Language, Gender, and Culture in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: A Case Study of Communication Patterns at KUST

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17108729

Abstract

Language is not only a neutral means of interaction but a strong social tool that organizes, forms and maintains cultural identities and power relations. This research paper examines the dynamic between the language and gender in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) in Pakistan and specifically at the Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST). Although the influence of gender on language and vice versa has largely been examined under the sociolinguistics, little has been done in the context of a given socio-cultural setting, where Pashtun traditions have a tremendous effect on gender-biased communication, that is, in KPK. Based on the classroom observations, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with the students and faculty, the present study explores the interaction patterns between male and female students in academic settings and how these patterns are influenced by cultural norms. Results indicate that there are still gendered asymmetries in communication e.g., male dominance in turn taking and female dependence on politeness in communication. Nevertheless, they also point out the new trends of interaction that become egalitarian, especially in English-language classrooms and group projects. This research paper would help to add to current discussion on language, gender and education by placing the analysis within the context of socio-cultural relationships in Pakistan. It proposes that higher education can become a redemptive place where the culture of hierarchies is questioned but the developments remain slow.

Keywords: Gender and language, cultural conventions, patterns of communication, Pashtun community, higher education, KPK, KUST, sociolinguistics.