NEGOTIATING SYMBOLIC CAPITAL: A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON DOMAIN-SPECIFIC LANGUAGE USE AND STIGMA AMONG PUNJABI YOUTH

Abstract

This study investigates the phenomenon of internalized linguistic shame and its impact on the communicative choices and identity construction of Punjabi speakers in Pakistan. Despite being spoken nation wide as a native language, Punjabi is often in a marginalized position within formal, academic, and socio-economically dominant spaces, where Urdu and English serve as the primary currencies of prestige and upward mobility. By utilizing a qualitative, phenomenological research design, this study explores the lived experiences of young urban Punjabi speakers as they navigate colonial and post-colonial language hierarchies. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews designed to elicit personal narratives, focusing specifically on moments of linguistic insecurity, the psychological motivations behind code-switching, and the strategic deployment of English as a protective mechanism against perceived social stigma. The collected narratives were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s framework for thematic analysis to identify recurring themes related to social exclusion, linguistic capital, and identity negotiation. By exposing the invisible socio-psychological barriers to mother-tongue maintenance, this research contributes to the growing discourse on grassroots language reclamation and the dismantling of institutional linguistic taboos in Pakistan.