Vol. 3 (1) Jul. 2021

Article ID. JHSSR-1086-2021

A Historical Institutionalism Approach to the Politics of Languages of Pakistan

Ameer Ali & Maya Khemlani David

Abstract:

This research investigates the evolution of language regimes and politics of language/s in Pakistan by making use of Selma K. Sonntag and Linda Cardinal’s Historical Institutionalism Approach (2015). Secondary data, such as policy documents, policy statements, newspapers, magazines, and webpages collected through purposive sampling have been coded into broader themes and qualitative analysis has been conducted on the data obtained to demonstrate how language policies, and institutional traditions in the policies have often caused critical junctures in Pakistan after independence. The results, as shown in this research, have been political disintegration, critical junctures, linguistic injustice, ethnic conflicts, and social inequality among different ethnic language groups. An inclusive language regime will not only pave the way for linguistic justice but also result in mitigation of language-based critical junctures in different regions of Pakistan.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37534/bp.jhssr.2021.v3.n1.id1086.p75