DefinePK

Abstract

This study examines the sociological aspects of linguistic and cultural diversity within the higher education context of Pakistan, with a particular focus on the shift from local languages to global English. Pakistan is a multilingual society with several regional languages, as well as Urdu and English. These languages present both opportunities and challenges to students and teachers when engaging in academic discourse and pursuing social belonging and identity. This research study employs qualitative research methods, including semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and classroom observations at several selected universities. Bourdieu’s theories inform this study on linguistic capital and cultural reproduction by examining the impact of social-structural language hierarchies on access, dominance, and academic underachievement. The findings aim to capture the tensions between the role of English as a global lingua franca and the sociocultural importance of local indigenous languages, whose value is often overlooked in higher education. This study addresses the need for research that informs policy on equitable language practices to support inclusivity and linguistic equity in Pakistani higher education.