Dhani Punjabi in Karachi; A Dialect in Decline: A Case Study in Karachi

Abstract

The phenomenon of language decline is widespread, with some Pakistani indigenous languages experiencing gradual decline, which is a serious pressing concern. This situation is the result of a variety of issues. This paper examines the decline of the Dhani dialect of Punjabi in Karachi, Pakistan. Twenty native speakers of Dhani Punjabi were selected randomly for semi-structured interview questions as a data collection tool to gain thorough insight. Participants were members of the Dhani-speaking community, with Dhani as their native language. They have been residing in Karachi for more than 03 decades. The semi-structured interviews were transcribed and recorded using a mobile recording application. Following the qualitative method, data was analyzed by using a thematic analysis approach. The paper focuses on sociolinguistic elements, language attitudes, and language decline. Language is widely considered the most immediate identity marker of any community, and the findings of this study show that the Dhani language is gradually losing its identity marker under the influence of Urdu and English in Karachi. Moreover, the result of this research also shows that Dhani in Karachi does not hold the status of an identified language by the official strata, as Urdu, English, and Sindhi are the only three languages mentioned in academic curriculums. Moreover, this paper highlights the fact that Dhani is hardly represented in mainstream media. This study contributes to the preservation and revival of the Dnani dialect in Karachi by offering some remedial steps by the government to devise certain language policies to ensure the survival of indigenous languages in the cosmopolitan city of Karachi. The study suggests some awareness programs, documentation, community involvement and bilingual education policy, local governance support and language revitalization campaigns by the government.