A STUDY OF THE LINGUISTIC FEATURES OF PAKISTANI ENGLISH WITH REFERENCE TO PHONOLOGICAL AND LEXICAL VARIATION

Abstract

The study titled “A Study of the Linguistic Features of Pakistani English with Reference to Phonological and Lexical Variation” explores the unique characteristics of Pakistani English as a recognized variety of World Englishes. The research focuses on two major linguistic aspects: phonological variation and lexical variation. Pakistani English has developed under the influence of local languages such as Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, and Pashto, resulting in distinctive pronunciation patterns and vocabulary usage that differ from Standard British and American English. The study aims to identify common phonological features, including stress patterns, vowel substitutions, consonant articulation, and intonation differences used by Pakistani English speakers. In addition, it investigates lexical variations by examining localized words, code-switching practices, borrowing from regional languages, and culturally specific expressions commonly used in academic, social, and media contexts. The research adopts a qualitative descriptive approach through the analysis of spoken and written samples collected from students, teachers, media content, and everyday communication. The findings are expected to highlight how Pakistani English reflects the linguistic identity, culture, and social realities of Pakistani speakers. The study contributes to the broader field of sociolinguistics and World Englishes by emphasizing the legitimacy and evolving nature of Pakistani English as an independent linguistic variety.