad, M., & Buriro, G. S. (2025). Understanding ESL lecturers’ beliefs and teaching methodologies in the context of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) in Karachi. ACADEMIA International Journal for Social Sciences, 4(1), 447. https://doi.org/10.63056/ACAD.004.01.0057
Abbasi, M. H., David, P. M. K., & Zaki, S. S. (2020). Linguistic trends among young Sindhi community members in Karachi. IARS' International Research Journal, 10(1), 15–28.
Abbasi, M. H., David, P. M. K., & Zaki, S. S. (2023). Language usage patterns among young Sindhi migrants in Karachi. Journal of Language and Society, 12(2), 45–60.
Ali, S. (2011). Language policy and planning in Pakistan: A historical overview. Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, 31(2), 211–222.
Ali, S. (2017). The status of Sindhi language in urban Sindh: A case study of Karachi. Journal of Regional Languages, 5(1), 89–102.
Anthonissen, C. (2009). Bilingualism and language shift in South Africa. Language Matters, 40(1), 1–14.
Baker, C. (2001). Foundations of bilingual education and bilingualism (3rd ed.). Multilingual Matters.
Bodomo, A., Anderson, J., & Dzahene-Quarshie, J. (2009). A kente of many colours: Multilingualism in Ghana. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 2009(198), 63–76.
Bughio, F. A. (2014). The role of Urdu in Pakistan's language policy. Journal of Language Policy and Planning, 3(2), 45–58.
Channa, K. A. (2017). Urdu as a lingua franca in Pakistan: A sociolinguistic perspective. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 38(5), 427–439.
Cheng, L. (2003). Language shift and maintenance in Malaysia: A study of five generations. Journal of Asian Pacific Communication, 13(1), 1–20.
Clyne, M. G. (2003). Dynamics of language contact: English and immigrant languages. Cambridge University Press.
David, M. K., & Caesar, M. (2009). Language shift among the Bidayuh in Kuching, Malaysia. Southeast Asian Journal of Social Science, 37(2), 123–136.
De Klerk, V., & Barkhuizen, G. (2005). Bilingualism and language shift in South Africa. Language Matters, 36(1), 1–15.
Dörnyei, Z. (2003). Attitudes, orientations, and motivations in language learning: Advances in theory, research, and applications. Language learning, 53.
Farida, A. (2018). The status and use of Sindhi language in Pakistan. Journal of Regional Language Studies, 6(1), 55–70.
Fishman, J. A. (1991). Reversing language shift: Theoretical and empirical foundations of assistance to threatened languages (Vol. 76). Multilingual matters.
Henne-Ochoa, R., & Bauman, R. (2015). Who is responsible for saving the language? Performing generation in the face of language shift. Language & Communication, 41, 25–35.
Iqbal, Z. (2018). English as a second official language in Pakistan: Challenges and prospects. Pakistan Journal of Language Policy, 4(2), 101–115.
John, M. (2015). Language planning in Pakistan: A critical analysis. Journal of Language and Society, 7(1), 33–47.
Khan, S. (2013). Language policy and planning in Pakistan: A historical overview. Journal of South Asian Studies, 28(2), 215–230.
Khan, S. (2014). English language in Pakistan: A sociolinguistic perspective. Journal of English Language Teaching, 9(3), 45–56.
Kothari, R. (2015). English language in Pakistan: A historical and sociolinguistic perspective. Journal of Language and Politics, 14(2), 123–140.
Lee, J. S. (2008). Language shift and maintenance in the United States: The case of Korean and Chinese immigrants. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 2008(192), 153–168.
Mansoor, S. (1993). Punjabi, Urdu, English in Pakistan: A sociolinguistic study. National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University.
Mansoor, S. (2004). The status and role of regional languages in higher education in Pakistan. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 25(4), 333–353.
McLaughlin, B. (1984). Second-language acquisition in childhood: Preschool children (Vol. 1). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Panhwar, F., Lone, F. A., & Muhammad, S. (2019). Determining the status and use of languages spoken in Pakistan. Journal of Language Policy and Planning, 5(1), 67–80.
Rafiq, M. (2010). The role of English in Pakistan: A sociolinguistic perspective. Journal of English Language Teaching, 8(2), 23–35.
Rahman, T. (2002). Language, ideology and power: Language learning among the Muslims of Pakistan and North India. Oxford University Press.
Rahman, T. (2005). Language policy, multilingualism and language vitality in Pakistan. Trends in Linguistics Studies and Monographs, 175, 73–106.
Rahman, T. (2006). Language policy, identity, and religion: Aspects of the civilization of the Muslims of Pakistan and North India. Islamabad: Quaid-i-Azam University.
Rai, S. (2010). Language attitudes and identity: A study of Punjabi speakers in Pakistan. Journal of Language and Society, 6(1), 89–102.
Scotton, C. M. (2006). Multiple voices: An introduction to bilingualism. Blackwell Publishing.
Shah, S., Isani, S., & Shah, A. (2022). Language politics in Pakistan: Urdu as official versus national language. Journal of Language Policy, 9(1), 15–29.
Sim, C. H. (2012). Language attitudes and language shift among the Chinese community in Malaysia. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 33(2), 129–144.
Trudgill, P. (2000). Sociolinguistics: An introduction to language and society (4th ed.). Penguin Books.
Umrani, T., & Memon, R. A. (2016). Language shift in urban Pakistan: A case study of Sindhi speakers in Karachi. Journal of Language and Society, 8(2), 45–60.
Webb, V., & Sure, K. (2000). African voices: An introduction to the languages and linguistics of Africa. Oxford University Press.
Wright, S. (2008). Language policy and language planning: From nationalism to globalisation. Palgrave Macmillan.
Zaman, M., Chandio, A. A., & Noor, H. (2025). Evaluating the influence of Meta-AI on enhancing English reading comprehension proficiency: An experimental study within a social media application framework. Social Science Review Archives, 3(1), 2223–2233. https://doi.org/10.70670/sra.v3i1.533
Zaman, M., Jawad, M., & Buriro, G. S. (2025). Understanding ESL lecturers’ beliefs and teaching methodologies in the context of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) in Karachi. ACADEMIA International Journal for Social Sciences, 4(1), 447. https://doi.org/10.63056/ACAD.004.01.0057
Published
2025-10-31
How to Cite
Jamal, U. B., & Zaman, M. (2025). Sindhi and Urdu Speaking Parents’ Attitude to Teach Mother Tongue to their Children in Karachi. Journal of Social Sciences and Media Studies, 9(1), 24-34. https://doi.org/10.58921/jossams.09.01.0445
Section
Articles
