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Title: The Science of Narration in Pakistani English: A Case Study of Karachi, You're Killing Me!
Authors: Tuba Latif, Maimoona Abdulaziz, Nimra Noor, Huda Noor
Journal: Journal of Political Stability Archive (JPSA)
| Category | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Y | 2024-10-01 | 2025-12-31 |
Publisher: Evermind Education & Research
Country: Pakistan
Year: 2024
Volume: 2
Issue: 4
Language: English
Keywords: Pakistani EnglishUrdu influenceMatrix Language Frame Analysis (MLF)lexical borrowingcode-switchingstructural variationsPakistani Anglophone Literature
One of the most exciting developments in Pakistan’s rapidly expanding literary scene of the last decade has been not only the boom in international publication and distribution but the growing use of Pakistani English. Pakistani English has come a long way in the last six decades from its humble beginnings when it was derided as a 'mongrel' by the custodians of 'propriety' and the powers that be, and today, Pakistan can boast of many internationally acclaimed writers whose narratives are read, debated, lauded, and awarded around the world. This paper will examine the narrative strategies employed in a contemporary Pakistani English crime novel, which also uses the style of reporting as one of its narrative strategies and discusses using it in a persuasive and gritty manner. The use of a reportorial style in engaging readers has been noticed and appreciated by critics and readers but has not been given significant attention in literary commentary. The importance of reports and news writing in our daily lives, and the increasing voraciousness of crime news readers, suggest that it is an effective device which has been deliberately used as a stylistic strategy to engage and persuade both readers and critics. Narratology refreshes literary analysis of the novel by offering an interdisciplinary framework that uses Structuralist theory to analyze discourse within a given text. To this end, methodologies focusing on the narrative and descriptiveness in the novel will be referred to. This paper will primarily use narrative and descriptive analyses to identify and classify various aspects of storytelling strategies used in the novel. The tools of narratology will be used to pay attention to characteristics that have gone unnoticed in the study of narrations of Pakistani English texts, or have been noticed but misunderstood. They will also be used to help us categorize and systematize the storytelling strategies employed in the novel.
To examine the narrative strategies employed in Saba Imtiaz's "Karachi, You're Killing Me!", specifically focusing on the use of a reportorial style and the influence of Urdu on Pakistani English through the Matrix Language Frame (MLF) model.
Qualitative research approach using textual analysis of the novel "Karachi, You're Killing Me!". The study adopted the Matrix Language Frame (MLF) model to analyze code-switching, lexical borrowings, and syntactic structures influenced by Urdu. Content analysis was used to identify and classify linguistic features.
graph TD
A["Select Novel: Karachi, You're Killing Me!"] --> B["Adopt Matrix Language Frame MLF"] Model);
B --> C["Analyze Textual Data"];
C --> D["Identify Lexical Borrowings"];
C --> E["Identify Syntactic Patterns"];
C --> F["Identify Code-Switching Instances"];
D --> G["Classify ML and EL Elements"];
E --> G;
F --> G;
G --> H["Synthesize Findings"];
H --> I["Discuss Implications for PakE"];
I --> J["Formulate Conclusion"];
The integration of Urdu into English in "Karachi, You're Killing Me!" demonstrates Pakistani English (PakE) as a distinct variety, not a dilution of standard English, but a dynamic form reflecting Pakistan's unique sociocultural context. The MLF model effectively illustrates how Urdu elements shape PakE through lexical, syntactic, and morphological intersections, contributing to a narrative style that is authentic and relatable to local audiences. This linguistic interplay serves as a marker of identity and reflects the multilingual and multicultural reality of Pakistan.
The study found that English functions as the "matrix language" and Urdu as the "embedded language" in "Karachi, You're Killing Me!". Urdu elements are integrated into English sentences, adding cultural resonance without disrupting syntax. This includes lexical borrowing (e.g., "ji," "korma," "dupatta"), innovative word formations, blended expressions, and modified lexical items (e.g., "Sahib," "Bibi"). Syntactic influence from Urdu is observed in variations of SVO structures, descriptive embellishment, reduplication for emphasis, and indirect translations. Cultural connotations are conveyed through pronouns and specific terms, and code-switching (intra-sentential, inter-sentential, tag-switching) reflects the bilingual reality of Karachi.
Pakistani English, as exemplified in "Karachi, You're Killing Me!", is a distinct linguistic construct shaped by the dynamic integration of Urdu elements into an English matrix. This process results in a unique syntactic and lexical formation that reflects the sociocultural aspects of Pakistan, functioning effectively in communication and portraying Pakistani identity within its multilingual environment.
* The study analyzes the novel "Karachi, You're Killing Me!" by Saba Imtiaz.
* The Matrix Language Frame (MLF) model is used as the theoretical framework.
* The research identifies English as the matrix language and Urdu as the embedded language.
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