DefinePK

Abstract

<jats:p>The study investigates the speech practices of rural Pothohari speakers in the home domain in the light of demographic variables: income, age, education and occupation. It discovers various social, economic, political and affective factors and their complex relationship with respect to language preferences and changes in patterns of use. The data for the study comes from recorded dinner time conversations of the native Pothohari speakers and their interviews. The study highlights interesting facts about family language use, language choices and the sociolinguistic situation of the Pthothari speech community. The findings suggest that Pothohari is undergoing the complex process of language shift and desertion. It is expected that the study will be a move toward raising awareness about endangering the subsistence of the indigenous language and will broaden the understanding regarding language maintenance and the shifting process.</jats:p>