Language, Identity, and Power: Sociolinguistic Patterns in Urban Pakistan

Abstract

This article investigates the complex relationship between language, identity, and power within the stratified sociolinguistic landscape of urban Pakistan. Drawing on an interdisciplinary body of scholarship spanning sociolinguistics, sociology, and critical discourse studies, the analysis demonstrates that linguistic choices, whether intentional or habitual, function as powerful indicators of class position, social prestige, and symbolic authority. The discussion is grounded in Bourdieu’s theory of linguistic capital and Norton’s Identity and Investment framework, both of which illuminate the persistent dominance of English as a gatekeeping resource across educational, professional, and bureaucratic spaces. Empirical evidence drawn from studies in universities, workplaces, and media environments reveals deeply rooted linguistic inequalities that stem from unequal access to proficient English instruction, particularly within the public and private school divide. The findings identify recurrent patterns of diglossia, classed forms of code switching, and the psychological consequences of linguistic marginalization. The article argues that language remains a central mechanism through which socioeconomic hierarchies are reproduced, contested, and occasionally transformed. It concludes by outlining the implications for equitable language policy and by recommending future research that examines rural and urban contrasts, multimodal communication practices, and emerging forms of linguistic agency.

Keywords: Language, Identity, Power, Sociolinguistics, Linguistic Capital, Symbolic Authority