Pakistan's Multilingual Multicultural Landscape: A Sociolinguistic Perspective( 1994-2004)

Abstract

Language shapes our thoughts, interactions, identity, and social structures. This book examines the relationship between language and society, particularly in the context of Pakistan's educational system. With approximately 70 languages and numerous dialects, Pakistan's multilingual and multicultural landscape makes the study of language especially important. To this end, this collection features invaluable papers by Dr Sabiha Mansoor, focusing on language policy and its significance in Pakistan’s social, educational, and political spheres, published over three decades (1994–2024). The book consolidates her key observations, including findings that emerged from such studies as Emerging Issues in TEFL (OUP, 2008), Language Planning in Higher Education: A Case Study of Pakistan (OUP, 2005), Language Planning, Policy, and Practice: A South Asian Perspective (OUP, 2004), and Punjabi, Urdu, English in Pakistan (Vanguard, 2017). The articles in this volume have been edited and adapted to present them as standalone chapters, allowing each to be read independently while contributing to the overarching themes of the book.